REVIEW OF PLANON DOCUPEN SCANNER Planon's concept appears to be a truly portable scanner that captures images on its own, for transfer to a computer at a later time, from paper sheet or book page. However, several aspects are awkward - particularly moving the scanner to create a useable image, and its interface to the computer. It comes in several models, beginning with a low-resolution non-rechargeable model and moving up through color, higher resolution, recharging, and micro-SD memory card models (the RC-800 having all those features for around $300). My experience is with the RC800, Planon now have an RC850 which has higher resolution and also comes in an RC850HS that can keep its contents encrypted (also an 805 and 810 but they are not much different from the RC800). They have a choice of colours and more accessories now, but the need is for performance and better user interface. EASE OF SCANNING - NOT One must move it smoothly but promptly while keeping it straight on the sheet of paper. Too fast and it misses information (warning the user with a red X, if you notice - it should have been designed to have an amber caution light coming on first), too slow and it stops capturing an image before you get to the end of the page. (A greater challenge when set to high resolution to get decent scan quality.) Since determination of image completeness only comes later, because you don't have a display of the scan, the user must take great care to ensure usable scans are obtained. You have to ensure you start early enough on the page so the scanner starts capturing an image while still in the sometimes small top margin of the page, yet hold the paper. I use thumb below the scanner with finger poised to go above it onto the paper so I can move thumb out of the way. The DocuPen lacks a guide mark to help stay centered on the page - you risk having little margin on one side of the image, because the DocuPen's scan width is not the full 8.5" of normal paper. (Vertically, timeout is a challenge thus it will be more troubled on legal length paper.) WRONG INTERFACE TYPE Its interface to the computer is that of a scanner, with attendant traps of USB port compatibility, whereas it should be of a simple USB stick. (Since it always captures images independently of the computer then just offloads them to the computer, conventional scanner interfaces are of little value - application software such as Acrobat or photo editors can import image files from a normal memory source including external.) And Planon drivers are needed for the scanner interface, whereas simple USB memory could be used on any computer - exactly what is needed out on the road where the pen scanner is potentially most useful. Granted, if the micro-SD card from the later models contains the images - rather than basic memory in the pen - in theory you can remove it and plug it into an adapter to SD slot or USB port. (Don't forget to format it before using in the DocuPen - but that must be done through Planon software, yet for me Windows XP2 does not recognize that it has been formatted when I try to read it directly with a USB slot adapter. I have not tried it with an SD-slot adapter, only USB port adapter.) It has the capability of driving configuration settings from computer to scanner, but the scanner does not reliably hold them so they must be set using buttons on the scanner - thus that push capability is of no use.) USER INTERFACE SHORTFALLS Several blemishes on user interface: - Trickiness of movement noted above. Since determination of image completeness only comes later, because you don't have a display of the scan, the user must take great care to ensure usable scans are obtained. - Move it the wrong way on the page and the image will be flipped horizontally. (Which can be corrected by software that has a flip-horizontal feature. Adobe Photoshop Elements has that, Adobe Acrobat 7 Pro appears to but it doesn't work, VuePrint/VueScan from http://www.hamrick.com does. But Planon's own sofware does not have the flip feature!) Just remember to orient the scanner so that its name matches the text on the page, then move it down the page. - Minimal ID on it (no model number, no s/n - Planon name on side, DocuPen on memory cover, that's all folks.) - Software not certified by Microsoft, thus get Windows cautions on installation. (Planon claim not needed as they produce high quality, but given other problems with their supposedly great product I'm skeptical.) - No indication unit is getting power to charge from computer. - The Quick Start Guide should have more detail on the settings (why not put page 19 of the manual on the back of the card, or sanitize page 18 & add info then make 18 & 19 opposite sides of a QR card?). Perhaps the user should scan until they get two complete passes without red X, to be sure they got one useable scan. (According to a review in CNN Money, there also is Help in the PaperPort viewing software. CNN was not impressed, noting less than expected image quality and problems uploading files.) - Explanation of red X could be better - the web site has errors CASE DOESN'T FIT The optional special more-rigid holster is too tight for the RC-800 model to fit without risk of damage. (The standard one is too thin to protect, so for my shoulder bag I purchased a clear tube from TAP Plastics, complete with end caps - choose thin or thick tube depending how strong you want it to be (if someone sits on your shoulder bag they could break your Planon).) DRIVERS Note there are two sets of drivers for the RC-800, one to use if the other does not work well. I had to keep Planon sofware installation files on my computer to re-install as Windows sometimes didn't recognize they were installed. I've now updated the BIOS on my IBM x41 computer in hopes it will improve operation of USB ports (Planon claim that problems with USB ports are common). Planon do support Windows Vista, so you can keep learning to use your expensive DocuPen. RESOLUTION The