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$267.99 list($299.99)
1. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Standard
$394.99 $339.00 list($449.99)
2. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Professional
$141.49 list($159.99)
3. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Professional
Too low to display $93.72 list($99.99)
4. ScanSoft PDF Converter Professional
$89.99 $87.95 list($99.99)
5. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Standard Upgrade
$141.49 $139.97 list($159.99)
6. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Professional
$124.99 $104.00 list($149.99)
7. Omnipage Pro 14
$132.99 $132.95 list($169.99)
8. IRIS Business Card Reader II for
$169.99 list($199.99)
9. ScanSoft PaperPort Professional
$169.95 list($199.00)
10. IRIS Pen II Executive Scanner
$85.49 $61.99 list($99.99)
11. ScanSoft PaperPort 10
$104.49 $99.99 list($129.99)
12. ReadIris Pro 9 for Mac OS X
$298.79 list($249.99)
13. CardScan Executive Color Business
$142.49 list($159.99)
14. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Professional
$512.99 $179.00 list($599.99)
15. OmniPage Pro 14 Office
$267.99 list($299.99)
16. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Standard (Mac)
$142.49 list($159.99)
17. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Professional
$118.74 $108.95 list($129.99)
18. ReadIris Pro 10
$85.49 $78.95 list($99.99)
19. OmniForm 5.0
$45.59 list($49.99)
20. Scansoft PDF Converter 3.0

1. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Standard
by Adobe
list price: $299.99
our price: $267.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B00069E7JA
Catlog: Software
Manufacturer: Adobe
Sales Rank: 52
Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Product Description

Transform PDF files into Intelligent Documents

Adobe® Acrobat® 7.0 Standard software is the simple way to create and share more secure and reliable Adobe PDF documents. Generate Adobe PDF files that accurately represent the original document, and take advantage of robust tools for sharing information and commenting on electronic files.

Features:

  • Create Adobe PDF documents from Microsoft Outlook Collect, convert, and organize Microsoft Outlook e-mails into searchable Adobe PDF documents. Include attachments, links, and bookmarks sorted by sender, date, or subject. (Windows® only)
  • Enjoy improved performance With improved performance you can quickly convert, collect, and organize Adobe PDF documents.
  • Use enhanced headers, footers, and watermarks Easily add headers, footers, and watermarks.
  • Enjoy improved attachment capabilities: Easily attach source files such as spreadsheets and images to an Adobe PDF document.
  • Organize Adobe PDF documents: Quickly find Adobe PDF documents you have recently opened. See them as thumbnails, and drag and drop files into related collections.
... Read more

Features

  • Assemble documents—create a single Adobe PDF file from multiple sources—including Web pages and e-mail—to deliver one professional document that anyone can open using free Adobe Reader 7.0 software.
  • Protect sensitive and confidential documents—control documents inside and outside the firewall, online and offline.
  • Easily create Adobe PDF files—create PDF documents with one-button ease from Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Windows users can also convert to PDF from Access, Internet Explorer, Outlook, and Publisher.
  • Enjoy improved performance—with improved performance you can quickly convert, collect, and organize Adobe PDF documents.
  • Create Adobe PDF documents from Microsoft Outlook—Collect, convert, and organize Microsoft Outlook e-mails into searchable Adobe PDF documents. Include attachments, links, and bookmarks sorted by sender, date, or subject.

Reviews (3)

4-0 out of 5 stars WOW Great program.
Review of "Adobe Acrobat 7 Standard"
by Randy Brandon.


Pros:Feature rich, and robust.Simple user interface.

Cons: No full manual.

What can you say about the Adobe Acrobat program?What you should be saying is WOW!

Who would have guessed that all of these years down the road that Acrobat would have become such a total industry standard. And that there would be no fewer than four Acrobat programs to work with; Acrobat 7 Pro, Acrobat 7 Standard, Acrobat Elements, and of course Acrobat Reader.

I have been an Acrobat user since way back in Version 3, and I still use some form of Acrobat at some time during every day.

What I still think is a bit odd, is that dozens of people that I consult with about their computers every day, still have no real idea as to what Acrobat files really are, or even how to create them.They know what they look like, and use the free reader to view them, but that is a far as most of them go.

So, with that thought in mind, here goes my very own explanation as to what Adobe Acrobat does.It is a graphics application program that bundles, and encapsulates graphic and text files together into a single file.Now this is an extremely simplified version of what the program ultimately does, but you get the gist of its main purpose, and function.

That usually begs the next question:Why do I need to bundle all these files together?
The short answer is that if you want to insure that the person receiving your file is seeing the file like it looked on your side when you sent it.

And, in their own words " Adobe® Acrobat® 7.0 Standard software is the simple way to create and share more secure, reliable Adobe PDF documents"




So, in its essence, Acrobat 7 is the great equalizer, and the supreme translator all wrapped into one program.Ever since the computer/internet world found its legs, there was a problem with people sending a combined graphics and text file.And when they sent it, the layout looked great to the sender.But, alas, when that file arrived on the other end, it was a mess with text over here, and photos over there, etc.

The solution was Acrobat. This application was built to convert all types of file formats into a singular format that anyone could view with a free browser on all computers.

In making this giant leap to Version 7 Acrobat from my ancient version 4, I am a bit star struck with all of the new features in Acrobat 7.

To start with, there are numerous programs out there which can now create PDF files via a one click feature.These include Office, Excel, Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express.
Several of these options are Windows only features, and we can only hope that the Mac mail and browser programs will soon be added to this list.

And here is a new twist;You can now attach a file to your PDF document. Sort of like putting an attachment to your attachment...

There are several improvements to adding headers, footers, backgrounds, and watermarks, and the process is much easier that it ever was.

As always , the usage rights that users issue with their PDF files can be even more customized than before.Added control of the end useris really the key when limiting that control is important.

Acrobat 7 now supports both static, and interactive forms. Those Interactive type of forms created with either Acrobat Professional, or Adobe Designer allow for digital signatures, and electronic form completion.

Passing documents for review back and forth from art director to client, and back again is what Acrobatdoes very well.All browser based reviewsdone with a Mac are performed through Safari.

So when a designer sends out an Acrobat file to a client for review, the PDF files arrives at the client side, and a commenting toolbar shows up(if sent in a managed review document).
The reviewing tools provided include;The Callout tool,Group markups, Dimensioning tool, Exporting of comments and markup,Tracking Reviews, and finally, Approving documents in 4 eastern languages.There is a lot of control here, and that is why designers like it so much.

New security features allow foreven more secure signature validation, plus revokable limits, and even secured attachments to your PDF files.

There are noticeable improvements to the accessibility features.There is extended language support, along with a much faster searching function that I personally use a great deal.

Acrobat 7 has now added an "Autosave" feature that can safeguard your data being backed up to another file name without messing up the original.


For the times when it is necessary to view some 3D content in a PDF file, version 7 can now do just that.

Version 7 can now create, and save "PDF/A" files for archiving,It can also scan paper documents directly into a searchable PDF file.Very nice.

One of the newest features in Version 7 is the new "Organizer", and is similar to Photoshop's Browser.Very easy to use, and well thought out.

There are lots of additional new features included with this version 7, but I will let you do the additional exploring for yourselves.Adobe has always been at the forefront in loading up their software with amazing features, and this latest version of Acrobat 7 certainly proves that point.The entire Acrobat family has grown to epic proportions in the scope of what it can do for documents, and their users.It's popularity in itself shows that the program works, and not only does what it is supposed to do, but does it beautifully.

Adobe Acrobat 7 steps up to the plate, and knocks it out of the park.Oh, did I mention that I am impressed?Now, some of my amazement could possibly stem from my shock at jumping from a much older version to this new version 7, but great software is a joy to use, especially when you need it.

Adobe Acrobat 7 is afeature rich, amazing, and quality product.There simply is no substitute.If you don't already own it, then you need to.

