Scanners are great products, they are extremely useful for many things, but most scanners aren’t quite portable. I’ve personally owned quite a few scanners in my life and while the flatbed scanners have gotten slimmer and lighter you won’t be carrying them around with you to scan documents on the go. Most traditional scanners require a connection to your computer and a power connection as well to work making them very limited in their portability.
What you need is a scanner that is small, lightweight, portable, self-powered and doesn’t require a computer to work, sounds like something that James Bond might have in his fictional arsenal of cool gadgets, but thanks to the folks at Planon it’s a reality.
Up on the review block today is the DocuPen RC800 Color Handheld Scanner, and it is truly a portable scanner. It’s rechargeable, so no external power supply is needed, it stores its scans in the on-board memory, so no computer is required and it’s just a bit wider than a standard piece of paper. The DocuPen scanner is truly a portable device that gives its owner true freedom to get work done and be productive, it’s very lightweight, comes with it’s own carrying case and is very easy to use, so read on to learn more…
Review: Planon DocuPen RC800 Color Handheld Scanner (DPEN-RC800)
Reviewed by: Kristofer Brozio
Sponsor: Planon
Tech Specs,Features or the Basic Info:
Planon DocuPen RC800 Color Handheld Scanner (DPEN-RC800)
Model: DPEN-RC800
Planon introduces the DocuPen RC800 color handheld scanner – the latest technology breakthrough from our R&D efforts. We have been able to achieve full color 24 bit scanning in a remarkably compact and light form that provides you with the ultimate convenience. The RC800 is capable of storing 100’s of pages into memory and it takes just seconds to scan a page. Choose the mode you want to scan: black and white, standard color or high 24bit color and the resolution from 100 to 400 dpi. Now you can scan your letters, color documents, pictures and bring them into Paperport software (included with the Docupen). The DocuPen is different from other pen sized scanners in that it scans a FULL PAGE width and therefore scans the entire page including text and graphics in as little as 4 seconds. Other handheld and pen scanners only scan single lines of text or records handwriting and some scanners need to be attached to your computer whereas the Docupen overcomes these limitations. The need for convenient out of office scanning is enormous but has not been satisfied because the products to date did not fulfill that need adequately. There truly is no other product like the RC800 on the market today. Planon continues with its mission of "Redefining the way we work"
YES!!- The Docupen RC800 works on the new Intel/Mac computer systems
Important-Currently Sandisk micro SD memory chips are the only ones that work properly
Features:
-Battery Operated for Full Portability Purposes.
-Can Store 100’s Pages into Memory
-Scan a Full Page Width Including Text & Graphics in as little as 4 seconds
-Scansoft PaperPort SE-PC Software Included OCR Capability
Benefits:
– Scan and Save Documents You Need Anywhere, Anytime
– Upgradeable memory slot for increased storage of document scans
Now Scan- photos, magazines, passports or other picture ID, receipts, literature, contracts….virtually anything!
DocuPen RC800 Features:
– Rechargeable lithium-Ion Batteries
– The DocuPen RC800 uses rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that allows it to remain perpetually charged without utilizing a separate charging unit. Once a user plugs the DocuPen RC800 into a computer’s USB port to download the scanned information, the scanner’s batteries are automatically recharged
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– Expandable MicroSD memory slot
– Dual Roller Guiding System The DocuPen RC800 offers a dual-roller guiding system to enhance the user experience by creating a smoother scanning operation and a more accurate scan. The dual-roller guiding system includes strategically placed rollers around the scanner lens to distribute operator’s pressure evenly for smooth and easy scans.
– Optical Registration
– ScanSoft PaperPort SE-PC Software Included
– Stylish zippered sheep skin Leather Case Included
– Using optical registration technology, the DocuPen RC800 can create a highly accurate scan using its optical timing and registration system.
A Better Look at Things
:
The packaging for the Planon DocuPen RC800 is very well done, you can plainly see the scanner through a cutout window and the top flap of the box open up to show you detailed information about the scanner and another widow to allow viewing of the rest of the contents. On the back of the box there is another window that allow you to see the bottom of the scanner, and the specs/features are listed there as well.
Planon included a nice media kit for me to check out with the DocuPen, that was nice of them… Included with the scanner is a Quick Start Guide, USB cable, leather carrying case and driver/software cd.
The carrying case is rather nice actually, it features the Planon logo and will protect the scanner from dust and dirt. The case is soft inside and zips closed, it is a bit hard to get the scanner into it, but after a few times it stretches to fit and works great.
The USB connection for the scanner is the micro-USB type, the cable is about three feet long so it should be long enough to reach most nay setup.
The DocuPen RC800 is made mostly out of lightweight plastic making it, well, lightweight. To be honest it does feel fragile, like I could easily snap it in two or more pieces, but it really isn’t, it’s sturdy and doesn’t have much flex to it at all.
On the left end are a bunch of icons.
From Left to Right:
Scan Speed -if this LED blinks during scan operation, then slow down. When done scanning, it will blink a few seconds to save into memory
Mono Mode -This LED indicates that the scan will be performed in Monochrome mode
Docucolor Mode -This LED indicates that the scan will be performed in Standard Document Color mode [12bit color]
Photo Color Mode -This LED indicates that the scan will be performed in Hi Quality Photo Color mode [24bit color]
Standard Resolution -This LED indicates that the scan will be performed in standard resolution [100,200 dpi]
High Res -This LED indicates that the scan will be performed in high resolution. [200,400 dpi]
Memory -This LED shows the available memory capacity. When it flashes in Green 75-100%, Yellow 5%, Red <25% Free
Battery -This LED shows the available battery capacity on the pen When it flashes in Green 75-100%, Yellow 5%, Red <25% Free
In the center of the DocuPen are two buttons, the first on the left is to change the mode of the DocuPen, the second is power and also to change the scanning resolution.