DocuPen RC800 doesn't seem to produce images as good as an HP6350C at the same resolution - it may be that the quoted resolution is "interpolated" - the RC850 has higher resolution according to Planon's website, thoughly oddly the ratios don't make sense. However, this is an ultraportable device, not a photo archiving scanner. The highest resolution of the RC-800 is barely adequate, I doubt the original black & white model is adequate (on printed documents I think the minimum is 300 dpi optical). However, the limitation may be automatic exposure control - with a normal scanner you can look at the image right away, whereas it is not practical to have a viewer on a scanner as small as the Planon. Note that the quoted maximum scan length of 36" is academic as you can't move the scanner fast enough to correctly capture an image near that long before it times out, even at low resolution black&white. FILE TYPE Once imported to Planon's scanner software, the images can be exported to a TIF file, which is multi-page but not compressed much if any thus is more widely readable than one of the compressed TIF formats. (You select one or more of the images and command export. TIF is a good file format for documents, good for printing and perhaps for later basic editing (as it preserves more image information than JPEG). Beware that multi-page TIF is not recognized by all viewing software - in Windows XP Pro the Microsoft viewer does handle it, from which you can delete the bad images you _will_ have (see usability gripe above) and SaveAs another file. (VueScan does not handle TIF, apparently. Adobe Acrobat - full version - does handle TIF.) CABLES A spare cable can be found elsewhere, Planon's may be good quality but is not unique, just less common than some others especially as one mini-USB connector seems to be emerging as commonly used (Motorola cellular phones, Western Digital hard drive, newer Fuji cameras, etc.) Third party cables usually have two keying notches which fits. I even found an adapter end in a Great Canadian Dollar Store (standard USB extension cable to Planon device connector - sets of adapters can be useful for travel as they are compact and you want an extension cable anyway as fat memory sticks block use of adjacent ports.). Planon offer an AC charger. Normally the cable to the computer provides charging. Perhaps an AC or DC USB power supply with standard USB socket should work (some chargers for PDAs and cell phones, for wall outlet or vehicle cigar lighter socket, have a standard USB socket and separate device-specific cable for which the Planon-specific cable could substitute). OTHER INFO Planon provides aids to ensure calibration of the software. (I don't expect precision from a scanner whose speed of movement over the paper is variable, as a hand-held will be.) An article "Wand that scans text isn't magic", RedOrbit News, 2004/03/12, notes some of the difficulties in positionning and moving the scanner that I've experienced. (It reviewed the original black & white low-memory non-rechargeable version which Planon have fortunately moved well beyond. (Though they'll sell you one at low price, useable for simple occasional scans.) The author, Peter Svensson, makes two good observations: - "The DocuPen is one of those gadgets that both charms you and breaks your heart. You don't know you need it until you find it. Then, when you realize you need it, it leaves you unsatisfied." - "The DocuPen is a good concept, but this first version can be improved in a number of ways. The manufacturer had better be quick about it, though. I don't think it will be long before cheap digital cameras, even the ones built into cell phones, will be able to do the same job." (See my notes below for the limitations of cameras.) The article is at http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/51887/wand_that_scans_text_isnt_magic/ CONCLUSION Overall, the DocuPen is a pioneering venture that falls short of the usability necessary for its intended purpose - very portable for occasional use without a computer attached. Some improvements are being made, notably in resolution along the way, but it still falls short of a really usable product. Its value is limited to crude scans of essential information where no other option such as paper copy is available - for that limited use it is very pricey, especially considering the risk of failure to get a decent scan. Buy it if you need crude capability in a very compact form, otherwise consider a small scan brick with removable base that can be used as feed-through and/or move-over the paper. See PPS for possible alternatives. For financial success, I'd guess that a startup must get 95% of essential functionality - including ease of use - of the _basic_ product - working properly. I judge Planon at best 75%, depending on how much training you give yourself and how much you remember, thus am not optimistic they have a future. (Many early adopters will tell 19 friends that they cannot get it to work reliably.) It is sad that such a great concept is ruined by poor implementation. ...Keith PS: As for its "pen" size, that's a misnomer - instead envision two whiteboard pens placed end-to-end. (It of course needs to be longer than a real pen to cover the width of an 8.5x11 sheet of paper, and is understandably much fatter than a real pen.) Not for your pocket, but great for briefcase or large purse or laptop computer bag. Note the Planon DocuPen is very different from the "pen" scanners with a small optical tip that you move along a line of characters. The DocuPen scans the width of the page, like a normal scanner. They should call it something like "a page-width scanning wand that fits in your purse" (um, perhaps just the first half of that mouthful ;-). PPS: Possible alternatives, if your need is not truly a battery-powered ultra-compact stand-alone scanner: > Neat Receipts: slim, USB powered, computer required to scan, feed-thru, http://www.neatreceipts.com; while the