One of the most intelligently done reviews I read about exactly what I was trying to explore. Fujitsu vs Neat. You covered all points that are critical. Great help, thanks :-)
I've posted a portion of my rebuttal to this video. There is not a single valid or truthful criticism in this video "review." . The entire black background issue is due to USER error! He scanned the receipt as a document. All you have to do is make sure to keep the the software setting as "automatic" if you are going to use the "scan" button on the machine. (It's right there on the main page of the program). Then it will size the scan based on which feed slot you use. If you had larger receipts, you set can over-ride the automatic "slot" settings and tell it the software it is a receipt (with the click of one button). Gosh, if he took the time to see what he was doing wrong, maybe read the directions, he would have saved himself the 8 minutes of the video he spent, blaming NeatDesk for his own mistake! DOH! Other misinformation in this video: NeatDesk is NOT Proprietary! It uploads to Evernote, Dropbox, Box, whatever! It exports to Quicken, Quickbooks, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and and any contact management software out there. It saves as a PDF with the push of a button, to email or fax the document with EASE. It also has a FREE mobile app. AND, for God's Sake, stop implying that Evernote is a Fujitsu Product! Evernote is a free 3rd party online service, and everything he shows it doing with the Fujitsu Scans ... it does just as well with a NEATDESK scan! I have posted a getting started video, with lots more info, if you would like to know the truth about NeatDesk. This video really should be removed. It's 3 years old, misleading, and truly defamatory. Dude, do your homework before trashing a company or product.
Almost bought the Neat Scanner but have decided to invest in a ScanSnap. Until I found this review I wasn't able to get a clear answer on which one can recognize handwriting,. Now I know I can use my evernote and need to upload as a jpeg. Thank you soo.. much for taking the time to post this. There's lots of reviews out there but watching them in action, side by side, makes a big difference. Appreciate the help!
Evernote is not a Fujitsu product! Neatdesk uploads to Evernote AND can do everything this misleading video shows the Fujitsu doing. It's a shame that this video convinced you to spend an additional $200 unnecessarily! This video is full of misinformation and is truly defamatory. It should be removed from youTube.
2nd note. Also, the Fujitsu will scan 11x17 pages. It automatically straightens and also automatically re-assembles larger documents. It also offers several organizing software options to choose from. I use, as mentioned DevonThink Pro and File while the author of this movie uses EverNote.
It is good to know because I am currently looking for a really good scanner for my office. I am glad that I found this video... keep up the good work in putting these videos online..
It is interesting that when you showed the backside of the image from the Neat scanner, that it was cropped and deskewed properly. It makes me wonder why the front did not crop and deskew and the back did. This could point to some issue with the calibration process.
Is the Fujitsu S1500 able to export receipts into Quicken? While I love the idea of being able to scan into Evernote, I also would like to be able to scan into Quicken, as I use both programs and can't live without either one.
I think you made to much of the black background .Isn't the point of the scanner to make your reciepts paperless? What I would like to know is which one does a better job at organizing into files and are you able to search by different criterior such as date etc.
peter haggerty Ya, i don't get the obsession with the staple hole! LOL. I have NeatDesk and I can search for one word and it finds receipt or document within seconds. I don't even use the fields at all anymore (which, btw, gets better and better with each receipt. Neat kinda seems to 'Learn' to recognize logos and fields, as you go along). I find the fields unnecessary because the search feature is so awesome. And this videos criticism about slow search after 100 receipts, is just pure BS. Just because he read it on an internet forum somewhere, doesn't make it true. There is not a single valid complaint in this video. It should be removed from youTube.
The script just emails the scanned document to several services including evernote. It also sets the subject line so that all the directories in the file's path become tags.
Thank you for this video. What do you do when you need to scan a page from a book? With a scanner like the ones you showed you would have to take the book apart. What is your solution? Two types of scanners?
My first comment is about the calibration page included with the Neat scanner. You mentioned that it helps improve "deskewing" of the documents. While you can view it this way, in reality it is actually improving the way the scanner detects the black around the image. One of the differences between these scanners is that the Neat product has a black background. This greatly simplifies the ability to deskew and crop the image.