1-0 out of 5 stars Trouble with Acrobat, you must pay to get help.
Be warned: If you have any problems with Acrobat, their only interest in helping you is obtaining your credit card number. Then, MAYBE they can help you. I was unable to make pdfs from certain programs which have worked before, and which even work on an identical computer. Both computers are brand new. When I called, the person was rude, arrogant, and condescending. Unless I gave him my credit card number, he would not help me. He would not give his last name, allow me to speak with a supervisor or even give me his supervisor's name. I have Acrobat software which is useless to me.

4-0 out of 5 stars Still the leader in document creation and protection.
The most immediate feature you will notice about Acrobat 7.0 from previous versions is the load time.Although still not the fastest program, the loading time is cut dramatically from 6.0.It also does a very nice job of converting webpages into PDF files.Great for sharing.

Some of the new features in 7.0:

Adobe® Acrobat® 7.0 Standard software is the simple way to create and share more secure and reliable Adobe PDF documents.

* Create Adobe PDF documents from Microsoft Outlook
* Enjoy improved performance
* Use enhanced headers, footers, and watermarks
* Enjoy improved attachment capabilities
* Organize Adobe PDF documents

The READER is still a free download if you don't need to create/edit docs. ... Read more


2. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Professional
by Adobe
list price: $449.99
our price: $394.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B00069E7KO
Catlog: Software
Manufacturer: Adobe
Sales Rank: 64
Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Product Description

Adobe® Acrobat® 7.0 Professional software is the advanced way to create, control, and deliver more secure, high-quality Adobe PDF documents. Assemble electronic or paper fileseven Web sites, engineering drawings, and e-mailinto reliable PDF documents that are easy to share with others using free Adobe Reader® 7.0 software.

Features:

  • Enjoy improved performanceWith improved performance you can quickly convert, collect, and organize Adobe PDF documents.
  • Extend commenting capabilities Enable anyone who uses free Adobe Reader® 7.0 software to actively participate in reviews.
  • Easily design Adobe PDF forms Use Adobe LiveCycle™ Designer 7.0 software (now included with Adobe Acrobat 7.0 ProfessionalWindows® only) to create PDF forms that look like the paper forms they replace. Incorporate business logic, such as calculations and data validations.
  • Organize Adobe PDF documents Quickly find a list of Adobe PDF documents you have recently opened. View them as thumbnails, and drag and drop files into related collections.
  • Enjoy improved attachment capabilities Easily attach source documents such as spreadsheets, multimedia files, images, and drawings to an Adobe PDF document.
... Read more

Features

  • Easily attach source documents such as spreadsheets, multimedia files, images, and drawings to an Adobe PDF document
  • Enable anyone with free Adobe Reader 7.0 software to use highlighter, sticky note, pen, and other commenting tools
  • Create PDF files with the click of a button from Microsoft applications and AutoCAD
  • Create a single Adobe PDF document from multiple sources, including portions of Web pages and previously combined Adobe PDF documents
  • Use the included Adobe LiveCycle Designer 7.0 software to create PDF forms that look like the paper forms they replace

Reviews (13)

1-0 out of 5 stars BEWARE - massive compatibility issues
That's right if you have fillable forms created in a previous version and expect to change them, your out of luck.I thought compatibility was the cornerstone of Acrobat.

Our firm does over $300 Million worth of business a year.We thought that Acrobat Professional ability to create fillable forms that could be shared, updated, and filled out by clients was a blessing.We not have dozens of worthless forms. And then there's the embarrassment when a client with Acrobat 7 can't fill out a form.THINK OF THE COST!

Adobe's site doesn't even mention the issue (although, their site search and help system is so poor that it may be their somewhere - who knows.)

At first, I thought I was doing something wrong.But, when I called support I was told that forms were not compatible.The service person then told me that she thought there might be a fix.However, without a service plan we'd have to pay to talk to Technical Support.We paid good money for this software (we buy multiple licenses) and only had this version for two days.

Considering the magnitude of this issue.I'm guessing there are other major problems with this release of Acrobat..

Adobe should fire its entire staff of software developers and the arrogant managers who let this software hit the market without providing fully functional compatibility.


5-0 out of 5 stars So Far, So Good
This is actually my review for the upgrade product, but I can't seem to edit my original review there to add my update.So, I'm posting it here just so it's available online:

So far, I'm very pleased with this upgrade from my Adobe Acrobat Standard 6.0 to Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0. The installation process went flawlessly and everything still works. Also, this version seems to start up MUCH faster than the previous version. It might be due to the "Adobe Acrobat Speed Launcher" which is now in my XP Home Startup Group, but since that doesn't seem to lengthen my Windows boot process, it's transparent, and welcome, to me. A couple of other very welcome changes are that 1) Acrobat appears to have linked into Windows Explorer: using the Thumbnail view, Windows Explorer now displays the first page of PDFs instead of just the generic Acrobat logo, and 2) the Organizer tool gives Acrobat the ability to do some PDF-related document management. Combined, these two capabilities might give enough functionality to let me stop using Scansoft's PaperPort for my document management needs and just use Acrobat. I'll keep looking into it.

UPDATE:After working with Acrobat as my PDF document manager for about a week and having gone through its entire help file (793 pages), I've decided to use it instead of my previous Scansoft PaperPort 9/OmniPage Pro 14 setup.It's not the best in the world, but it's workable.My document management needs are simple:I need to scan in my receipts and account statements to PDF format, OCR them so they're searchable, and manage them so I can find them.For various reasons that are unimportant here, Scansoft has irritated me into trying alternatives:Adobe Acrobat appears to be it.I can use Acrobat's Create PDF function to scan my documents and OCR them.I can then use its Organizer to see those PDFs in one of three ways:1) grouped under various History folders, 2) organized into a directory tree with options to set up Favorite folders, or 3) in various collections that I can produce which include links to documents of my choice.For text searching across my disk, I still use Copernic Desktop Search (free) as I did with Scansoft (though I could set up a Search Index in Acrobat, instead).My only complaints are that 1) the scanning/OCR process is slower in Acrobat since it opens and closes my scanner's interface for each page (instead of leaving it open), 2) Acrobat's OCR results aren't as accurate as Scansoft's, and 3) if I scan to a Searchable Image, Acrobat doesn't give me an opportunity to correct Suspect words.If I scan to Formatted Text & Graphics, I can edit Suspect words, but I end up with Acrobat's attempt to recreate the document instead of an actual picture of it with searchable text hidden behind it.Oh, well.I can live with that since it will allow me to get rid of two applications and the PDF it produces is about half the size of what I was getting with Scansoft.

For those interested, my upgrade process is below:

The first thing I did was uninstall my previous copy of Acrobat (version 6, standard). I did this through Start | Control Panel | Add or Remove Programs and uninstalled all the Acrobat stuff in the reverse order I installed it. I then rebooted (just to be sure) and ran this version's SETUP program. After I entered this version's serial number, it asked me for my previous version's CD for verification (it also gave me the option of verifying my upgrade status by phoning Adobe). I put the CD in the drive, it recognized it, and finished the installation. It then prompted me to activate the product over the internet (which I did without problem). Again, just to be sure, I rebooted (which wasn't necessary), and started up Acrobat. It immediately prompted me to register via the internet (which I did without problem) and asked if I wanted it to automatically check for critical updates. I said "yes" and it went out and got the current 7.0.1 update. I installed that, rebooted (not necessary), and was up and running. I started up all my programs which might use Acrobat files, opened a few of them, and all looks good.

Even though Acrobat's OCR process isn't as accurate or as fast as I'd hoped, everything else looks good. So, I'm giving the product a rating of 5 stars out of 5.

5-0 out of 5 stars Improved again.
As a user of Acrobat from version 4.0 I have to say that once the use of a new version becomes familiar, there has always been a definite improvement. New users, of course, don’t have any choice about what version they will be using, so comparisons to previous versions is rather pointless for them.

Users of version 7 should be aware that many of 7.0’s features will only be readily available to those using Windows and Acrobat Reader 7.0 to view their documents. Yes,Acrobat Reader 7.0 is now available for Linux, but the installation does not automatically link to any media players installed, andmany embedded media files will most probably not be available. Cross document and many other links should also be given due consideration, as they will fail in a Linux installation. If in doubt, check.

