Customer Reviews

Planon Docupen Color Handheld Scanner

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Pros: good ideal. very convenient to use on the go.
Cons:
1) flimsy body built with plastic parts with some edges don't even meet up.
2) poor scan quality, both in BW mode and in color photo mode. Scanned page looks similar to the photo took with cellphone.
3) slow memory read and write speed. too small on-board memory (8MB only)
4) when there is a blank between paragraphs or pictures, it always mistakes this as a sign of end of document and so it always start to write scanned file to memory slowly and then shut off automaticly in the middle of scanning!

I purchased the product based off the reviews from previous customers. However, this is the only Planon Docupen on Amazon that had a good review and I should have followed the other reviews.

Theoretically, this item is good. It is small and compact. I purchased it for the purpose of transferring my books to pdf to read on my kindle.

Practically, it falls by the waist side. I installed and reinstalled the software and of like the 5 programs they give you, only one the Docupen Desk (which is also the cheapest most basic program) works. With the other programs it would have me try to search for the Docupen but couldn't find it even after you go step by step in the installation process and the computer states that the drivers were properly installed.

Functionality: while scanning it only stays on a short period of time so if you haven't finished scanning, your scan if cut short. "Oh but the only reason it is getting cut short is because there is a time frame within to scan." Yes. The only problem that when you are trying to scan within the specified time the red blinker starts going off indicating that you are scanning too fast. The images are not all that great and need to be touched up to make it look decent even on the high resolution. It is most definitely not suitable if this was purchased (like me) in order to scan book pages. If the page is scanned in a portrait form, the first or first couple of words will not be present unless the margin in the center of the book is like 2 inches wide. If it is scanned in landscape, the first couple of letters will be absent. In addition, if you are scanning a page that has an empty space before the next paragraph begins, it assumes the document has ended and will begin processing the scan.

This item had the ability to give many benefits, but wasn't up to par. I received the item today and had been trying to make it work properly all day to no avail. This item will be returned first thing tomorrow.

Bought to my wife. She's a lawyer and loved it.

The counterpoint is that the construction could be more strong. Needs to take care on how to use and store to not get it damaged.

I had high hopes for the Planon Scanner, but have had difficulty downloading images. Even with great technical help from friends, there seems to be something missing in trying to get the product to sync w/the computer. Apparently the disc provided didn't recognize the Planon. I have scanned a few things and the lights operate but I'm not even sure I've been successful as I have yet to see an image. I haven't given up yet...will probably call tech support, but I've spent a lot of my time and other peoples time trying to figure this out and its a "no-go" at this point. Have to factor in how valuable my time (and theirs) is too. So I guess "frustrated" is the operative word for now.

Item perfect as low weight portable scanner; very good performance, achieved after some "training". Definitely to be recommended.

However I will not buy again from Beach Camera.
Despite clear indications on the Docupen box that installation CD was included, when received the CD was missing; box was not sealed (but outside mailing package was!).

Beach Camera reseller, contacted by email and telephone, refused to handle the issue.
I do not know about US, but generally in Europe the dealer is fully responsible for integrity of the product they sell.

So I had to deal personally with the problem, that got solved after several international calls directly with PLANON firm.

Not impressed at all about Beach Camera.

Anyway, issue found solution after several iterations.

IT IS EASY TO USE. IT IS PRACTICE TO CARRY ON. AND IT HAS ENOUGH MEMORY FOR WHAT I NEED.

Lousy web page information, somewhat helpful tech support didn't do much to make this thing work for me. First had to send it back because it wouldn't work with i7 processor. When I finally got the pen scanner back, the quality of a scanned book page was so bad I wanted to return it and asked for the return policy. No real reply to that question--only basic information about how it should work best. Company says it will issue no refund since I purchased it via Amazon. The pen scanner is sitting in the box, and I am out the money paid for it. Writing this so you don't make the same mistake...

I bought RC805 in February 2010 and had moderate success in scanning for a couple of weeks. Only B/W worked well, color scanning was difficult because for some reason after the second page the Pen refused to save these files, though I had a 1GB card installed. Then it happened: I connected the cable to download and the Pen stopped responding. After a few weeks of mails up and down with Planon (they were very quick and helpful then) I sent it to Canada for repair and after 3 months (yes, the delay was terrible) they sent me a new one saying they could not repair it. Because of some blunder by UPS I had to pay some $36 for the delivery but I was happy with the new pen. At least for two weeks, since now I could scan and download color fotos too. Then again, after another connection with the cable the pen refused to respond. After two months of mails up and down with Planon Support manager, we figured what had gone wrong: The USB cable has a small rectangular socket at the other end and I had connected it the wrong way up! Unlike USB socket, that end had nothing to prevent you from pushing in the wrong side up and the arrow indicating the right side up is barely visible (under dimmed room illumination conditions). Such an error is quite possible and I was surprised that nobody reported this problem before. And that makes the pen malfunction and no way to repair it.
The worst part is, after figuring out why my second pen failed, Planon customer support froze communication with me completely and refuse to send me return number for repairing the Pen. Now I am stuck with $200 Pen that serves for nothing. Luckily it does not take up much space in my cupboard for MONUMENTS ON TECHNICAL IGNORANCE.

excellent prodcut, I take it everywhere with me on the road, great clear scanning ,after about the 3rd try it is very easy to use , well made and solid, I would recommend this product fully

A real good product - without a doubt a definite for the toy box and even a definite for the briefcase.

I couldn't imagine the joy that you could have using it out and about on the town (and for what it's designed to do). I would have no problem buying into whatever the company had (their other upgrades). Like I feel about Snagit, Spell Catcher Plus and Franklin Speaking Dictionaries (Franklin's word search RULES).

However, I just use it around the house - for not always having to get up and dragging my book to my multifunctional printer, it's a joy. I mean, it's no doubt the ground floor on an industry, and improvements will still be made (it's got it's problems - but what doesn't - also you'll need to, right away, get a 2GB SD card, for more memory). But for now, I'm certainly happy to have one to mess around with. I mean it's not going to "not work" but rather how "accessible" is the page your scanning (is the print close to the spine, is it a post card with it's lump as you start to slide the pen across) what I'm saying is "logistics" is the issue (you have to develop a smooth flow with your swipe or it messes with the image).... But, for a new possible industry that I'm hopeful for in the future, I'm happy to take one for the team...