drumcat wrote:I have had both. You'd be buying my returned Neat. They are AWFUL. Hardware is decent, software is proprietary and abysmal.

Fujitsu s1500 is a Clear winner

How well did the fujitsu handle receipts?

drumcat wrote:I have had both. You'd be buying my returned Neat. They are AWFUL. Hardware is decent, software is proprietary and abysmal.

Fujitsu s1500 is a Clear winner

I have 2 Fujistsu S1500s and also have a Neatworks Mobile scanner. If you need a workhorse, get the Fujitsu ScanSnap.

I have the portable version and it is okay. The filing system for the software just doesn't work for me. There is a Mac version of the software which is better. It does put everything in a proprietary database, so if the database corrupts you lose everything?
As far as an All-In-One printer versus a dedicated scanner, that isn't an equal comparison. If you scan with any regularity, a dedicated scanner is so much faster and better.

lvd162 wrote:I have used the neat receipts hand scanner and the Fujitsu Scansnap S1500. The scansnap has far superior software. It's quite customizable and the search function is awesome. The neat receipts software is not even comparable.

Thanks for your input!

Got one last time, wish I could return it. Software HAS to be installed on drive C, no exception. Offshore tech-support not helpful. "Maybe they'll let you select the installation path in a future release."

marcillus wrote:Sure, for $400. Harumph.

You have a Mac, you should be used to paying more for what you get.

Can't be connected through a USB hub. Must be connected directly to the PC. ?!?!?!

KyserSoze wrote:You have a Mac, you should be used to paying more for what you get.

Okay, let's stop that right now before it gets out of hand.

kostelnik wrote:Woot needs a computer section. This is just getting ridiculous. Seems like every other day is a laptop or computer.

I agree because then I wouldn't have to look at all of the vacuums, steak knives, sewing machines, grilling planks, etc...

Woot!, bring out more tablets, PC's, laptops and usb gizmos!!

I also have the portable version - bought on Woot. I have a couple of comments about it. The hardware works well (Portable model) although sometimes I have to force the document into the device. The software is pretty good, a little clunky, I run it on a Winxp box 2gb ram big hard disk. If you use is alot, it will take up alot of disk space. The software allows you to legally run it on two computers, and has a very nice backup/restore of the database that allows you to take all your data and wrap it up into one file, which could be copied top another pc and restored to give a full backup. The software is pretty customizable allowing you to set up categories/projects that fit for you. It does a decent job of indexing the receipts and documents but you will have to review each document and correct some. I do like the product and have recommended it to Friends.

hbsurfer17 wrote:Do most stores accept scanned receipts for returns or would you still have to keep the hard copies?

Ha! What are you going to do, take your laptop in and show them the scan?

Probably about 5 years ago I had an idea for something similar to this. Then earlier this year I saw an infomercial for either this product or something like it. I almost wish I had brought my idea to an invention company. ahwell.

I bought a ScanSnap S1500M (the 'M' is for 'Macintosh', isn't that cute?)for $250+shipping used from Amazon. No full version of Acrobat, but Preview handles my needs.
Some information on it:
1) It handles receipts okay. If they're long, make sure they feed straight. If they're crumpled, try to smooth them out or it might jam. For the shorter receipts, they work great sideways. It auto-rotates them.
2) Each press of the 'Scan' button is either one big document, or each page a separate document. Depends on your setting.
3) While it's doing OCR you can't scan. My only real gripe.
4) It works through a USB hub, hasn't jammed on anything I thought would be fine, is fast, and let me turn about 7 kilos of paper into about 7 kilos of shredded paper in a few hours.

Without ever using one of these, I'd save the money and buy a ScanSnap. You can always ignore the software and import PDFs into virtually any other program; it might be a bit more DIY but it's probably end up as a far more stable piece of software than either NeatDesk or Fujitsus' solution.

garyhgaryh wrote:Is it on sale at staples?

http://www.staples.com/NeatDesk-Scanner/product_758317

Gary

I just looked at their ad and it says $399.00

Hi. Do I need a broadband connection to use this product? I have a verizon wifi hotspot internet card. No landline phones or cable..
Or do I just plug it into the computer using the usb?

Still worthwhile even for Mac-people.

The Mac software can be purchased alone for $80 and works with various scanners including this one. The smart software is one of the major strengths of the Neat system, and it's combination of OCR and location-based recognition make it easy to use.

This item plus the Mac software ($250+$80=$320) is still cheaper than what's listed on the manufacturer's web site ($400), and I suppose you could even sell the PC software on eBay.

dmack269 ask what can I do with this that I couldn't do with my top loading printer/fax/scanner and a an indie document scanner?

phreecaller wrote:Neatdesk or Fujitsu Scansnap S1500?
It appears that Scansnap has better hardware but Neatdesk's software seems to work easier. Which model would you buy for a small business use?