The ‘Reduce File Size’ is a useful feature carried over from 6.0. This should be used to downgrade an Acrobat 7.0 file for users who will be using Acrobat Reader 5.0 - which is a lot -to eliminate the alert pop up about Reader incompatibility, even though there may be no incompatibility. This will apply to any .pdf with only images and text, etc. Not doing so has been frequently known to cause a recipient to panic and refuse to open the .pdf. This feature will also have a surprisingly beneficial result for the size of a .pdf. Reducing from 250 - 150 KB. is not unusual. But be sure to check the effect on image quality, if this is an important consideration.

The extra integration with MS-Office is more of a nuisance than a convenience, I find. But maybe casual newbies will appreciate this.

Anyone using Word for publishing purposes should consider InDesign and Framemaker instead, as they are more properly integrated with Acrobat in the first place.

The price of Acrobat has certainly increased dramatically since the days of 4.0. But then it’s no more expensive than a decent colour printer, and is a lot more versatile.

5-0 out of 5 stars Acrobat is the Cornerstone of Knowledge Management
I train over 100 people per month on Acrobat. It is the only program that can bring the output from all programs together in one format and maintain document integrity. All the students are loving the improvements in Acrobat 7.
The adding of macros into Office Products is a great productivity tool that is universally accepted by all my students. I get several questions per month from students wanting to add the macros when Windows security is set too tight for all the macros to be added. Just printing PDF through the distiller does not create all the intelligence that is available in a PDF document.
Adobe is real good about asking for comments from the user community. If you want new features or changes in the next edition there is a portal on the Adobe website for your comments.
ISO is adopting numerous standards around PDF. PDF-A (archival) will be realeased in the next couple months. It will be the only format that can handle text, raster and vector. ISO PDF-E (engineering) is under development - it will revolutionize engineering. Acrobat 7 allows creation of 3-D PDF files that can be annimated and viewed in the Acrobat 7 Reader. Adobe publishes the PDF spec and encourages developers to expand the program. You can purchase third-party plugins to expand the functionality.
Finally we have a common format for the computer world to communicate. It will not replace other programs, but will allow us to communicate in one format. Imagine a 3000 page file with outputs from AutoCAD, Word, excel, microstation, scanning and numerous other programs. Now imagine searching everyting including drawings in 2 seconds. With Acrobat 7 you can do it.

1-0 out of 5 stars Don't buy Version 7!
I paid full retail price for Acrobat 7.0 based on my assumtion about Adobe's reputation.What a huge mistake!Acrobat 7 will take over your machine and spread its tentacles into nearly all of your applications. The arrogance of Adobe is truly amazing.I couldn't make it work with Netscape, but I also couldn't remove it and use Reader 6.0 either.It seems they know best how you want to use your computer, and they enforce their methods upon you.Good luck if you have any problems or questions: the technical support people wanted $40.00 to answer a simple question, and this was immediately after I purchased and registered the product.I finally had to uninstall Acrobat completely from my machine.I've just wasted $450.00.

Steer clear of Version 7! ... Read more


3. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Professional Upgrade from Standard Version 4-7
by Adobe
list price: $159.99
our price: $141.49
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B00069ECAO
Catlog: Software
Manufacturer: Adobe
Sales Rank: 55
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Product Description

Collect, produce, and share Intelligent Documents

Adobe® Acrobat® 7.0 Professional software is the advanced way to create, control, and deliver more secure, high-quality Adobe PDF documents. Assemble electronic or paper fileseven Web sites, engineering drawings, and e-mailinto reliable PDF documents that are easy to share with others using free Adobe Reader® 7.0 software.

New features

  • Enjoy improved performance
    With improved performance you can quickly convert, collect, and organize Adobe PDF documents.

  • Extend commenting capabilities
    Enable anyone who uses free Adobe Reader® 7.0 software to actively participate in reviews.

  • Easily design Adobe PDF forms
    Use Adobe LiveCycle™ Designer 7.0 software (now included with Adobe Acrobat 7.0 ProfessionalWindows® only) to create PDF forms that look like the paper forms they replace. Incorporate business logic, such as calculations and data validations.

  • Organize Adobe PDF documents
    Quickly find a list of Adobe PDF documents you have recently opened. View them as thumbnails, and drag and drop files into related collections.

  • Enjoy improved attachment capabilities
    Easily attach source documents such as spreadsheets, multimedia files, images, and drawings to an Adobe PDF document.
Note: To qualify for this upgrade version you must be a licensed user of Acrobat 4.x, 5.x or Acrobat 6.x, 7.0 Standard.

... Read more

Features

  • Easily attach source documents such as spreadsheets, multimedia files, images, and drawings to an Adobe PDF document
  • Enable anyone with free Adobe Reader 7.0 software to use highlighter, sticky note, pen, and other commenting tools
  • Create PDF files with the click of a button from Microsoft applications and AutoCAD
  • Create a single Adobe PDF document from multiple sources, including portions of Web pages and previously combined Adobe PDF documents
  • Use the included Adobe LiveCycle Designer 7.0 software to create PDF forms that look like the paper forms they replace

Reviews (3)

1-0 out of 5 stars Massive compatibility issues - Beware!
That's right if you have fillable forms created in a previous version and expect to change them, your out of luck.I thought compatibility was the cornerstone of Acrobat.

Our firm does over $300 Million worth of business a year.We thought that Acrobat Professional ability to create fillable forms that could be shared, updated, and filled out by clients was a blessing.We not have dozens of worthless forms. And then there's the embarrassment when a client with Acrobat 7 can't fill out a form.THINK OF THE COST!

Adobe's site doesn't even mention the issue (although, their site search and help system is so poor that it may be their somewhere - who knows.)

At first, I thought I was doing something wrong.But, when I called support I was told that forms were not compatible.The service person then told me that she thought there might be a fix.However, without a service plan we'd have to pay to talk to Technical Support.We paid good money for this software (we buy multiple licenses) and only had this version for two days.

Considering the magnitude of this issue.I'm guessing there are other major problems with this release of Acrobat..

Adobe should fire its entire staff of software developers and the arrogant managers who let this software hit the market without providing fully functional compatibility.

5-0 out of 5 stars Interested in followup
David,
I'd be real interested in your experience with the Organizer tool and document management.Thanks.You can also email me at LHouseman@HousemanSeeligson(no spam).com

5-0 out of 5 stars So Far, So Good
So far, I'm very pleased with this upgrade from my Adobe Acrobat Standard 6.0 to Adobe Acrobat Professional 7.0. The installation process went flawlessly and everything still works. Also, this version seems to start up MUCH faster than the previous version. It might be due to the "Adobe Acrobat Speed Launcher" which is now in my XP Home Startup Group, but since that doesn't seem to lengthen my Windows boot process, it's transparent, and welcome, to me. A couple of other very welcome changes are that 1) Acrobat appears to have linked into Windows Explorer: using the Thumbnail view, Windows Explorer now displays the first page of PDFs instead of just the generic Acrobat logo, and 2) the Organizer tool gives Acrobat the ability to do some PDF-related document management. Combined, these two capabilities might give enough functionality to let me stop using Scansoft's PaperPort for my document management needs and just use Acrobat. I'll keep looking into it.

UPDATE:After working with Acrobat as my PDF document manager for about a week and having gone through its entire help file (793 pages), I've decided to use it instead of my previous Scansoft PaperPort 9/OmniPage Pro 14 setup.It's not the best in the world, but it's workable.My document management needs are simple:I need to scan in my receipts and account statements to PDF format, OCR them so they're searchable, and manage them so I can find them.For various reasons that are unimportant here, Scansoft has irritated me into trying alternatives:Adobe Acrobat appears to be it.I can use Acrobat's Create PDF function to scan my documents and OCR them.I can then use its Organizer to see those PDFs in one of three ways:1) grouped under various History folders, 2) organized into a directory tree with options to set up Favorite folders, or 3) in various collections that I can produce which include links to documents of my choice.For text searching across my disk, I still use Copernic Desktop Search (free) as I did with Scansoft (though I could set up a Search Index in Acrobat, instead).My only complaints are that 1) the scanning/OCR process is slower in Acrobat since it opens and closes my scanner's interface for each page (instead of leaving it open), 2) Acrobat's OCR results aren't as accurate as Scansoft's, and 3) if I scan to a Searchable Image, Acrobat doesn't give me an opportunity to correct Suspect words.If I scan to Formatted Text & Graphics, I can edit Suspect words, but I end up with Acrobat's attempt to recreate the document instead of an actual picture of it with searchable text hidden behind it.Oh, well.I can live with that since it will allow me to get rid of two applications and the PDF it produces is about half the size of what I was getting with Scansoft.