On the far right end with the name DocuPen on it is actually a cover over the memory card compartment, and on the end of the scanner we find the micro-USB port.
The cover just snaps in place and easily comes off to access the memory card compartment, here we can also see the battery.
The bottom of the DocuPen is then scanner optics itself, as if I had to actually explain that right?! Anyway, there are four rollers on the bottom, three on the front edge and one on the back edge to help guide the DocuPen while scanning. The rollers work to keep you scanning straight, but the first few times you will scan crooked until you get a couple practice scans in.
Installation, Testing and Comparison
Installation is very easy, pop the cd in and up comes a windows with a few options for you including choices to view videos about how the Docupen and it’s applications work. To get the functionality of the scanner you’ll need to install two things, PenTwain Driver and DocuPen Application. You can also install PaperPort if you wish but it’s not necessary to use the scanner, but I recommend it as it can be used for many things besides the scanner.
Of course you’ll need to charge the pen first before using it, this is easy, just plug it into a USB port and wait about 30 minutes.
Scanning is easy as well, just turn the DocuPen on and select which type of document you are scanning and the resolution or quality that you need. There is a small ‘X’ on the pen that will light up red to let you know that you are scanning to fast, which is helpful to insure a good scan. Depending on the resolution and type/size of the document you are scanning the scan time will vary for for each, but on the highest resolution set to color picture it only took a few seconds to scan the page.
One thing I found sort of annoying is the fact fact that you have to turn the scanner back on every time after you scan something, I would have liked to be able to just continue scanning documents after the last scan was saved to memory.
This scanner isn’t like anything you’ve ever used before, you’re not going to jump right in and start scanning perfectly, it will take a couple tried to get a feel for the DocuPen and how it works. It is highly recommended that you read all the documentation and watch the included videos as to how things work, the videos are very helpful and provide tips to good scanning techniques.
Here’s a quick video of the scanning process in the highest resolution/quality:
Here are the scans that I did, they are just advertisements from Digital Experience last month, these are reduced in size for quick viewing:
Here are the actual scans in hi-res, they are large, 1552×2274 in size, the DocuPen RC800 exports to TIFF format files. You can see from the scans that I missed a bit, it takes a few tries to get accustomed to using the DocuPen so you don’t cut parts of the document off that you are scanning. Once you figure out where to start scanning it’s easy after that. (WARNING: If you have are on dial-up or have a slow connection DO NOT click the pictures of the scans, they are over 10 meg each and most browsers do not support opening TIFF files so you will have to download them to view them)
I also used the RC800 over at my blog to scan in some postcards I recently found while cleaning my attic, they were my grandfathers from when he was in World War II. Click HERE to visit the blog post to see them, it will open in a new window.
Installation, Testing and Comparison Continued:
Once you’ve scanned in your documents you’ll need to use the DocuPen Application to get them from the pen and export them to file. All you have to do is plug the scanner in via USB, run the program and click the button that looks like a pen attached to a computer, the software will prompt you to turn the scanner on and then automatically start downloading the images for you.
Once it’s finished you’ll see the documents in thumbnails form, all you have to do is select which one you wish to export, click File, Export and navigate to where you’d like to save the file. Very easy to do, but one thing I don’t like is that you have to do each individually you can’t batch export your scanned documents so it takes quite a bit of time if you’ve scanned a lot of stuff. Like the postcards, I scanned 18 of them, and had to export each one individually, it doesn’t take that much time but batch processing would be so much quicker and easier.
When you’re done exporting the documents you wish to save, you can click the waste basket to delete them from the DoucPen, same process here, click the trash bin, turn the scanner on and the software does the work for you. If you’ve got a lot a documents scanned it will take a minute or more to do this procedure.
A special edition of PaperPort is included that you can use with the DocuPen, I’m not going to go into to details about it, but it is a very useful program that will allow you to use the OCR capabilities of the DocuPen. The version included with the DocuPen RC800 is PaperPort SE version 9.0, the latest version is 11. Click HERE (will open in new window) to visit their website to learn more about PaperPort if you wish, version 11 is essentially the same as version 9.
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I have a couple MicroSD cards floating around so I figured I’d install one in the DocuPen, first I tried an ATP MicroSD card but it didn’t quite work correctly. The scanner worked fine and scanned all the documents for me, but for some reason it wouldn’t erase them. I visited the Planon website and I found a note there about the MicroSD cards:
Currently Sandisk is the only memory that performs reliably, We are testing new memory manufacturers and will update website as we have new info
Luckily I do have a Sandisk MicroSD card as well, it was in one of my digital cameras, so I just swapped it out for the ATP and everything worked great after that. Installation of the MicroSD card is very easy, just slide it in place and it’s done, you might need to format the card though using the DocuPen Application Software, but I didn’t have to…
Summary:
Despite the coolness factor of the DocuPen it truly is a great product, it scans quickly and easily and allows for a truly portable office.
If you’re in need of a portable scanner then you might really want to consider the RC800, it’s easy to use, very portable and works great.
There are a few tweaks that could be done to make it a better product, especially the compatibility with other MicroSD cards and the ability to batch process the scans would be great, but with any product I’m sure improvements will be made on future versions.
DragonSteelMods gives the Planon DocuPen RC800 Color Handheld Scanner a 4.5 out of 5 score.
Pros:
-Fast scanning
-Great quality
-Easy to use
-Well made
-Included carrying case
-Nice software included
-Portable
-Coolness factor built-in
Cons:
-Cannot batch process scans/pictures
-Must turn scanner back on after every scan
-Not compatible with all MicroSD cards
I would like to thank Planon for the chance to review the DocuPen RC800 Color Handheld Scanner and for their support of DSM.
review# 308