Hands down, the Fujitsu Scansnap!!! It's a little pricey but once you start scanning through your piles of papers, you'll be smiling all week long. The recognition is flawless, the sort tech is excellent and it's FAST! I've gone to a Mac operation (including the Scansnap) and haven't look back.

swechsler wrote:I purchased the mobile version from Woot a couple of years ago, and never use it. My biggest complaint (maybe they've fixed this) is that while it does have the ability to recognize receipts and docs from some stores, there's no ability to customize it. For example, if you regularly receive invoices from a certain vendor, you can't tell it where on the page to extract the date, invoice #, etc; you just get a PDF of the whole page. I was hoping for something that could create file names based on, for example, the invoice #.

Well I would happily take it off your hands. I have two that have hardware problems and now I am beyond warranty on the replacement even. I still use one of them all the time and would happily take the hardware off your hands. I have the software already obviously. :-)

kvrdave wrote:If they are barcoded, they will accept a scanned copy that you print out. Don't know about the others. My guess is they will.

Working at a store, I would lean towards "NO"

Why? Too easy for someone to abuse copied/replicated receipts. With big ticket items (+$100 per item) ALWAYS keep the actual receipt.

Your mileage may vary.

phreecaller wrote:Neatdesk or Fujitsu Scansnap S1500?
It appears that Scansnap has better hardware but Neatdesk's software seems to work easier. Which model would you buy for a small business use?

For business, the Fujitsu is the best scanner made. I bought this for the house.

kenmaze wrote:I went for this in the last woot, a couple of months ago. Here are my impressions:

Hardware: Works great. yes, you can line up a ton of papers into the feeder, and it will go through each one individually. I only had it fail to do this correctly once, out of maybe 100 scans so far.

It's pretty fast. If you double-sided scan a bunch 20 color sheets, it shouldn't take over 30 seconds. I haven't timed it, this is more of an impression, so yer mileage may vary. Suffice it to say it's plenty fast.

It scans and OCRs about any size and orientation of paper. If you are a neat freak who has to have all his PDFs exactly vertical/horizontal, then you won't like it, because a tiny bit of rotation occursquite often, but it doesn't seem to affect the OCR at all.

Software: You can put a bunch of single page receipts in and tell it they are single pages, so they are all separate documents. Or you can tell it to combine them all.

When you scan something, it will go itno a queue to be processed/OCRed. I have a pretty fast machine, even with that sometimes it's a little slow. but in general, it's not a big deal, and it lets you know what document it is processing and how big the queue is.

There are three types of docs: receipts, business cards, and documents. The receipts and business cards OCR very well. And the receipts quite often seem to adjust themselves to find some fields that are in the same place on the same company's receipt.

The documents do virtually no OCR, except that they are searchable. So you can look for a word in a document, but the filing isn't so automatic.

The categorization is pretty good if you are an accountant. If you are trying to replace your filing cabinet as a normal human being, it's a little wanting. I have been told by Neat, however, that a new rev is coming out late this year which will allow hierarchical folders for categories.

All in all, I'm happy I bought it. It has some SW shortcomings, but it does most things very well.

A purpose built scanner is very helpful and saves you time. Too bad I can't comment on this scanner because I never used it. What I bought is the Fujitsu S1500 and I use it everyday. Single pass duplex scan (double sided scan in one pass). I paid $400 shipped and wouldn't mind getting another scanner for home, once I can afford to have one again. I probably won't get this NeatDesk because I never tested and rather go with something that is proven for me.

Anyone know about the expected ship date? It's been a week now, but Monday was a holiday..

michaelg68 wrote:Anyone know about the expected ship date? It's been a week now, but Monday was a holiday..

I, too, wonder about this.

I think they are having Neat Co drop ship to us. I have no idea when we'll see it, but I hope it's already shipped and it's just not showing up on Woot's status because I assume the shipping is being handled by Neat Co.

I can't wait to get it. I, too, was on the fence about getting this or the Fujitsu S1500, but in the end I'm really in it for the receipt management aspect of this product. I can always get the S1500 later and use it to scan the receipts and import it via NeatDesk from PDF or image file.

I finally got a ship date of 9/14!!

My first Woot purchase and it's not working! Scanner isn't turning on. Tried several outlets in the house. Cords look good. Bummer

maelma wrote:My first Woot purchase and it's not working! Scanner isn't turning on. Tried several outlets in the house. Cords look good. Bummer

I'm sorry to hear that. I'm getting mine tomorrow and I hope it works.
It is refurbished so we'll see...

BTW, does it look refurbished (look used)?

Got mine, does not look used but having problems getting items to scan in. Maybe just learning curve on my part working on it now.

I got mine tonight. It looks scratch up, but not too bad and I expected it so I'm not bothered by it. Setting it up now.

It works great and can read faded receipts and still pull data correctly. I'm happy with this purchase. I did try putting about 7 receipts at once. One receipt did drag two others with it, but that's the nature of adf when trying to pull folded receipts that differ from the next or previous one. Some curled corners will Catch other receipts.

Anyone else having problems with their scanner? I am not getting much help from neat on this.

cjb137 wrote:Anyone else having problems with their scanner? I am not getting much help from neat on this.

What's wrong with your scanner? Mine is working great! In fact, I just scanned an envelop with my handwriting on it so I can throw away the envelop but keep the info i wrote on the disk.