For those interested, my upgrade process is below:

The first thing I did was uninstall my previous copy of Acrobat (version 6, standard). I did this through Start | Control Panel | Add or Remove Programs and uninstalled all the Acrobat stuff in the reverse order I installed it. I then rebooted (just to be sure) and ran this version's SETUP program. After I entered this version's serial number, it asked me for my previous version's CD for verification (it also gave me the option of verifying my upgrade status by phoning Adobe). I put the CD in the drive, it recognized it, and finished the installation. It then prompted me to activate the product over the internet (which I did without problem). Again, just to be sure, I rebooted (which wasn't necessary), and started up Acrobat. It immediately prompted me to register via the internet (which I did without problem) and asked if I wanted it to automatically check for critical updates. I said "yes" and it went out and got the current 7.0.1 update. I installed that, rebooted (not necessary), and was up and running. I started up all my programs which might use Acrobat files, opened a few of them, and all looks good.

Even though Acrobat's OCR process isn't as accurate or as fast as I'd hoped, everything else looks good. So, I'm giving the product a rating of 5 stars out of 5. ... Read more


4. ScanSoft PDF Converter Professional 3.0
by Scansoft
list price: $99.99
our price: Too low to display
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B00094OT7C
Catlog: Software
Manufacturer: Scansoft
Sales Rank: 241
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Product Description

PDF Converter Pro 3.0 ... Read more

Features

  • Combine multiple source files, such as JPEGs,Word files and Web pages, to create a single PDF file to share your work as an integrated document.
  • PDF Converter delivers everything the business user needs, including powerful document and form creation, conversion and editing.
  • Instantly create 100% industry-standard PDF files that can be read, printed, or processed.
  • For the first time you can edit directly within a PDF file. Add copy, rearrange words, even change the position of charts and graphics.
  • Convert PDF Files into Microsoft Word, Excel and Corel WordPerfect documents.

Reviews (4)

2-0 out of 5 stars Better than Version 2...I hope!
Version 2 of this product was highly overrated in my opinion, with PDF-to-Word conversions fair at best.Format preservation is usually mediocre and requires significant post-conversion editing.Upgrade rebate/cost is an insult to users who were, and will be, ScanSoft's beta-testers.Supplied macros often cause Microsoft Office applications to load slowly and/or crash. Updates and needed fixes to Version 2 rarely materialized during its life-cycle.

5-0 out of 5 stars Better than I had hoped
I have wanted to buy Acrobat for a long time, but couldn't rationalize 300 bucks to get it.Then comes along this beauty for under $100.The PDF to Word with formatting is like magic.PDF for the masses for sure.Saving 200 bucks and getting magic...

1-0 out of 5 stars Where's the upgrade rebate?
Where's the upgrade rebate for the loyal customers that bought the prior version, which is not as good as the claims? Oh, but this is the company that charges you money to tell them of a flaw in their own program. Incredible how poor these clowns run this company.

5-0 out of 5 stars A solid alternative to Adobe Acrobat
I found this to be an amazing PDF product - but its not from Adobe.I have used Acrobat in the past, but this does things that Acrobat doesn't do - like turn PDF back into Word, and turning forms into fill-able forms. I use scansoft Paperport too, and this works perfect with the PDF files from scanners. ... Read more


5. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Standard Upgrade from Standard Version 4-6
by Adobe
list price: $99.99
our price: $89.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B00069EAFG
Catlog: Software
Manufacturer: Adobe
Sales Rank: 113
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Product Description

Transform PDF files into Intelligent Documents

Adobe® Acrobat® 7.0 Standard software is the simple way to create and share more secure and reliable Adobe PDF documents. Generate Adobe PDF files that accurately represent the original document, and take advantage of robust tools for sharing information and commenting on electronic files.

Features:

  • Create Adobe PDF documents from Microsoft Outlook Collect, convert, and organize Microsoft Outlook e-mails into searchable Adobe PDF documents. Include attachments, links, and bookmarks sorted by sender, date, or subject. (Windows® only)
  • Enjoy improved performance With improved performance you can quickly convert, collect, and organize Adobe PDF documents.
  • Use enhanced headers, footers, and watermarks Easily add headers, footers, and watermarks.
  • Enjoy improved attachment capabilities: Easily attach source files such as spreadsheets and images to an Adobe PDF document.
  • Organize Adobe PDF documents: Quickly find Adobe PDF documents you have recently opened. See them as thumbnails, and drag and drop files into related collections.
Note: This upgrade is for licensed users of Acrobat 4.x, 5.x, or 6.x Standard only.

... Read more

Features

  • Assemble documents—create a single Adobe PDF file from multiple sources—including Web pages and e-mail—to deliver one professional document that anyone can open using free Adobe Reader 7.0 software.
  • Protect sensitive and confidential documents—control documents inside and outside the firewall, online and offline.
  • Easily create Adobe PDF files—create PDF documents with one-button ease from Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Windows users can also convert to PDF from Access, Internet Explorer, Outlook, and Publisher.
  • Enjoy improved performance—with improved performance you can quickly convert, collect, and organize Adobe PDF documents.
  • Create Adobe PDF documents from Microsoft Outlook—Collect, convert, and organize Microsoft Outlook e-mails into searchable Adobe PDF documents. Include attachments, links, and bookmarks sorted by sender, date, or subject.

Reviews (3)

5-0 out of 5 stars A Good Upgrade
I upgraded from Version 5. I don't use very many of the features. But the big difference I see is, files sizes seem to be greatly reduced. Something I would scan and be 10mb, now might be 2mb. This is just opinion, nothing scientific. The interface takes some getting used to, a bit different. Overall for the price ($99 - Less $20 Rebate), a great deal.

5-0 out of 5 stars Great speed, wonderful features
I find that the new version 7 of Adobe Acrobat loads faster than version 5, both stand-alone and within my internet browser.Also, the new version is better integrated with the browser and with Microsoft Office.I believe Adobe heard and responded to the complaints about version 6.There are many other features which I have yet to try but certainly look worthwhile.Kudos for what I see as a substantial improvement.I recommend.

1-0 out of 5 stars Slow Memory Hog
Why are the newer products getting slower by the version. I still love Version 5. It does not forever to open up in a Web browser.. ... Read more


6. Adobe Acrobat 7.0 Professional Upgrade from Professional Version 6
by Adobe
list price: $159.99
our price: $141.49
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B00069DSRC
Catlog: Software
Manufacturer: Adobe
Sales Rank: 493
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Product Description

Collect, produce, and share Intelligent Documents

Adobe® Acrobat® 7.0 Professional software is the advanced way to create, control, and deliver more secure, high-quality Adobe PDF documents. Assemble electronic or paper fileseven Web sites, engineering drawings, and e-mailinto reliable PDF documents that are easy to share with others using free Adobe Reader® 7.0 software.