Margaret Coleman This video is over 3 years old and the information is obsolete! I just bought NeatDesk, and none of the complaints in this video are valid anymore (if they ever were). Also the ScanSnap is about $500, which is $200 more than NeatDesk and he talks about "writing custom code" for the Fujitsu software ... I didn't hear any reference to custom code for the NeatDesk, either it isn't possible or he didn't try. But are you planning to writing computer code for your scanner? All the criticism about proprietary file types are also way outdated and untrue! Neatdesk can save as a PDF, emailed, or imported into any Quicken Product, Microsoft Excel or uploaded to Dropbox, Evernote, Box or NeatCloud. So much in this video is just plain wrong or outdated! Let's be fair and not mislead people!
onesri Did you watch my video on exporting from Neat? I don't think I should add a link but you can click on my name and click the videos tab to find it. I'm not an expert; just a Neat user who happens to like my scanner. I use all the data within the Neat software, but I'll probably use the "Export to Tax Software" feature when I do my taxes next month. I don't use Excel, but if I get around to it, maybe I will try to video with some dummy data. Making videos showing the software in action, is really hard to do, because I have to blur out all my private financial info. It's a pain, especially when I don't really even use Neat Desk that way. Many people keep asking me for videos like that though. Just already have a backlog of videos I've promised people. I'm getting in over my head!
It depends on the software you choose to work with it. The mac version comes with acrobat and CardIris. They have recognition. The PC version has different software. I found that I needed more - a comprehensive filing, recognition and search system. I went with DevonThink Pro Office. It also recognizes and sorts. All I can say is that most likely either scanner comes with basic software. Check out the DevonThink Pro Office - mac or pc. It creates an inbox and also a link to your file stores.
what about the epson gt5500? it appears from some reviews that it is solid, but do you know if it can handle receipts? An article was written about it at a website comparing receipt scanners, but there was nothing in the article about receipts.
I've been using neat desk for the past two years. I really have no problems with the scanner, other than it has difficulty starting to feed. It's the software that is annoying, as in annoyingly slow! I love its capabilities for record-keeping and taxes, but I literally spent eight hours totaling up receipts for tax purposes. I could have manually Totaled things up in half that time. You cannot read receipts without enlarging them either, and all this takes time!!! I'm now looking at snapscan.
@sxyboy915 how would you say the speed is? many people say it is much less than 25 ppm, one person timed it at 10 ppm. also, do you think it could handle scanning thicker paper, (like type greeting cards are made out of) -thanks!
Good info but I am looking for a scanner and system that will scann 8 1/2" x 11" documents and put in digital folders by name. I need to be able to "edit" the documents in Micro Soft Word (or the software that comes with the scanner) when I pull them up before printing out.
It has helped tremendously to assist my decision making. Could you possibly turn on the fast speaking mode. 14:18 is too long. I would have liked about 8 minutes.
I have owned a Fujitsu scansnap scanner for four years and have a new one at the office. They are fantastic. My first doc scanner was junk- a xerox. I use the PC version at work which I also have their Filing program for. The Mac version uses Acrobat Full version; however, I purchased Devonthink Pro Office and all I can say is wow. It is truly like having a digital assistant/secretary. Where is that file ? Fuji knows! I have not used Neat but software makes any hardware good/bad.
I understand your point, but I actually think that the Fujitsu offers a better complete ecosystem. For example, you presumably scan receipts for entry into an accounting system. You can set up the scansnap to email receipts to receiptbank, shoeboxed, expensify or other services that extract information from receipts. These services integrate better with accounting software and even include both machine extraction and human review. In sum you can build better results with open products.
Finally, in my opinion the Neat "package" is preferred because it is a complete package. It is the software, and its ability to extract information (albeit not as accurate as it could be) that makes it easier to use. Yes, the Fujitsu is the better scanner, but the ability to index the information is important for small business owners.
I have owned the NeatDesk scanner for the a little more than 2 years. I run a business and scan quite a lot, in fact I pay someone to do most of my scanning. It runs so painfully slow I can hardly stand it. My bookkeeper purchase a Scansnap at approximately the same time, she loves it. Recently when she (the bookkeeper) needed to scan some additional receipts, it actually stressed her out to use my NeatDesk. This has prompted me to put my Neat up for sale and purchase a ScanSnap. I figure the endless hours that I save not waiting for the "Que" of the Neat, will pay for itself in no time and the few hundred dollars that I pay upfront will save me thousands waiting around for the Neat. I'll let you know how I like my ScanSnap when it arrives.
