Is This Scanner Any Good?

NVash · 10-06-2011, 02:16 PM

A friend of mine recently showed me this scanner and said it was great for book scanning.
http://www.amazon.com/Brother-DS-600...=2TVECW5BU4FWS
I figured before I bought it Id ask. Anyone know anything about it?

DSpider · 10-06-2011, 02:43 PM

First of all, you'll have to chop down the book spines. And doing so will always (and I mean ALWAYS!) leave rough edges, which in turn will stick to the sensor and internal mechanics. It will ruin the book. If you try to put Humpty Dumpty back together again with epoxy resin and band aids whatever... it just won't be same.

If you already have a digital camera (8 MP will suffice), visit diybookscanner.org for some ideas. Heck, for that money you could probably get two second hand 10 MP cameras, wall charger and all.

I have a rather cheap flatbed scanner and it does the job well, especially for OCR-ing. So far I've scanned over 20 college books from my personal collection, ~300 pages each and it still has 14 months or so left of warranty in case it breaks down or something. Can't imagine how you'll get the covers to fit (and curl) through one of those "portable" scanners.

Why do you need portability anyway? Can't get any more portable than a digital camera. Perhaps even your mobile phone, at least for some books. That is, if it has at least a 3.0 MP sensor.

graycyn · 10-07-2011, 03:53 AM

I use a different model portable scanner, a VuPoint Magic Wand. (Note, there is a newer model out, with Bluetooth.)

You do need to have books with a decent margin, minimum 1/2", better is 5/8" or more. If you do have the requisite margin, books can be scanned without cutting them. It will help if the book is not overly thick.

It helps to use a piece of black card stock under the page you are scanning, and it is also a good idea to use a stack of magazines or catalogs to support the card stock so you get a smooth roll off the page. This is going to make scanning a bit slower than using a flatbed scanner. The plus to the portable scanner is that I can scan books on my coffee table while watching TV. I get good scans that OCR nicely with my little wand scanner. I think the VuPoint is cheaper as well. I found mine on eBay for $54 shipped.

A downside is that the VuPoint is not that great for illustrations. It's passable, but will introduce some scan lines. At any rate, my VuPoint is serving my modest needs well. And most of the books I am scanning do have the needed margins. Some, of course, I will have to cut if I wish to scan. Others, if they are valuable, I'll use a camera on. Anyway, a little portable scanner can work, it's all in what kind of stuff you need to scan and what your needs are.

Toxaris · 10-10-2011, 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSpider

First of all, you'll have to chop down the book spines. And doing so will always (and I mean ALWAYS!) leave rough edges, which in turn will stick to the sensor and internal mechanics.

Not true. I use this cutting device and it leaves very clean cuttings. It is not cheap, but I also use this for bookbinding. The cuttings are very scharp and not rough.
I have never had one page stuck in internal mechanics of a sheetfeeder.

DSpider · 10-10-2011, 11:39 AM

5 KG ? That kinda blows the portability advantage out of the water. The price probably doesn't justify it either.

Toxaris · 10-11-2011, 03:30 AM

Who is talking about portability here? I have this thing at home and I prepare the books there. Then I take the sheets with me to my work to have them scanned.
BTW, I bought it some 4 years ago and it was half the price it is now. The current price is high.

NVash · 10-11-2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSpider

First of all, you'll have to chop down the book spines. And doing so will always (and I mean ALWAYS!) leave rough edges, which in turn will stick to the sensor and internal mechanics. It will ruin the book. If you try to put Humpty Dumpty back together again with epoxy resin and band aids whatever... it just won't be same.

You know I never thought of that? Thanks for reminding me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSpider

If you already have a digital camera (8 MP will suffice), visit diybookscanner.org for some ideas. Heck, for that money you could probably get two second hand 10 MP cameras, wall charger and all.

I cant help but think using a camera will take so much more time and energy than just scanning the papers but Ill check it out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSpider

I have a rather cheap flatbed scanner and it does the job well, especially for OCR-ing. So far I've scanned over 20 college books from my personal collection, ~300 pages each and it still has 14 months or so left of warranty in case it breaks down or something. Can't imagine how you'll get the covers to fit (and curl) through one of those "portable" scanners.

