Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 Color Duplex Image Scanner for Mac or PC (2013 Release) [Discontinued by Manufacturer]

The Fujitsu iX500 ScanSnap Scanner is worth the money and work to set up. It performs as expected, which is to say it scans regular size documents very quickly and with good resolution, single or double sided.I am a bit of a sentimental hoarder and have had as a project for awhile digitizing my kids' schoolwork. I first bought a NEAT scanner for this task before they started their cloud service, and once that happened I no longer wanted to use that scanner. The functionality was fine if you used the proprietary software for organizing things, but once they stopped supporting it to push people to use their cloud service I found the scanner substandard when scanning documents directly to PDFs (because you had to pick a file name each time you scanned a new group of documents). I had heard good reviews of the scansnap ix500, and with the piles of paper I needed to scan piling up I decided to try it out even though I didn't like the sound of it being a device that didn't support the TWAIN thing (background on me: I'm middle aged, so even though I don't work in IT I do consider myself reasonably savvy with electronics because I've spent most of my life having to use computers). In the interim I bought a new cheap printer at Costco that also has scanning capability on the recommendation of a friend (EPSON Workforce WF-3640) and I felt the printer was doing a decent job (despite the headaches of setting it up) and almost returned the ScanSnap before I opened it.I am SO glad I did not return the ScanSnap. When I set it up and started using it I was blown away. It is faster than the printer scanning at 50 dpi resolution, the resolution of the PDF files is excellent, and it duplex scans at a speed that is similar to what is advertised (I haven't clocked it but I scan stacks of 50 sheets of paper each and it doesn't take longer than 70 seconds in my estimation). The software bundle is adequate for what I want (saving to a local external hard drive), though it has options for scanning to email, Google Drive, etc., and given how the rest of the thing has performed I feel confident that that would work well too. The only issue I have had with the scanner is that it is supposed to be able to scan wirelessly to a computer, and I have been unsuccessful doing this despite correct setup with the directions included. For some reason the software recommends having the scanner connected via USB cable when setting up the wireless, and everything appeared fine and working after the wireless setup was done with the cable connected, but as soon as I unplugged the scanner and moved it to the location where I want it to be the software was able to detect the scanner but was saying that it does not support wireless functioning. I cleared a spot off on my computer desk for it and once I saw how awesome a job it was doing I didn't care so much about the wireless not working.So in summary it's an excellent scanner for scanning basic documents. It scans very fast, even when duplex scanning, with excellent resolution. I was unable to get the wireless to work, but it was well worth the effort to clear a spot off on my computer table for it because once it was in action I was very happy with it!