+Meredith Jones I LOVE the scansnap, runs super fast in comparison to the Neat. We scan my receipts straight into Quickbooks, so no duplicating programs, just put the receipt in right with the QB entry. Wouldn't go back if they paid me.
Thanks for this comparison. I only wish I’d come across it before the disappointment of owning and hassle of returning the Neat Desk. Wasted ink/toner is certainly an issue, but the skewed documents and inaccurate recognition actually increased my workflow. Having spent more time rescanning and reentering information was too much to justify the costly yet inadequate device. I am now the happy owner of a ScanSnap.
This review falls apart once you finish showing the flaws of the Neat scanner.. I was expecting you to scan a document with the Fujitsu and show us the results, but no.. you start talking about your script and then dive into evernote software. I don't understand the point.. you gave a good review of the neatworks and then just skipped the Fujitsu.
Dear Chad, did you watch the same review I did? I saw him scan a receipt using the Fujitsu scanner AND I saw how much better the results were. His coverage of the Evernote software was critical to compare the Fujitsu scanner with the Neat scanner and its proprietary software. Perhaps when you watched the review it quit early due to a streaming problem of some sort?
Margaret Coleman ***** NeatDesk is NOT proprietary. It works just fine with Evernote! Chad is right, this video takes a left turn and starts comparing Neat to Evernote, as if evernote is a Fujitsu product. It's not! Everything he shows the Fujitsu do, can be done with Neat, and you don't have to write a single line of custom code!
Nice review in terms of chosen content . The only 'wish' I have, as other comments stated, you did not clarify the versatility in how EN manages data after the scan! I am sure you could have made a short film comparing and contrasting all of the NR v. FSS 1500 complete line of features! Funny thing is I did not know Fujitsu and EverNote are in cahoots. This is a deal breaker as far as considering. a NR. Hand down EverNote is the best!
I've been using Neat for more than 7 years. But support for Mac users of Neat is diminishing, from my perspective. Case in point, Neat has dropped support for newer third party scanners such as the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. And they seem to support the Windows version of their "Neat" software more so than they do the MAC version. For instance, they offer updated 32 and 64 bit drivers for their older 2008 ADF scanners for the PC, but not for the Mac. Granted, 2008 was a long time ago in the world of technology. But my 2008 Neat scanner still works fine on my Mac. I purchase Neat Desk, now "Neat" software back in 2008 for the PC, and then I migrated to the Mac. It was a big improvement. The Mac version of NeatDesk was far better than the PC version, in my opinion. But now, because my Neat scanner is an older model, I'm unable to upgrade Neat software (Mac) beyond version 4.1.0.187. So I'm stuck in a software dead-end, using unimproved software unless I buy a new Neat scanner. At the same time, Neat have dropped support for the latest Fujitsu scanners, limiting my upgrade alternatives to Neat hardware (only). All of this has me wishing for a completely new solution. One huge issue of changing scanning solutions would be data migration. Neat stores all it's scanned documents as PDFs in an Apple "package" folder. Package folders are a special type of folder on the Mac that hide contents, and abstract complexity by appearing as a single file in Finder. Package files can easily be managed and they make using Dropbox as a Neat storage location very convenient. But deep within the Neat package folder each file is named with a user unfriendly GUID as the filename. GUIDs are very long strings of unique numbers and letters. Exporting my Neat document library and importing it into another solution would require individual document exports, renaming, and re-tagging and importing each file into the replacement solution. But I would lose all document comments added via Neat. Neat on the Mac is proprietary insofar as the file storage. There is no bulk export utility. It will be difficult to migrate an existing corpus of documents into another archive. (Unless someone writes an automation program to batch export into Evernote of some other solution). I'd also like to point out that searches in Neat suffer from one great flaw, at least in the version I'm using. Searches within Neat are case sensitive. So if you label a document "My File", a search for "my file" will reveal no search results. Document deskewing and OCR are also severly flawed or do not work at all in the version I am using. I was once a big fan of Neat, but now, not so much. It is seeming more and more that to Neat, Mac users are second class citizens. -Dave B
I now use scansnap to email receipts to receiptbank (a web based service that extracts the info from the receipts). From there the go to Xero (a cloud based accounting app that o have found to be better than QuickBooks for what I'm doing).
