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Fujitsu ScanSnap S1100 review

Our Rating :
Price when reviewed : £158
inc VAT

This lightweight, compact mobile scanner seems a little fragile, but it's bundled with class-leading software that makes it a joy to use

A typical scanner or multifunction peripheral isn’t much use for anyone who needs to scan documents while out and about. Fortunately, Fujitsu is one of a few manufacturers producing highly portable compact devices for just such a need. The S1100 is the smaller of two portable devices in the ScanSnap range; the other is the S1300, which has more sophisticated paper management and costs about £60 more.

The ScanSnap S1100 is about the same size and weight as a small roll of cling film, so it’s easy to find room for it in a briefcase or overnight bag. A drop-down flap covers the front slot and doubles as a power switch, while a second flap at the back sends the paper either on a straight-through path, or flips it over ready for scanning the reverse side if needed. Although the scanner feels precisely made, it’s not especially sturdy and isn’t supplied with a case. Fujitsu’s own will set you back an eye-watering £50.

Fujitsu ScanSnap S1100

There’s little in the S1100’s specifications to set it apart from competing devices such as the HP ScanJet 1000 Professional, or the Plustek MobileOffice S420. All three scan at a maximum resolution of 600 dots per inch (dpi) and take the power they need from their USB data connection so there’s no need to carry a separate power supply, but only the HP can scan both sides of a sheet in the same pass (duplex). Where the ScanSnap does stand out, however, is in its bundled software, which supports neither the TWAIN or ISIS standards.

This might sound like a bad thing – and it does mean that you can’t scan documents directly into photo-editing applications as you would with other scanners – but the S1100 is designed for capturing everyday office documents, and Fujitsu’s proprietary software helps make this incredibly easy. To capture an original you simply line up the first sheet, press the start/stop button and keep feeding sheets before pressing the button again to stop. This brings up the Quick Menu, in which you select what you want to do with the captured documents.

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Details

Rating ****

Tested Scan Speeds

Full scan area preview N/A
A4 document at 150dpi 9s
A4 document at 300dpi 9s
6x4in photo at 600dpi N/A
6x4in photo at 1200dpi N/A
Single 35mm negative at 2400dpi N/A
Single 35mm negative at max dpi N/A

Specifications

Scanner technology CIS
Max optical resolution 600x600dpi
Max interpolated resolution 600dpi
Output bit depth 24-bit
Maximum document size A4/Letter
Maximum transparency size N/A
Film formats accepted No
Function buttons 1
Scan head lock None
USB powered yes
Supported operating systems Windows XP/Vista/7, Mac OS X 10.4 or later
Software included ScanSnap Manager, ScanSnap Organiser, ABBYY FineReader, CardMinder, Evernote for Windows

Physical

USB cable included yes
Interface USB
Size 34x273x48mm
Weight 350g
Power consumption standby N/A
Power consumption active N/A

Buying Information

Price £158
Supplier http://www.morecomputers.com
Details www.fujitsu.com

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