I wanted to de-clutter my office, so I did some research and landed on the iX500. At the time of purchase, it hadn't been discontinued, but thanks to some other brave souls who tried the "nicer newer" iX1500, it made my decision easier. Didn't hurt that it was cheaper than the iX1500 at that time as well. The fact that the discontinued model is going for more than the new one should tell you something. I purchased mine without any additional software bundles because I didn't want to be tied to the NEAT software or anything other than the OEM Scansnap. Just my two cents. That's really the name of the game with this thing, how you manage the documents with the software.Aside from a few gripes with the software, this thing is probably my favorite new piece of office gear. Did I mention it's fast? It's fast. Really fast. Lightning fast. I ripped through GIANT stacks of old papers, receipts, and documents in basically about two days. Absolute game changer if you are someone like me who needs to manage a lot of receipts for expenses, time keeping, tax write-offs, etc.Now to my gripes, which are minor, but noteworthy nonetheless. The software can be a bit confusing. I'd recommend the all in one software suite from Scansnap as it will cause the fewest headaches. There were two routes you could go when I got mine: 1 - You could get the individual software programs that managed different documents in different ways, like business cards vs. receipts vs. documents, 2 - You could get the all in one suite which lacked some of the versatility of the separate programs, but combined everything together. I went with the latter and I haven't found it to be lacking anything that I myself need in functionality. Your mileage may vary. It may just take some more tweaking, but the gripes come from how the software manages where it store documents. You basically make a folder in your Windows explorer and the Scansnap software divies it up from there. I haven't played with this thing on my iMac, so I don't have any details for OSX. When you scan something, you can let it work in "AUTO" which takes each piece of paper as a separate document and duplex scans it to PDF. If you have a lot of individual sheets, this is awesome to watch in action. It rips. You have to create a custom scan for multi-page documents and you can either let it run in AUTO for simplex/duplex scanning and delete the pages you don't want later on, or manually select one or the other. This makes for some extra steps, but it will save you some editing time on the back end. In this mode it won't recognize the document type, however. This means you have to find it and move it to the correct folder after you scan it, and you can't just do this in explorer. You have to move it within the scansnap software or the software won't "know" where the document is. Basically, you have to manage the files and file structure within the software, which is tedious for someone like me who already has a file structure in explorer for all of my crap. That's my biggest grip is how unorganized everything is within the Scansnap folder. If you want to copy files from that folder to a new location in explorer so that you have an additional copy in a place where you know to look vs. searching by text in Scansnap, that's fine but it's an additional step. It's easy to get disorganized with your files because this thing scans so well and so fast that before you know it, you will have HUNDREDS of files in the Scansnap folder that may or may not have an easily recognizable title that the software gives it upon scanning.My advice: Take your time scanning, renaming and moving documents to where you will want them eventually.PROS:- Looks awesome on the desk.- Fairly compact footprint and opens/starts scanning easily and quickly.- Super duper uber lightning fast duplex auto color scanning with awesome resolution and clarity correction.CONS:- Software has a bit of a learning curve. I haven't even had time to explore everything it can do or how it might be able to correct some of my gripes with a preference that I'm missing.- Files have to be managed within the software for both naming and location, otherwise software gets confused. File is still there, but would have to be re-imported into software for OCR recognition/search-abilityI'm still giving this thing 5 stars because it's just that good that it overcomes my gripes with the software. My gripes might be unfounded due to my lack of understanding how to set things up, but that's just where I'm at. Hope this review helps. I've recommended this thing to a couple of my friends already, one of which has had the Neat Desk setup for quite a while and got tired of it/the software.

Excelente producto, la rapidez es fenomenal, lo único malo es que recientemente ha empezado con una actualización que demanda registrar el producto para poder continuar usándolo y no es muy claro el proceso de cómo realizar dicha operación.

I LOVE THIS SCANNER. I am converting my paper files to digital to reduce clutter and it is SO FAST. SO SIMPLE. It took me a bit to figure out how to have the PDF files saved to my hard drive instead of the temporary folder... MAKE SURE you do this, because the file folder will erase them when your session is over and you restart your computer. Make sure you're choosing to save to a folder on your hard drive (like Documents), and not just assuming they're safe in the temp folder. Setup was fast and easy. Scanner is quiet. I love it. A huge splurge for our home (not a small business) but I am an office supply dork so I'm thrilled with it. Hope it keeps up the good quality work! Still figuring out the settings and tweaking things like bleedthrough... I am still learning. You won't be disappointed by this powerhouse. Oh, note, it can take LONG sheets of paper (like legal size) but nothing wider than usual.

This was purchased after a lot of research,By far after using it for 6 to 8 months it has proved its worth, My idea was to build up a paperless office that requires a lot of scanning work. If it was to be done on the multi function printers it would have taken out the fun out of it.It scans as if you are applying butter to your bread. smooth and fast with one stroke.The only thing missing is the scanning of continuous stationery papers and papers larger than A4 and legal size. It has an option to scan large papers but that's time consuming processIt resolves the purpose for which i have purchased it

The Fujitsu IX 500 is a great scanner, very fast and handles a wide range of receipts and documents very effectively. I also found it was very good at handling business cards and required little editing after scanning. Generally quite accurate. I had been using a neat scanner but this software is way better, the scanner is fast and accurate and their are no monthly fees. Definitely a great way to go.

El mejor scanner disponible, fácil de usar , configurar, muy rápido, altamente recomendable, el único punto es que es un poco caro