There are apps for iPad and iPhone. Free in the app store. I use them to categorize and add notes to my scanned documents from my iPad. So you can access and edit from iPad. I don't know if you can scan directly from the NeatDesk unit to the iPad.
I am a pc user & I ordered the Neat desk scanner. It constantly jammed. the software is super slow (on a 6gb ram 1000gb harddrive laptop) and I got really frustrated. I ended up sending it back. For $400 I was not impressed. It did not scan clearly nor did It recognize the info correctly. The date would be in the wrong fields. I do not recommend the Neat scanner. I plan on trying the Epson workforce.
Great Review - I bought a Neat from Amazon and cancelled it (before it was processed) and bought the Fujitsu - after watching this. I hope vendors watch youtube videos. I use them all the time. You did 'kind of' go off in left field talking about - code you write, etc. I also agree 'too long' , Make them clear and concise.
Jerry Griffin That's really a shame Jerry, because there isn't a single valid claim in this video. I have the NeatDesk, and it can do everything thing this misleading video shows the Fujitsu doing. Receipts go in straight and are automatically nicely cropped. But there is a built-in rotate and crop tool too, if you ever need it. Which you won't. You CAN upload to Evernote with NeatDesk, without any special code! Neatdesk is NOT proprietary! It's not a great review! It's completely false and defamatory!
Interesting review. However, I have a few comments. First, let me preface these by mentioning that I have worked in the Document Scanning/Imaging industry for over 15 years. In one of my last roles I created the process for Kofax which is used to certify their VirtualReScan (VRS) image cleanup software for all of the supported scanners. (further comments to follow)
I purchased an Epson DS-510 after watching this review.. Let me just say WHAT A NIGHTMARE! there are no working software solutions bundled with the non-neat scanner options.. all these document scanners are designed to scan documents, legal documents, business, etc.. Seriously I don't want to scan receipts into pdf files. Nor do I want to buy a cloud service. I'm going to try the neat.. The automation out weighs EVERYTHING ! The Epson was returned..
As much as I'd like to take your recommendation, I cannot. The reason I cannot is because I noticed you had used the same receipt several times beforehand. This can be viewed as priming the software, leaving the comparison faulty. Also, your "custom script" can be seen this way as well. Other than that, I enjoyed your presentation. I am still undecided.
One of the most intelligently done reviews I read about exactly what I was trying to explore. Fujitsu vs Neat. You covered all points that are critical. Great help, thanks :-)
I've posted a portion of my rebuttal to this video. There is not a single valid or truthful criticism in this video "review." . The entire black background issue is due to USER error! He scanned the receipt as a document. All you have to do is make sure to keep the the software setting as "automatic" if you are going to use the "scan" button on the machine. (It's right there on the main page of the program). Then it will size the scan based on which feed slot you use. If you had larger receipts, you set can over-ride the automatic "slot" settings and tell it the software it is a receipt (with the click of one button). Gosh, if he took the time to see what he was doing wrong, maybe read the directions, he would have saved himself the 8 minutes of the video he spent, blaming NeatDesk for his own mistake! DOH!
Other misinformation in this video: NeatDesk is NOT Proprietary! It uploads to Evernote, Dropbox, Box, whatever! It exports to Quicken, Quickbooks, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and and any contact management software out there. It saves as a PDF with the push of a button, to email or fax the document with EASE. It also has a FREE mobile app. AND, for God's Sake, stop implying that Evernote is a Fujitsu Product! Evernote is a free 3rd party online service, and everything he shows it doing with the Fujitsu Scans ... it does just as well with a NEATDESK scan!
I have posted a getting started video, with lots more info, if you would like to know the truth about NeatDesk. This video really should be removed. It's 3 years old, misleading, and truly defamatory. Dude, do your homework before trashing a company or product.