name and web site emphasize business cards and receipts and OCR it appears to handle up to 8.5" wide up to 600dpi including colour, size about 11x1.5x1.5"; that is larger than Docupen but still quite compact. HOWEVER it is a feed-through device and may not be well set up for use as a simple scanner - that is, without their software (neither is Planon's), and does not have a battery (uses USB power so could be used with a laptop). > Some of the Visioneer Strobe series: slim, USB powered, computer required to scan, feed-thru, Some Visioneer sheet-feed scanners are relatively slim, such as the Strobe XP100 - USB-powered, 600dpi including colour, single-sheet feeder, image and OCR software, TWAIN compatible, 1.5x2x11.4", U$200 last year. Obviously needs a computer to power and control it while scanning, so could be used with a laptop. Sounds capable but I do not have experience with it - I purchased the DocuPen instead. > Pentax DSMobile 600" USB-powered, computer required to scan, 600dpi, 1.5x2x11", feed-through slot and photo sleeves provided, 13 ounces weight, probably under $150. I don't know if it can scan in colour. > Plustek OpticSlim M12: slim, USB-powered, computer required to scan, feed-thru, 1.3x10.8x1.9 The version suffixed "Corporate" comes with more software. > Fujitsu Scansnap: AC powered, computer required to scan, feed-through but including pouch for small/fragile items, multi-page input holder, business cards too, oriented to no-fuss setup. If your need is mobile office, carried in a road vehicle, the Fujitsu ScanSnap has a relatively small footprint, claims many features including easy use, and has capable software such as Acrobat and OCR. It even has a slot for the standard computer lock cable - I've never before seen any manufacturer of scanners be that smart. The ScanSnap is not as small as Logitech and Panasonic units I've had, and definitely not near as slim as the XP100 and Neat Receipts units mentionned above, but is more capable. It sits mostly vertical, 12x6x6" + extending paper guide, feeding sheets from the top like a typical fax machine - thus is more portable than most though designed for speed not portability. (A carrying case is available.) Reasonably fast, resolution up to 1200dpi, PDF or JPEG output only plus business cards to contact-manager sofware. The drivers do not support TWAIN and ISIS, so use with applications like VueScan may not be feasible. But it will cost you - about $350 at Office Depot in March 2008 for the S300 model, though apparently that includes Adobe Acrobat Standard software which is normally quite expensive. (Beware there is an "updated" version of the scanner package supporting Windows Vista-32 and including version 8 of Acrobat Standard). Requires AC wall power, obviously needs a computer to control it while scanning, so could be used semi-portably with a laptop as long as AC power is available. Appears to be organized for office productivity stand-alone no-fiddle. (I wouldn't have gone as far as including a CD copy of "Organizing my electronic filing cabinet for Dummies", but it illustrates their emphasis. :-) Sounds capable with much thought put into design for useability in a particular context, but I do not have experience with it. > In your keyboard: not portable for most people but suits office-away-from-home if you usually take a keyboard and have AC power, One example is the Keyscan KS810. Visioneer may make similar units. Note that a more space-consuming alternative is the slim scanners, such as the ones described above, that can fit between the keyboard and monitor (but not on laptops :-). > Camera: you already carry it, but requires fiddling. Need light tripod, plus a light.Essentials: > your camera must have the standard threaded hole for the tripod to attach to it > turning the camera platform down a full 90 degrees may be a challenge for some tripods > you'll need to extend tripod legs enough so they aren't in the cropped image > thus you won't need macro setting or get substantial distortion, as the camera can't be close to the subject if it is the size of regular paper > you may have to light with an lamp closer to the subject, perhaps incandescent, not just room lighting (the flash is not well aimed at that short distance), and you'll have to avoid glare from the local lamp > fiddling with light-type selections may help (generally I and friends find the object looks under-lit in the image). > you'll have to determine what resolution you need to get adequate image (Using a camera takes more fiddling than HP scanner software? Darn!) That's still bulkier than the Planon DocuPen unless you usually carry your tripod (I assume you usually carry your camera), and not a great image especially on non-white background like newsprint. I suppose you could make do in a pinch without the tripod, bracing yourself against a wall to steady the camera. I have not tried a cellular phone camera. They are increasing in resolution and lighting tolerance. Better than nothing - at least you'd have an image though I wouldn't expect to be able to read text. (Of course you'd need to get the image out of the camera onto a computer, either with memory card fancier phones have, Bluetooth file transfer, or a cable (perhaps requiring software such as PhoneTools - depending on whether or not the camera can act as a simple memory source recognizable by your o/s' file management function). Which still leaves a huge opportunity for Planon IFF they get their act together and produce a truly useable product! (Docupen is very compact, full page width, and scans on its own - no computer, no wall plug.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Keith Sketchley's intellectual property Version 2009.04.24 (1619PDT) Legalities detailed on http://www.keithsketchley.com/ apply. Use of advice and information contained herein is at your risk. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- BACK in your browser should return you to the page you came here from.