Features:

  • Enjoy improved performance:With improved performance you can quickly convert, collect, and organize Adobe PDF documents.
  • Extend commenting capabilities:Enable anyone who uses free Adobe Reader® 7.0 software to actively participate in reviews.
  • Easily design Adobe PDF forms:Use Adobe LiveCycle™ Designer 7.0 software (now included with Adobe Acrobat 7.0 ProfessionalWindows® only) to create PDF forms that look like the paper forms they replace. Incorporate business logic, such as calculations and data validations.
  • Organize Adobe PDF documents:Quickly find a list of Adobe PDF documents you have recently opened. View them as thumbnails, and drag and drop files into related collections.
  • Enjoy improved attachment capabilities:Easily attach source documents such as spreadsheets, multimedia files, images, and drawings to an Adobe PDF document.
Note: This upgrade is only for licensed users of Acrobat 6.x Professional.
... Read more

Features

  • Easily attach source documents such as spreadsheets, multimedia files, images, and drawings to an Adobe PDF document
  • Enable anyone with free Adobe Reader 7.0 software to use highlighter, sticky note, pen, and other commenting tools
  • Create PDF files with the click of a button from Microsoft applications and AutoCAD
  • Create a single Adobe PDF document from multiple sources, including portions of Web pages and previously combined Adobe PDF documents
  • Use the included Adobe LiveCycle Designer 7.0 software to create PDF forms that look like the paper forms they replace

Reviews (7)

1-0 out of 5 stars Avoid: "Worse than Malware"
Don't take my word for it that's a quote from the title of a recent post excoriating this irritating and increasingly bloated product on Slashdot.

Be warned: Adobe has not learned its lesson, and despite the outcry that followed the release of version 6, this latest release of Acrobat continues Adobe's aggressive trend of intruding into your desktop environment, again, as in version 6 without providing an easy way to undo the damage once its done--in fact, it's now nearly impossible. Like earlier releases, this version of Acrobat adds startup macros and new toolbar buttons to your existing applications and adds menu entries to your desktop "right click" menus. Adobe argues that these are conveniences, but they are entirely unnecessary (for most of us "printing" to Adobe PDF achieves the same result, is much more convenient, and a more natural model), and clutter what for most users is either a too-crowded user interface (for those who don't have the knowledge or patience to customize it) or a carefully tuned one (for those who do). Unlike many well-behaved applications that provide obvious ways of avoiding this kind of intrusive and disruptive behavior (e.g. through a simple checkbox option in a settings dialog), Acrobat's "option" for disabling this behavior, once deeply hidden in the setup process,is now almost completely absent. To disable the "Convert to Adobe PDF" button that mysteriously appears in the Outlook mail editor, for example, one has to be sure to choose "this feature will not be available" from the "Microsoft Outlook" option under "Acrobat PDFMaker" under "Create Adobe PDF". Simply deleting the button using Outlook's toolbar customization feature will not work: it comes right back when the editor is next opened. Similar problems arise in Word, Excel, Visio, Project, and Internet Explorer. And there's simply no way to get rid of the never-used "Convert to Adobe PDF" and "Combine in Acrobat..." entries in that appear in the desktop context menus for files (even if one installs none of the Acrobat PDFMaker features).

For the technically inclined wishing to repair some of the damage that Acrobat 7 does, there are complex but largely effective step by step instructions available on the web, but even the authors of these are driven to despair by version 7: ("Adobe has really pushed the boat out with Acrobat 7 and managed to screw Word royally") .

In short, Acrobat will make a mess of your working environment, there's no way to completely fix it, and even the partial fix is a pain (and not well documented). (This may seem a minor issue, but if every application followed Adobe's reckless example, our working environments would start to look like strip malls, crowded with features screaming for our attention to the point where it is hard to find what we need when we need it. One of the great strengths of the personal computer desktop is that users can configure it in ways that suit their needs; no application should interfere with that.)

Experienced Acrobat users will also notice that this version continues another frustrating trend for Acrobat (and most other Adobe applications): it is yet again slower to launch than the previous version. In fact, on my 2 GHz Pentium 4, it takes longer to launch than the entire Visual Studio .NET development environment, and longer than the boot sequence for Windows XP!

There are other minor problems as well (arbitrary rearrangements of menu and tool bar items, etc.) but these two major flaws are more than bad enough. Unless you really need the latest Acrobat features, you should probably avoid this upgrade. And if the "improvements" in this release are any indication of where Adobe plans to go with future releases, it may be time to start looking elsewhere for a tool for digital document management.

Fortunately, there's no reason at all to upgrade. Version 7 offers no usefully new features, so you can (and should) avoid this one (at all costs).

1-0 out of 5 stars Bummer
If you use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) don't buy it!Links to your previous .pdf simply don't work.Adobe knows about it, but have no viable work around.Stick with prevous versions.

5-0 out of 5 stars NO-BRAINER, GET IT.
Simple. It loads like a blaze. Sure all the new frills and features like easy annotations are neat, but the speed of 7.0 alone makes it worth every dime. Especially if your current Acrobat is the half-baked clunky 6.0.x that burst through the gates before it had legs.

5-0 out of 5 stars Good upgrade, perhaps the pinnacle
Honestly, I don't know how much more they can improve Adobe Acrobat.It is an excellent product, and a god-send for electronic file management.

I upgraded from version 6.0.The only problem I had with 6.0 is that it seemed terribly slow.

This new version seems much brisker.It loads quickly, and files seem to "print" to it much more quickly than version 6.0.I do not utilize the "one-button" feature it provides in MS Office and other programs.I try to keep all my programs as non-integrated as possible, because my previous experiences showed that they really, really bog each other down, no matter how much their makers claim they won't.

I don't come close to using all the features of Acrobat, but for my needs, it far surpasses anything else I've tried (or researched).

If you're having problems with version 6.0, or have an older version that you just want upgraded, I strongly recommend this.However, I don't foresee ever needing to upgrade Acrobat again.

5-0 out of 5 stars Good upgrade..!!!
I have been using v.7 from the last week or so and i am very pleased with it. It loads very fast (unlike all other adobe versions), the conversion to PDF from doc or ppt files also is much quicker.

I have not encountered any problems yet, but its only been 7 days since i am using it..

Definitely worth the upgrade. ... Read more


7. Omnipage Pro 14
by Scansoft
list price: $149.99
our price: $124.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0000ZG0W2
Catlog: Software
Manufacturer: Scansoft
Sales Rank: 272
Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Product Description

OmniPage Pro 14 is a powerful productivity tool that delivers the most accurate and precise document conversion available today. Quickly turn PDF files and stacks of paper - letters, contracts, tables, manuals - into easily editable word processing and spreadsheet documents. Ideal for individuals and home office use, OmniPage Pro 14 delivers everything you need to efficiently convert, edit, process, and share your paper and PDF documents.

Features:

  • Instantly convert paper into useable Microsoft® Office documents
  • Turn PDF files into editable documents while retaining their layout
  • Create unlimited searchable PDF files for electronic archives
  • Automatically process images from MFPs and scanners
  • Scan and convert Documents into PDF, TIFF and more
  • Share documents using e-mail and Web
... Read more

Features

  • Turn text documents into audio books; add digital signatures to your e-documents
  • Save time and money with this powerful document conversion application
  • Eliminating retyping; turn documents into e-files you can edit, search, and share
  • Precision OCR technology, advanced layout analysis, and powerful editing tools
  • Turn paper and PDF files into editable e-documents that match the original

Reviews (13)

2-0 out of 5 stars Works fine on simple text, not so on complex format.
Text recognition is very good on a simple, typewrited page but, hey, there are sharewares that do this for free. I tested Omnipage mainly on complex textbook pages with headers, 2 columns, figures with legends. I chose 240 dpi as a compromise between size and accuracy. The result:
1. When converting a 2-column page to PDF, the text flows ACROSS the columns instead of down then right. Useless for cut & paste. Also, word search is not sequential. Omnipage support never answered my questions on this issue (nor on any other).
2. Figures with small objects on a contrasting background (e.g. birds flying in the sky) are interpreted as text, with laughable result. In general, the recognition of image fields was bad.
5. Figure legends were systematically included with the text around them instead of being assigned to a separate text box.
4. This beast needs A LOT of CPU. I ran it on a 2.8GHz P4 and it was crawling through the pages.
5. Not an Omnipage issue, but as an aside: Omnipage offers to save the text as a MS Word file. Note that MS Word will not open a file larger than 32 Mb. I did not know this. Did you?
Final word: mediocre, too expensive. Try sharewares first.