+HeyMimi DIY Yet, it still sits here, lol. Thanks for all of your videos...I just came here to see your rebuttal. Great job, LOVEEEE my NeatDesk!!
Almost bought the Neat Scanner but have decided to invest in a ScanSnap. Until I found this review I wasn't able to get a clear answer on which one can recognize handwriting,. Now I know I can use my evernote and need to upload as a jpeg. Thank you soo.. much for taking the time to post this. There's lots of reviews out there but watching them in action, side by side, makes a big difference. Appreciate the help!
Evernote is not a Fujitsu product! Neatdesk uploads to Evernote AND can do everything this misleading video shows the Fujitsu doing. It's a shame that this video convinced you to spend an additional $200 unnecessarily! This video is full of misinformation and is truly defamatory. It should be removed from youTube.
2nd note. Also, the Fujitsu will scan 11x17 pages. It automatically straightens and also automatically re-assembles larger documents. It also offers several organizing software options to choose from. I use, as mentioned DevonThink Pro and File while the author of this movie uses EverNote.
@RichardSmrtg No unfortunately it does not calculate. But it does do OCR so you can search across your receipts.
It is good to know because I am currently looking for a really good scanner for my office.
I am glad that I found this video... keep up the good work in putting these videos online..
It is interesting that when you showed the backside of the image from the Neat scanner, that it was cropped and deskewed properly. It makes me wonder why the front did not crop and deskew and the back did. This could point to some issue with the calibration process.
Thank you this will help me decide on which one to pick. Question tho. Does the s1500 calculate like the neat software?
Is the Fujitsu S1500 able to export receipts into Quicken? While I love the idea of being able to scan into Evernote, I also would like to be able to scan into Quicken, as I use both programs and can't live without either one.
I think you made to much of the black background .Isn't the point of the scanner to make your reciepts paperless? What I would like to know is which one does a better job at organizing into files and are you able to search by different criterior such as date etc.
peter haggerty Ya, i don't get the obsession with the staple hole! LOL. I have NeatDesk and I can search for one word and it finds receipt or document within seconds. I don't even use the fields at all anymore (which, btw, gets better and better with each receipt. Neat kinda seems to 'Learn' to recognize logos and fields, as you go along). I find the fields unnecessary because the search feature is so awesome. And this videos criticism about slow search after 100 receipts, is just pure BS. Just because he read it on an internet forum somewhere, doesn't make it true. There is not a single valid complaint in this video. It should be removed from youTube.
The script just emails the scanned document to several services including evernote. It also sets the subject line so that all the directories in the file's path become tags.
Thank you for this video. What do you do when you need to scan a page from a book? With a scanner like the ones you showed you would have to take the book apart. What is your solution? Two types of scanners?
I wonder if in the nine years since this video was made, if NeatDesk has improved their product ...
My first comment is about the calibration page included with the Neat scanner. You mentioned that it helps improve "deskewing" of the documents. While you can view it this way, in reality it is actually improving the way the scanner detects the black around the image. One of the differences between these scanners is that the Neat product has a black background. This greatly simplifies the ability to deskew and crop the image.
Thank you SO MUCH for posting this review! Without it, I would have chosen the wrong scanner AND therefore the wrong software solution.
Margaret Coleman This video is over 3 years old and the information is obsolete! I just bought NeatDesk, and none of the complaints in this video are valid anymore (if they ever were). Also the ScanSnap is about $500, which is $200 more than NeatDesk and he talks about "writing custom code" for the Fujitsu software ... I didn't hear any reference to custom code for the NeatDesk, either it isn't possible or he didn't try. But are you planning to writing computer code for your scanner? All the criticism about proprietary file types are also way outdated and untrue! Neatdesk can save as a PDF, emailed, or imported into any Quicken Product, Microsoft Excel or uploaded to Dropbox, Evernote, Box or NeatCloud. So much in this video is just plain wrong or outdated! Let's be fair and not mislead people!
