[Travelandtourism] Portable Scanner

[Don Gillmore]

GEARBOX. This scanner looks like a pen. Ross Werland, Tribune Newspapers. Name: DocuPen RC805  What it is: A pen-size scanner (2 ounces, almost 9 inches long) that will copy whole pages of documents or photos at 100 to 400 dots per inch. How it works: The cordless device powers up with the push of a button. You slowly, evenly pull the scanner over the document or photo you wish to copy, whether black-and-white or color. Then you connect a cord from the scanner to a computer loaded with software to process scanned files. The pen's lithium ion battery is charged via the connection, but with memory capable of holding hundreds of images, it allows cord-free use. The scanner comes with a disk containing all necessary software. The good: Considering that the only scanner I have ever owned is the size of a suitcase, this thing is amazing. Especially for conducting business out in the field, this would be a godsend. For example, you could scan in a contract and e-mail it to an office on the other side of the world within a few minutes start to finish, all from a scanner the size of a large pen. The bad: This takes practice -- at least for me. You need to pull the device slowly, evenly and accurately over the page. If you don't, the image will be distorted. You can use a straightening tool in the software program, but it seems that the clearer you scan the image, the better your final product. With practice, I was able to scan in the page of a phone book and read it. You also can use the software to convert images into editable text. I never was able to produce a photo that I'd want to put in a picture frame, but for scanning in photos to give someone an idea of, say, the value of a real estate parcel, no problem. Cost: $159  Available from: planon.com. ILLUSTRATION: Photo(s). Photo: (DocuPen RC805).