3-0 out of 5 stars NEED HELP WITH OMNI PAGE PRO 10
I have been using Omni Page Pro 10 here at my work. However, in the last few months, when I scan it takes forever for it to scan -- recognizing goes faster tho.

I have removed all unnecesary programs from my computer thinking that I was using all my RAM. I am on a network.

However, this hasn't solved my problem. I am now running Win XP and have ServicePack 2 installed. Could this be my problem? Can anyone help?

Would like to get some input from others who have used Omni Page Pro 10 to get some ideas of what to try before I turn this over to our IT Department.

Like ya'll, I really do like Omni Page Pro 10 -- but with the problem that I am having was wondering if I needed to upgrade Omni Page Pro 14 -- but considering what ya'll have said -- upgrading would give me a bigger nightmare.

Please help if you can!!!

2-0 out of 5 stars Like a demolition derby-- crashes galore
It's bad enough that Omnipage Pro 14 Office crashes when you try to process a PDF file; bad enough that it crashes when you try to download an update from within the program (the only way ScanSoft allows you to do it)-- if there are solutions for these serious problems in their product, ScanSoft will not tell you about them unless you pay $9.95 per incident for e-mail support, $19.95 to actually speak to someone. What a lousy policy. What a crummy product!

1-0 out of 5 stars Layout Retention is poor at best, hard to use
This is not a planted review.I'm just a home user.I have been using OmniPage for years.The last version I used prior to OmniPage Pro 14 was OmniPage Pro 10.

This version does the worst job of layout retention I have seen in any OCR software period.Version 10, the version I was using prior to upgrading worked much better.

Its hard to use, menus and features appear easy but in fact don'twork very well at all. The system of "workflows" is flawed at best.

If you just want to take a simple text document with images and scan it into say word be prepared for a nightmare once in word.The result of your scan will retain very little of the layout of your original document.

ScanSoft makes some very fine products that I use.Oddly their "flayship" software OmniPage is difficult to use and performs poorly.Do yourself a favor and look at other OCR software before buying this.

2-0 out of 5 stars Works great until you have a problem
OmniPage 14 worked great at first.Then I needed a patch to fix some problems I'm having with the Batch Manager.Their update function under help is broken.(Look at other recent posts by other users.)I tried calling yesterday ($20) and couldn't get through.

I'm well versed in fixing broken apps.After uninstalling/reinstalling, uninstalling/manually removing files and registry entries/reinstalling, I'm still having the same problems that are making it totally unusable.After searching Scansoft's website, and posting twice to their "user forums", I started looking for alternative solutions.I found more posts here than I did on Scansoft's site. ... Read more


8. IRIS Business Card Reader II for Windows/PC
by IRIS
list price: $169.99
our price: $132.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B00009WPP0
Catlog: CE
Manufacturer: IRIS
Sales Rank: 4175
Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Amazon.com Product Description

Scan and store all your business contacts quickly and easily with the IRIS Business Card Reader II. Perfect for scanning new contact info at trade shows and fairs, or as a handy addition to your office desktop, this lightweight (just 220 grams) and portable color scanner will save you from hours of tedious data entry.

An optimized OCR engine quickly and accurately converts scanned business cards into database records and CardIris organizes the information and automatically sorts it into appropriate fields. CardIris offers automatic orientation, de-skewing, cropping, field analysis, and even zoom options.

With user interface language options in six languages, the IRIS Business Card Reader II supports you almost anywhere in the world and recognizes character text in up to 55 languages. The USB interface lets you connect easily to most computers, laptops, and PDAs. Contact info can be directly exported with a single-click into Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express, Symantec ACT!, IBM Lotus Notes, Palm OS, FrontRange GoldMine, vCard, HTML and comma delimited text. The IRIS Business Card Reader II also offers synchronization with Pocket PC, Outlook, ACT!, Lotus Notes, Palm OS and Goldmine. ... Read more

Features

  • USB connectivity; menus in 6 languages
  • Lightweight, portable business card scanner
  • Scans business cards and photos up to 4.2 by 12 inches
  • Exports directly to most contact-management software systems
  • Recognizes characters from 6 to 48 points, grayscale, and color images

Reviews (6)

1-0 out of 5 stars Not compatible with WIndows XP
I was very dissappointed when I got this product and tried to install on my computer with XP and got the microsoft warning that it did not have the "digital signature" and not therefore certified compatible with Windows XP and could cause damage. The response from Iris was they didn't pay Windows for the validation: but similar products (Cardscan, NewSoft Presto, and BizCardReader) whose demosoftware can be downloaded do not have this problem, each having the appropriate "signature".

2-0 out of 5 stars Not for American ACT!Users.Five stars for non ACT! users
the bad news:I purchased and returned the card reader because of a few "glitches" when converting to ACT! First, it does not convert telephone numbers in USA format XXX-XXX-XXXX.You must add 01 or else the conversion is made in the Notes section and requires a copy and paste into the telephone field of ACT!Second, you cannot add any fields, such as ID/Status, which results in "lost" contacts when you import into a large database.

The good news: Easy installation, superior recognition and no-nonsense to use.Definitely recommended for non ACT! users

2-0 out of 5 stars Not much of a time saver. Works 50%
I am dissapointed that I cannot return this to Amazon for a full refund after trying it. The OCR is not as good as expected. It is completely usless for about a third of the cards I've tried. Fewer than 10% work perfectly. I feel I have to thoroughly scrutinize every entry because of numerous minor mistakes. My girlfriend told me not to buy it and I should have listened.

4-0 out of 5 stars A great little scanner!
I work in purchasing at a manufacturing company and needless to say I see a lot of business cards. I've tried manual methods of organizing them, with little success. The IRIS scanner cannot be beat for simplicity and quality. The OCR software may leave a little to be desired, but has a fair success rate. The scanner also does a very nice job on 4X6 photos. (...) this is a good deal!!

I liked the unit so much a bought a second one for home, just to scan photos, as it is SO much faster than my flatbed scanner.

5-0 out of 5 stars Great Quality and Portability
After getting this reader and getting use to putting the cards in the correct way I love it.I love the fact that it is powered via the USB port.The quality is great and the text recognition is wonderful.I have scanned multiple business cards from conferences that I attend.I love the fact that I can export the contacts and separate them from the different events.The price is also reasonable.

The portability is a plus and I would recommend its purchase. ... Read more


9. ScanSoft PaperPort Professional 10
by Scansoft
list price: $199.99
our price: $169.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B00061NST8
Catlog: Software
Manufacturer: Scansoft
Sales Rank: 1604
Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Product Description

PaperPort Professional is the first desktop product to combine the power of creating PDF files with the convenience of local or network scanning and the efficiency of document management, into a single, easy-to-use office productivity application. Ideal for individuals, workgroups and enterprise organizations, PaperPort Professional is the most efficient way to work with scanned paper, PDF files and digital documents. Revolutionary new features in version 10 like the innovative split-desktop deliver on the promise of truly effortless document management.

Why should your organization use PaperPort?

  • To quickly turn paper into organized digital documents
  • Provide a better way to organize documents on your desktop
  • Easily create PDFs from Windows applications
  • Assemble scanned and digital documents with drag & drop simplicity
  • To ensure you never misplace a document, PDF file or photo again
... Read more

Features

  • Find documents, PDF files, photos, and paper instantly
  • Efficiently organize, find, and share paper and PDF documents
  • Exceptional document management system; high-speed scanning
  • Quickly and easily create PDFs from Windows applications
  • Assemble scanned and digital documents with drag-and-drop simplicity

Reviews (8)

2-0 out of 5 stars Back to Paperport 9
I'm a huge fan of Paperport 9; I use it extensively.I was excited to see an upgrade and recently installed PaperPort 10.While the split screen and other features are a nice improvement, the software seems very buggy.

The biggest problem for me is that I can no longer scan multiple page items using an HP OfficeJet scanner.I spoke with their technical support about this issue and was informed that "PaperPort 10 is not as good as PaperPort 9 at scanning and stuff."These were the exact words of one of PaperPort's support engineers.At least this engineer was kind enough to tell me how to best uninstall version 10.

1-0 out of 5 stars Wait until they get the bugs out. This software doesn't work
I would keep looking.