HeyMimi DIY
I am to purchase a scanner soon and very much interested to know how to scan documents to Excel using NeatDesk. Can you upload a video?
onesri
Did you watch my video on exporting from Neat? I don't think I should add a link but you can click on my name and click the videos tab to find it. I'm not an expert; just a Neat user who happens to like my scanner. I use all the data within the Neat software, but I'll probably use the "Export to Tax Software" feature when I do my taxes next month. I don't use Excel, but if I get around to it, maybe I will try to video with some dummy data. Making videos showing the software in action, is really hard to do, because I have to blur out all my private financial info. It's a pain, especially when I don't really even use Neat Desk that way. Many people keep asking me for videos like that though. Just already have a backlog of videos I've promised people. I'm getting in over my head!
Thank you for the reply and if you can make a video with the Excel feature would be very helpful. I understand not wanting to put private information.
It depends on the software you choose to work with it. The mac version comes with acrobat and CardIris. They have recognition. The PC version has different software. I found that I needed more - a comprehensive filing, recognition and search system. I went with DevonThink Pro Office. It also recognizes and sorts. All I can say is that most likely either scanner comes with basic software. Check out the DevonThink Pro Office - mac or pc. It creates an inbox and also a link to your file stores.
what about the epson gt5500? it appears from some reviews that it is solid, but do you know if it can handle receipts? An article was written about it at a website comparing receipt scanners, but there was nothing in the article about receipts.
I've been using neat desk for the past two years. I really have no problems with the scanner, other than it has difficulty starting to feed. It's the software that is annoying, as in annoyingly slow! I love its capabilities for record-keeping and taxes, but I literally spent eight hours totaling up receipts for tax purposes. I could have manually Totaled things up in half that time. You cannot read receipts without enlarging them either, and all this takes time!!! I'm now looking at snapscan.
Have you compared the file sizes of the pdfs generated by both scanners? Are they similar?
good review man. one of the best i have seen on youtube.
You could try putting all the scanned items in a folder..and do a bulk process (to a target folder) in Photoshop removing the background (the black).
Does Evernote support automatic tagging? ...or does it allow you to extract date/vendor/etc from the document?
@sxyboy915 how would you say the speed is? many people say it is much less than 25 ppm, one person timed it at 10 ppm.
also, do you think it could handle scanning thicker paper, (like type greeting cards are made out of)
-thanks!
I'm wanting to get something like this for my Mom to help her out shes not very computer savvy, which one would you suggest for basic home office use?
Good info but I am looking for a scanner and system that will scann 8 1/2" x 11" documents and put in digital folders by name. I need to be able to "edit" the documents in Micro Soft Word (or the software that comes with the scanner) when I pull them up before printing out.
It has helped tremendously to assist my decision making. Could you possibly turn on the fast speaking mode. 14:18 is too long. I would have liked about 8 minutes.
Thanks for your review, I was already leaning for the 1500 but your demo closed me on it.
Hello, How do you integrate the Neatwork software with the s1500? I'm having problems with this.
I have owned a Fujitsu scansnap scanner for four years and have a new one at the office. They are fantastic. My first doc scanner was junk- a xerox. I use the PC version at work which I also have their Filing program for. The Mac version uses Acrobat Full version; however, I purchased Devonthink Pro Office and all I can say is wow. It is truly like having a digital assistant/secretary. Where is that file ? Fuji knows! I have not used Neat but software makes any hardware good/bad.
@sxyboy915 LAST QUESTION (sorry)
how well does the text reader work? does it work for written text?
I understand your point, but I actually think that the Fujitsu offers a better complete ecosystem. For example, you presumably scan receipts for entry into an accounting system. You can set up the scansnap to email receipts to receiptbank, shoeboxed, expensify or other services that extract information from receipts. These services integrate better with accounting software and even include both machine extraction and human review. In sum you can build better results with open products.
Finally, in my opinion the Neat "package" is preferred because it is a complete package. It is the software, and its ability to extract information (albeit not as accurate as it could be) that makes it easier to use. Yes, the Fujitsu is the better scanner, but the ability to index the information is important for small business owners.
I have owned the NeatDesk scanner for the a little more than 2 years. I run a business and scan quite a lot, in fact I pay someone to do most of my scanning. It runs so painfully slow I can hardly stand it. My bookkeeper purchase a Scansnap at approximately the same time, she loves it. Recently when she (the bookkeeper) needed to scan some additional receipts, it actually stressed her out to use my NeatDesk. This has prompted me to put my Neat up for sale and purchase a ScanSnap. I figure the endless hours that I save not waiting for the "Que" of the Neat, will pay for itself in no time and the few hundred dollars that I pay upfront will save me thousands waiting around for the Neat. I'll let you know how I like my ScanSnap when it arrives.
