Gadgetell Review: Docupen handheld color scanner

Product: Planon Systems Docupen RC800 color scanner
Price: $299.99
Rating: Good – 7.9/10.0
Pros: Portable, scans in color, simple to install software, good scan quality
Cons: No way to preview scans (as expected), topographical items don’t jive.
Overall:Pricey for the average consumer but comes in handy more often than expected. Great for students, business travels, and more. Above average scan quality.

Upon receiving this review I was excited, it is portable, small and scans in color. Plus it comes with a stunning pleather condom to tote it in (Ok, you won’t win fashion diva of the year with this thing, but it will keep it in working condition even after getting tossed around like a green salad in your bag.) It is fairly simple to install the software into your computer and download nearly anything. Quality is fairly good (just have a slow and steady hand when running it across the document.) The red LED light will flash to warn you if you are going too fast. As almost expected, it wouldn’t work on my son’s stunning finger painting picture that I wanted to scan and send to my brother, currently traveling on the other side of the world. Unlike traditional photocopier style scanners, topographical items don’t jive with the Docupen.

Overall I felt futuristic using this pretty pricey pen-like scanner. The claims that it will hold up to 100 documents seems more fantasy than fact (I believe they need to be low res, fairly simple, empty documents to reach that many pages.) But it would be a great option for a student in the library looking to save 1) copying money 2) trees and 3) their back (not having to take out huge volumes and lug them home). Until you really get the hang of it, there is a risk that you won’t get a good scan, and unlike say a digital camera, you’ll never really know until you download it to your computer. But, paired with a laptop for instant download, this is a travelers dream. A great on-the-go accessory for the type never tethered to a desk or a cubicle for too long.

While still new to this market, having been just introduced at CES, the Docupen had been available overseas for some time. There have been reports that Chinese students have been using it to cheat on tests. They scan the test, download it to their laptop and send it off to friends. Friends then send back the answers. Teachers stay on your toes if laptops and Wi-Fi are in the classroom. That pen may not just be a pen. Ah, technology. Two steps forward and three steps back.