I installed v10 and was not able to get it working and I am a Microsoft Engineer. I do have a lot of software on my machine but with the lousy support that they have and the fact that they are making you pay to debug their software I would stay away from this unless you want to create headaches for yourself.

On their forums you can find many other users who requested their money back as I had to do.

The worse problem was that it broke the Version 9 that I had that was working and to add insult to injury, after they broke my system I had to pay $20 to have them get it back to working order.

I do not mind paying for support if it is my fault. But if you (scansoft) break it you should fix it.

Someone should tell the support line in India that if you are going to get a fake US sounding name and you are a female you should at least get a female name not one like Allen. This is just indicative of the lack of professionalism on the support line.

When you are a software company and your support line is a profit center you need to be concerned!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would have to agree with the comments previously mentioned.

I have to add a couple more negatives. If you want support, you have to pay for it. You get one free call and that's it. The documentation is weak, the knowledgebase is rediculously weak, and email is billable. The forums are the only free option for support and I have not been able to get a login setup for the forums.

I am a huge fan of OmniPage Pro 14 and I use it all the time. PaperPort will be part of my new routine for the time being. If I find a better product, I will fly quickly away since PaperPort cannot maintain indexes very well.

5-0 out of 5 stars Paperless Paradise
A business associate turned me onto this product for my agency.Having never used the program I was skeptical.I originally bought the other version of Paperport also called Paperport 10 but not "Professional"Upon investigation it became clear that I made the wrong choice in my attempts to get by on the "cheap", so I decided to return the first copy and to go all out and get the professional version.I also decided I needed a new scanner to work with Windows XP. Mine was old and didn't have a document feeder.Let me tell you, sometimes change is good!After getting used to doing things the paperless way I soon discovered that this program is totally fantastic.One note of advice.If you work with PDF files then you MUST have the "Professional" version.I can't even begin to detail all the new and better ways I have discovered to work.There is a utility called Scan Direct that is great, it comes with another utility called PDF Creater that I cannot live without.I have since decided to get Omnipage and now I can scan in a file to Paperport and convert it to an editable Word document.The whole thing has changed the way I work. I subsequently purchased two more copies for the other workstations that don't even have a scanner.I highly recommend it.

1-0 out of 5 stars NO NEED UPGRADE FROM VER 9 TO 10
I HAVE USED PAPERPORT FOR MANY YEARS IN OUR INSURANCE AGENCY.WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH ALL THE VERSIONS INCLUDING VERSION 9 WE HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH THE FEATURES.WE SCAN ALL OUR DOCUMENTS AND PHOTOS INTO OUR NETWORK SERVER FOR ARCHIVING.WE HAVE GIVEN AWAY ALL OF OUR PAPER FILE DRAWERS.I PURCHASED VERSION 10 TO TRY IT OUT.I UNINSTALLED IT AND REINSTALLED VERSION 9 PROFESSIONAL THE SAME DAY.VERSION 10 HAS A SINGLE MACHINE INSTALLATION VERIFICATION PROCEDURE THAT YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF.THE CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THIS PRODUCT IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE.OTHER THAN THAT, IF YOU CAN GET IT INSTALLED AND CAN AFFORD TO PURCHASE A PROGRAM FOR EACH AND EVERY MACHINE YOU OWN, THEN OK.OTHERWISE I WILL STICK WITH VERSION 9.

1-0 out of 5 stars I reinstalled Paperport 8
For many years I have used Paperport at home in conjunction with Quicken, scanning receipts, utility bills, etc., and attaching the scanned document to the Quicken register item it pertains to. (I am using Quicken 2001 Deluxe.) This was one of the primary things I'd do with Paperport.Unfortunately, Paperport 10 does not seem to function with Quicken, and as near as I can tell by web surfing, this holds true for newer versions of Quicken as well. The minute Iinstalled Paperport 10 (and it uninstalled Paperport 8) all the linked documents in my Quicken file disappeared!There was no longer an icon on the bottom of the page to export a scanned document to Quicken.

For many people, this may not be an issue, but for me it was a deal-breaker.I uninstalled the thing and reinstalled Paperport 8. ... Read more


10. IRIS Pen II Executive Scanner
by IRIS
list price: $199.00
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0000636X5
Catlog: CE
Manufacturer: IRIS
Sales Rank: 5651
Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Product Description

You Scan. It Types! The IrisPen Executive is a pen sized scanner that allows you to enter data (text, numbers, bar codes and handwritten numbers) into any Windows® and Mac application. What you get is real editable text, right at the cursor position. You save time and you even enjoy that tedious data-entry. Simply slide the IrisPen over the text you want in your application! ... Read more

Features

  • Handheld pen-sized OCR scanner
  • Scans up to 1,000 characters per second
  • Supports up to 56 foreign languages
  • Reads font sizes from 6 to 22 points
  • Text-to-speech lets you hear what you've scanned

Reviews (18)

1-0 out of 5 stars Bad, bad, bad
Even if I carefully followed the instructions, it was impossible to get a clean text. Almost every word I scanned had one or two mistakes.The time to correct those mistakes amounts to the time it would take to type the text with two fingers, as I always type. Inshort, I have the Iris Pen "Executive" in the closet and I don't think I will ever use it again.

5-0 out of 5 stars Excellent Scanner
The recognition is surprisingly good and it is very easy to use. I am a college professor and it has been a helpful tool in preparation for class.

4-0 out of 5 stars This baby adjusts for colored backgrounds
This is not so much a review as a heads up to the reviewer (Roy Herron) who said it was useless to him because he scans on colored backgrounds.You can adjust for background color on the Executive model just for this purpose.You said you bought from a seller, so I'm guessing that you didn't get all the documentation with your purchase.So, call ReadIris Tech Support (1-(561)-921-0847) and they can tell you how.I use mine for scanning barcodes when packing books.Makes it easy to keep track of what's in each box.

1-0 out of 5 stars Does not work on multi color forms...
This product is great for grad school in the stacks, but I purchased it to rapidly copy forms at the court house.It does not work for this application since the forms are shaded where I need to copy.The shaded area of the forms have the information I need to scan.OOPS, my bad for not checking this out at Best Buy or Circuit City to make sure it would work for my narrow application.So, I'm buying a portable flat bed scanner that can function in B/W mode.

It makes this a pretty worthless purchase for me; and I can't send it back to the seller.I wish I had purchased it from Amazon instead of from a seller, then I'd be able to return it for a refund.I'm kind of stuck with it now.

So, while it does work for normal B/W scanning, it does not work for me in one narrow application.Don't buy this thing if you need it to primarily copy data from back shaded text.

5-0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
I initially submitted a review describing this product as terrible. However, after spending a number of hours frustrated with the results I finally found the solution to my problems. The solution lay in moving the brightness cursor in the scan test to the darkest possible position. Once I did this the success rate rose from less than 50% to around 99%. I'm hoping it will improve even further as I get used to using the scanner. One happy and relieved customer!! ... Read more


11. ScanSoft PaperPort 10
by Scansoft
list price: $99.99
our price: $85.49
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B000300976
Catlog: Software
Manufacturer: Scansoft
Sales Rank: 727
Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Product Description

PaperPort 10 ... Read more

Features

  • Download photos from digital camera; easily organize, edit, and find images
  • Scanning and document management application for Microsoft Windows
  • Quickly turn paper into digital content; save Web pages as PDF documents
  • Create and annotate PDF files; convert static form into fillable electronic form
  • Thumbnail management for Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files

Reviews (9)

1-0 out of 5 stars Nostalgia
When I installed my first Paperport (v7), it was one of my top 3 programs of all times. Since then, PP has gone downhill with every major revision. It took me a year to get through the fatal bugs in v9, although it will still crash from time to time for no apparent reason, the only software from my 142 installed programs to do so. Of my 3 big reasons of use (search, compressed document format and document edit), I use PP only for edits of my scans, as Acrobat (for archive format) and Copernic (free) do a much better job in the other two departments.