+Maria Gahan-Broman So...how do you like it?
+Meredith Jones I LOVE the scansnap, runs super fast in comparison to the Neat. We scan my receipts straight into Quickbooks, so no duplicating programs, just put the receipt in right with the QB entry. Wouldn't go back if they paid me.
+Maria Gahan-Broman Thanks for the quick response!
Thanks for this comparison. I only wish I’d come across it before the disappointment of owning and hassle of returning the Neat Desk.
Wasted ink/toner is certainly an issue, but the skewed documents and inaccurate recognition actually increased my workflow. Having spent more time rescanning and reentering information was too much to justify the costly yet inadequate device. I am now the happy owner of a ScanSnap.
Thanks for the solid review, this has helped me choosing between paperless solutions.
This review falls apart once you finish showing the flaws of the Neat scanner.. I was expecting you to scan a document with the Fujitsu and show us the results, but no.. you start talking about your script and then dive into evernote software. I don't understand the point.. you gave a good review of the neatworks and then just skipped the Fujitsu.
Dear Chad, did you watch the same review I did? I saw him scan a receipt using the Fujitsu scanner AND I saw how much better the results were. His coverage of the Evernote software was critical to compare the Fujitsu scanner with the Neat scanner and its proprietary software. Perhaps when you watched the review it quit early due to a streaming problem of some sort?
Margaret Coleman ***** NeatDesk is NOT proprietary. It works just fine with Evernote! Chad is right, this video takes a left turn and starts comparing Neat to Evernote, as if evernote is a Fujitsu product. It's not! Everything he shows the Fujitsu do, can be done with Neat, and you don't have to write a single line of custom code!
Nice review in terms of chosen content . The only 'wish' I have, as other comments stated, you did not clarify the versatility in how EN manages data after the scan!
I am sure you could have made a short film comparing and contrasting all of the NR v. FSS 1500 complete line of features! Funny thing is I did not know Fujitsu and EverNote are in cahoots. This is a deal breaker as far as considering. a NR. Hand down EverNote is the best!
So which one is better?
@sxyboy915 what do you think of the neatdesk so far?
I've been using Neat for more than 7 years. But support for Mac users of Neat is diminishing, from my perspective.
Case in point, Neat has dropped support for newer third party scanners such as the Fujitsu ScanSnap ix500. And they seem to support the Windows version of their "Neat" software more so than they do the MAC version. For instance, they offer updated 32 and 64 bit drivers for their older 2008 ADF scanners for the PC, but not for the Mac. Granted, 2008 was a long time ago in the world of technology. But my 2008 Neat scanner still works fine on my Mac.
I purchase Neat Desk, now "Neat" software back in 2008 for the PC, and then I migrated to the Mac. It was a big improvement. The Mac version of NeatDesk was far better than the PC version, in my opinion. But now, because my Neat scanner is an older model, I'm unable to upgrade Neat software (Mac) beyond version 4.1.0.187. So I'm stuck in a software dead-end, using unimproved software unless I buy a new Neat scanner. At the same time, Neat have dropped support for the latest Fujitsu scanners, limiting my upgrade alternatives to Neat hardware (only). All of this has me wishing for a completely new solution.
One huge issue of changing scanning solutions would be data migration. Neat stores all it's scanned documents as PDFs in an Apple "package" folder. Package folders are a special type of folder on the Mac that hide contents, and abstract complexity by appearing as a single file in Finder. Package files can easily be managed and they make using Dropbox as a Neat storage location very convenient. But deep within the Neat package folder each file is named with a user unfriendly GUID as the filename. GUIDs are very long strings of unique numbers and letters. Exporting my Neat document library and importing it into another solution would require individual document exports, renaming, and re-tagging and importing each file into the replacement solution. But I would lose all document comments added via Neat.
Neat on the Mac is proprietary insofar as the file storage. There is no bulk export utility. It will be difficult to migrate an existing corpus of documents into another archive. (Unless someone writes an automation program to batch export into Evernote of some other solution).
