CardScan Executive v8 Card Scanner by CardScan
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List Price: Our Price: $99.95 You Save: $264.04 (73%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $92.99 (click here) Category: CE See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of CardScan Executive v8 Card Scanner
Digital camera Review: Easy to use
Summary: 3 Stars
The scanner and software are definitely easy to use. The only thing I don't love is that the cards don't process into your computer until after all of the scanning is done. When I'm putting hundreds of cards through at once, I have to wait a long time to check the accuracy because it's uploading all of the images.
Other than that, the machine works great and is very easy to use.
Digital camera Review: Exactly what I needed.
Summary: 5 Stars
I am so far very happy with this product. It's quick and extremely accurate (I have to correct 1/15 cards which I find to be a very decent ratio). The best part is the software. It's very easy to use, and does exactly what you want with no unnecessary options. I find too many programs today have so much clutter that it's impossible to find the useful buttons. Overall I am very happy with it.
I am also quite intrigued with the "at you service" product that allows you to store and access your contacts online. I haven't signed up to it because I have an uneasy feeling having my contacts on the web. Has anyone had any experience with it? Please leave feedback if you have.
Digital camera Review: Exceeded Expectations
Summary: 4 Stars
After years of delaying the purchase of a business card scanner, I decided to make the plunge after amassing a pile of 300+ business cards. Generally, I am an early adopter of any technology that introduces additional efficiency in my life. However, I was a bit skittish about obtaining a business card scanner as the general impressions I have received regarding the product category has been quite negative. However, despite a few of its shortcomings, the CardScan Executive has been a worthwhile investment.
In the past, coworkers have argued that the accuracy of such products is so low (<90%) that they offer little value beyond the manual entry process. While the OCR accuracy of scanning complicated multicolored business cards is in fact only 85% to 90%, the CardScan software facilitates very rapid manual correction of the data. Not only are all of the relevant fields laid out in a consistent tabular form regardless of the original order, but the CardScan software highlights questionable data. At the same time, it allows the user to compare this data to the saved scanned image of the card. This juxtaposition is an important element of the value proposition of CardScan Executive solution. Regardless of the accuracy, the scanned images can be flipped through while inspecting the estimated OCR text. It is important to note that the user can scan hundreds of business cards, rapidly one at a time, before any of the time consuming manual correction takes place.
This automated process capability is one element of the software that I didn't fully understand before purchase. Assume you have 500 business cards that have elaborate graphics, which leads you to correctly guess there may be a high error rate. This isn't necessarily a problem as you can 1) scan all of the cards then 2) process (i.e. OCR)then 3) verify manually. The manual step can be done weeks later if you chose. In my case, I often don't know if I will need any of the cards, so the ability to scan and throw away the paper cards is important. Unfortunately it does not have a multi-card sheet feeder so assume that 5-10 seconds per card must be devoted to the original scanning process.
Another shortcoming of the CardScan Executive solution is that it does not learn as it goes. For example, if you have several business cards with crazy graphics from employees of a single company, the software does not recognize that you already identified key text on the previously manually verified cards. Moreover, where it can correctly recognize URLs and email domain names, the software can't intelligently determine the company name with this information. The difference between the domain name and the spelling of the company name is most notable with companies that have elaborate icons embedded in their company names.
The limitations of the device and software are most likely driven by cost. For several thousand dollars, the afforementioned limitations could be addressed. Yet, at this price point, most individuals who place a value of their time of greater than $20/hour (very low bar for white collar workers) and who want to digitize more than 225 business cards throughout the life of the product will receive a positive return on their investment.
Calculation
3 minutes saved per card for 225 cards = 11.25 hours
11.25 hours @ $20/hour = $225 > $200 purchase price
Pros
Relatively fast scanning
Easy Setup
Software productivity aids for manual verification
Cons
No automated sheet feeder
Does not learn from previous verifications or intelligently extract data from the different parts of the card to improve OCR (i.e. company name matched to URL/email domain)
Digital camera Review: Excelente herramienta de trabajo
Summary: 5 Stars
Muy sencillo y facil de usar. Me permitio librarme de mas de 1000 tarjetas que almacenadas en libretas no eran practicas de consultar.Digital camera Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been using for over 6-8 months, and absolutely love it. No matter how i insert the card, it grabs the information. Some cards are difficult to read..however such cards are essentially few and far between..these are mostly non-traditional and extremely silly "business" cards.
Overall good compatibility...i export the cards to outlook and then to my phone...Has helped me get rid of my stack of 1000+ visiting cards, and make them more manageable...Highly recommended!