In light of this track-record, v10 is an insult to injury as v9 should have been fully cleaned up before a new offering. I fervently hope the company can stitch the product up as I do not yet wish to abandon an old favourite.

I normally hate writing such reviews as all the negative publicity affects product sales, on which depend many jobs. Much hard work goes into product development so it is with a sad heart that I am moved to write this review, moved because a company could be so greedy to continue to milk its loyal customer base with half baked offerings. If this were a car, the streets would be littered with accidents.

1-0 out of 5 stars Four months later -- still not patch
I have used PaperPort since version 8. Version 10 should be much better. It has some nice ideas added. They just don't work in the first release.

The other reviews of this product spotlight the defects in the initial release. It is usually a good idea to wait for the first patch before writing any review of a product. But it is not four months since ScanSoft allowed this mess out the door, and there is no sign of progress.

Listen to what other people have said. DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT UNTIL THEY MEND IT.

1-0 out of 5 stars PP v10 a frustrating step back from v9 ...even 8
I've been using Paperport for years, started before v7 was ever released, and made every upgrade along the way.Each verson was always a nice improvement, espec v9 ...but NOT v10.Stay away from it ...buy v9 instead.

If you were a v9 user, and upgraded to v10, y'all know what I mean.Simply stated, it's trash ...full of bugs, slower than ....slow.Oh so frustrating.

For those of you who never used Paperport before, you MIGHT like v10 ...but that's because you don't know any better. ScanSoft NEEDS A MAJOR!!!! BUG FIX for v10, if even that will ever do the job. Version 10 should have never been released in its current state.

For any newbies to Paperport ...buy v9.It works smoothly, is faster ....and it still has plenty of features that you will like, and other features, once you better learn the software, that you will learn to exploit with satisfaction. The so-called new stuff that v10 supposedly offers is not even close to significant enough for one to have to endure all is 'bugs', inoperabilty and slowness. ...that you will quickly come to find out if you were a knowledgeable user of the earlier versions.

I upgraded to v10 as soon as it was released, and have had to 'tolerate' it everyday, and do 'work arounds' from the way I previously used it, since the day I installed it (a few months ago) ....while waiting, and waiting ...and waiting for Scansoft to release a Patch/update.

...Well enough is enough.Tomorrow is April 1st, and I am no fool! ...I'm switching back to PP-v9.

1-0 out of 5 stars Love Paperport 9 Pro, but 10 Pro is a disaster...
Like others who have commented here, I have been a very happy Paperport 9 Professional user for several years.Last month, when I got a new high-end laptop with Windows XP Pro and saw that Paperport 10 Pro had just been released, I checked it out and was excited about all the new features.

However, from the moment I loaded it on my computer (and I should note that I am a VERY experienced computer user AND I actually read and follow directions carefully - so this isn't a case of some newbie who didn't know what he was doing) this software has been an unmitigated disaster!Everything ran at the speed of stone and my system crashed repeatedly.In the end, I completely re-imaged my computer back to the way it was when it came from the factory and re-installed all my software.I went back to Paperport 9 Pro and everything is fine again.

BUYER BEWARE !!

1-0 out of 5 stars Buy Version 9 instead
This is my first Amazon review.I have been using Amazon since the dawn of time (1997) and this is the only product to move me so much as to break my silence and warn others.

This product is practically non-functional.I have used PaperPort 9 for 2 1/2 years and happily so.I thought 10 would be much better, but it must have been a re-write, because it's very different.

Granted, none of this is a measurable problem just opinion, so here are my measurables:

- Where it once was instantaneous to double-click on a thumbnail to view a document, it now takes 5 to 10 seconds.
- Where once i could move a document between folders instantly, it now takes the same 5 to 10 seconds.
- With Paperport 9, my scanner could run at top speed without stopping.With 10, my scanner overwhelms the app and causes it to crash if i let it run full out.

Paperport is/was a great product, but version 10 is a complete waste.Please purchase version 9 and you'll be glad you did.

Oh, and if you have problems with Paperport -- Scansoft charges you to talk to them about it.All technical support is on a pay-as-you-go basis, no freebies.There are google/yahoo support groups, but they offer little help.

Buyer Beware ... Read more


12. ReadIris Pro 9 for Mac OS X
by I.R.I.S.
list price: $129.99
our price: $104.49
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B0000DC3TS
Catlog: Software
Manufacturer: I.R.I.S.
Sales Rank: 1173
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Reviews (4)

3-0 out of 5 stars Left me wanting.
The product falls short of its marketing hype.The User interface is somewhat quirkey.Over all the product is satisfactory for my needs.

However, the tech support leaves a lot to be desired.Using the online trouble report screen gets you a sparse response that will require a follow up call to get an answer.

The biggest problem I have come accross is the fact thatyou can only use the program if you are an administrator in OS X.Since all users have access to the program this is a major short-coming and there is no work-around (according to tech support).

They do have a toll free phone number but it is not posted on their website.You will get it on the signature line of the technicians email response.

Overall a good product that has left me frustrated.

4-0 out of 5 stars Good product
It is nice to see that a company has a working OCR software under OS X.
The software works well despite many scanner compatibilty issues. These issues can be resolved by getting the latest twain drivers or plug in from the scanner manufacturer.

Biggest complaint is lack of customer support and tech support.
After leaving many voicemails at various extensions no one called me back until one month later!
If you don't mind the wait the software is well worth it.

5-0 out of 5 stars Excellent product!
I was initially drawn to the product for two reasons: one, it runs natively on OS X, and two, with the rebate it was only $25. I've been using OmniPage running under Classic, and this is light-years better, in every way: ease of use, speed, recognition, you name it. I've thrown lots of different kinds of documents at it, and its done exceptionally well.

There are few companies that support OS X, so we're often stuck with second-class software, but not in this case! And given that there's really no other competition, you can't go wrong!

5-0 out of 5 stars Perfect software!
This product rocks. I scanned a 20 pages pamphlet with my scanner and Readiris converted all the pages into PDF in less than 30 seconds! It would have taken me the whole week-end to retype it!Hardly no mistakes! What baffles me is that it is the only UPDATED OCR software for MacOS! Highly recommended, you can't go wrong! ... Read more


13. CardScan Executive Color Business Card Scanner (600c/V6)
by CardScan
list price: $249.99
(price subject to change: see help)
Asin: B00005O70U
Catlog: CE
Manufacturer: CardScan
Sales Rank: 6177
Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France | Japan

Amazon.com Product Description

A clever idea who's time has clearly come, the CardScan Executive 600c scans business cards in full color, connects to your PC via a USB port, and uploads the card into your database using the included CardScan software.

With simple plug-and-play installation, the machine is easy to use: simply feed a card into the slot, and then watch as the software deciphers the information on the card and categorizes it into the database. The machine can accurately read cards from United States, Canada, France, Australia, United Kingdom, Germany, and others countries. The software also features AutoMap, expanded connectivity to synchronize with more handheld devices and mobile phones, and access to CardScan.Net, where users can access their business card database via any Web browser.

Small enough to fit in your hand but durable enough to take to trade shows and meetings, the CardScan Executive is an ideal way to organize the stacks of business cards that would otherwise clutter your briefcase, wallet, or desk. (Note that the CardScan Executive is just right for one person, but if you're looking for a unit that can help your whole team, consider the CardScan Office.) ... Read more

Features

  • Supports Windows XP, 2000, ME, and 98; USB powered interface
  • Scans business cards in seconds, even in color
  • Organizes cards for easy searching and sorting
  • Eliminates typing; supports batch and 2-sided scanning
  • Comes with CardScan version 6 software

Reviews (15)

2-0 out of 5 stars Doesn't print pages as advertised.
The Cardscan Executive advertises that it will print in all the typical planner formats, Daytimer, Dayrunner, Franklin etc. It doesn't do what it says. The right edge of the page is cut off losing important information like half a phone number or half an email address. Technical Support was no help, they said "it's a defect with the program". None of the advertised formats on the pull down menu worked, or using the edit format feature. Users cannot change the width of the fields. Other than that it's a pretty cool product.

4-0 out of 5 stars Great easy to use product
To the person who says it doesnt scan the