I'd also like to point out that searches in Neat suffer from one great flaw, at least in the version I'm using. Searches within Neat are case sensitive. So if you label a document "My File", a search for "my file" will reveal no search results. Document deskewing and OCR are also severly flawed or do not work at all in the version I am using.
I was once a big fan of Neat, but now, not so much. It is seeming more and more that to Neat, Mac users are second class citizens.
-Dave B
Great review, thank you. Sealed the deal on my decision for the Fujitsu.
I now use scansnap to email receipts to receiptbank (a web based service that extracts the info from the receipts). From there the go to Xero (a cloud based accounting app that o have found to be better than QuickBooks for what I'm doing).
Can you connect the neatdesk to an iPad?
There are apps for iPad and iPhone. Free in the app store. I use them to categorize and add notes to my scanned documents from my iPad. So you can access and edit from iPad. I don't know if you can scan directly from the NeatDesk unit to the iPad.
why didn't you just compare the scan snap to the Neat Desk... you speak of custom scripts and the evernote monthly premium cost ?
Thanks for your time and thorough review.
very helpful man. Thanks. Still researching, but i like open systems better, so the fujitsu will probably win my purchase.
I am a pc user & I ordered the Neat desk scanner. It constantly jammed. the software is super slow (on a 6gb ram 1000gb harddrive laptop) and I got really frustrated. I ended up sending it back. For $400 I was not impressed. It did not scan clearly nor did It recognize the info correctly. The date would be in the wrong fields. I do not recommend the Neat scanner. I plan on trying the Epson workforce.
Great Review - I bought a Neat from Amazon and cancelled it (before it was processed) and bought the Fujitsu - after watching this. I hope vendors watch youtube videos. I use them all the time. You did 'kind of' go off in left field talking about - code you write, etc. I also agree 'too long' , Make them clear and concise.
Jerry Griffin That's really a shame Jerry, because there isn't a single valid claim in this video. I have the NeatDesk, and it can do everything thing this misleading video shows the Fujitsu doing. Receipts go in straight and are automatically nicely cropped. But there is a built-in rotate and crop tool too, if you ever need it. Which you won't. You CAN upload to Evernote with NeatDesk, without any special code! Neatdesk is NOT proprietary! It's not a great review! It's completely false and defamatory!
Thank you so much getting the Fujitsu!!!!
12:50 to see what he picked and final thoughts.
Thanks for the review. Very helpful.
Evernote is free for first 100mb. To go beyond that just costs 40 dollars per year.
I'd like the script too. Dose anyone know how I can get it?
Interesting review. However, I have a few comments. First, let me preface these by mentioning that I have worked in the Document Scanning/Imaging industry for over 15 years. In one of my last roles I created the process for Kofax which is used to certify their VirtualReScan (VRS) image cleanup software for all of the supported scanners.
(further comments to follow)
Fujitsu is made for cooperate use...just like IBM and all the big companies so in turn it will the best way to go
I purchased an Epson DS-510 after watching this review.. Let me just say WHAT A NIGHTMARE! there are no working software solutions bundled with the non-neat scanner options.. all these document scanners are designed to scan documents, legal documents, business, etc.. Seriously I don't want to scan receipts into pdf files. Nor do I want to buy a cloud service. I'm going to try the neat.. The automation out weighs EVERYTHING ! The Epson was returned..
I want Emil to work on this program, thank you
As much as I'd like to take your recommendation, I cannot. The reason I cannot is because I noticed you had used the same receipt several times beforehand. This can be viewed as priming the software, leaving the comparison faulty. Also, your "custom script" can be seen this way as well. Other than that, I enjoyed your presentation. I am still undecided.
great review! Thank you
That's why you keep the documents you scanned.
thanx for the video it is very helpful.
You are AWESOME!! :) THANK YOU SO MUCH! :)
You cant. To my knowledge the neat software is proprietary to neat's scanners
Gracias, desde mexico :)
Looks a lot more basic using their Mac software and still very slow and unstable :(
evernote is cross platform
This is a old, old review that need to be taken down.. It no longer vaild.. All Crap....Neat is great...