I have a flatbed myself but it isnt in the same state with me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DSpider

Why do you need portability anyway? Can't get any more portable than a digital camera. Perhaps even your mobile phone, at least for some books. That is, if it has at least a 3.0 MP sensor.

I do but I dont. Since I dont have my scanner and Im in another state portability would be nice. However I never put much thought into it. I doubt Im doing any scanning anytime soon. I was just sitting down talking with a friend and he broke this out so I figured Id ask.

10-06-2011, 02:16 PM	#1
NVash Wandering Vagabond Posts: 282 Karma: 350000 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: iPod Touch	Is This Scanner Any Good? A friend of mine recently showed me this scanner and said it was great for book scanning. http://www.amazon.com/Brother-DS-600...=2TVECW5BU4FWS I figured before I bought it Id ask. Anyone know anything about it?

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10-06-2011, 02:43 PM	#2
DSpider Evangelist Posts: 450 Karma: 343115 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Romania Device: PW2 2014	First of all, you'll have to chop down the book spines. And doing so will always (and I mean ALWAYS!) leave rough edges, which in turn will stick to the sensor and internal mechanics. It will ruin the book. If you try to put Humpty Dumpty back together again with epoxy resin and band aids whatever... it just won't be same. If you already have a digital camera (8 MP will suffice), visit diybookscanner.org for some ideas. Heck, for that money you could probably get two second hand 10 MP cameras, wall charger and all. I have a rather cheap flatbed scanner and it does the job well, especially for OCR-ing. So far I've scanned over 20 college books from my personal collection, ~300 pages each and it still has 14 months or so left of warranty in case it breaks down or something. Can't imagine how you'll get the covers to fit (and curl) through one of those "portable" scanners. Why do you need portability anyway? Can't get any more portable than a digital camera. Perhaps even your mobile phone, at least for some books. That is, if it has at least a 3.0 MP sensor.

10-07-2011, 03:53 AM	#3
graycyn Wizard Posts: 1,496 Karma: 11250344 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NE Oregon Device: Kobo Sage, Forma, Kindle Oasis 2, Sony PRS-T2	I use a different model portable scanner, a VuPoint Magic Wand. (Note, there is a newer model out, with Bluetooth.) You do need to have books with a decent margin, minimum 1/2", better is 5/8" or more. If you do have the requisite margin, books can be scanned without cutting them. It will help if the book is not overly thick. It helps to use a piece of black card stock under the page you are scanning, and it is also a good idea to use a stack of magazines or catalogs to support the card stock so you get a smooth roll off the page. This is going to make scanning a bit slower than using a flatbed scanner. The plus to the portable scanner is that I can scan books on my coffee table while watching TV. I get good scans that OCR nicely with my little wand scanner. I think the VuPoint is cheaper as well. I found mine on eBay for $54 shipped. A downside is that the VuPoint is not that great for illustrations. It's passable, but will introduce some scan lines. At any rate, my VuPoint is serving my modest needs well. And most of the books I am scanning do have the needed margins. Some, of course, I will have to cut if I wish to scan. Others, if they are valuable, I'll use a camera on. Anyway, a little portable scanner can work, it's all in what kind of stuff you need to scan and what your needs are.

10-10-2011, 11:39 AM	#5
DSpider Evangelist Posts: 450 Karma: 343115 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Romania Device: PW2 2014	5 KG ? That kinda blows the portability advantage out of the water. The price probably doesn't justify it either.

10-11-2011, 03:30 AM	#6
Toxaris Wizard Posts: 4,520 Karma: 121692313 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Heemskerk, NL Device: PRS-T1, Kobo Touch, Kobo Aura	Who is talking about portability here? I have this thing at home and I prepare the books there. Then I take the sheets with me to my work to have them scanned. BTW, I bought it some 4 years ago and it was half the price it is now. The current price is high.