CZUR Shine Ultra Smart Portable Document Scanner, Thin Book Scanner with OCR, USB Document Camera for Desktop/Laptop, Capture Size A3, Compatible with Windows & Mac OS (Not for Android & iOS)

This is an excellent product that is very handy for graduate students. If you are working with archival sources, taking this portable scanner along to the archive will make it much easier than using a phone or camera. You can pack it in most backpacks and carry it around with your laptop, which is the only other thing you need. It is quite small and light, but also can scan up to A3, which means you can put more documents together.The scanner is quick, readable and has many customization options for the scans (size, dimensions, OCR). It is also quite affordable and you get the proprietary software, as well as the excellent support for the scanner.Taken together, highly recommend for professional research use (recommended it for many colleagues), or even at home if you need to scan some paperwork.

I have used a number of scanners over the years, from built-in all-in-one printer/scanner/copiers, to standalone Fujitsu SnapScan scanners for documents, to flatbed scanners such as the Epsom v600 for photographs. Each of these has been good for its purposes, but each has its limitations. I also have used the CZUR Aura in a small business environment, and was very pleased with the experience I had with the Aura. The Aura I used had the benefit of its own internal battery and an app, so the scanner could be taken to other locations without need for a computer, and was often used in libraries or other locations where third-party documents needed to be scanned.The CZUR Shine is a smaller, more compact version of the Aura. There are not a lot of moving parts - just the dial to control the light, the up-and-down slide on the light stem to raise or lower the camera (depending on how large the scan needs to be), and the arm that moves from vertical to horizontal when you want to use the camera. The Shine does not have its own power source, and must be connected to a computer to operate. It connects using a standard USB-A connector, and has the foot-pedal to take the image, leaving your hands free to position the image, turn the pages, etc.The scanner came with a user manual and a CD with the software. As my laptop does not have a drive, I downloaded and installed the software from their website. The website was easy to navigate, and had the software downloads clearly marked based on model, operating system, etc. Once the software was downloaded, the scanner serial number was needed to activate the software, and it was ready to go. It took probably no more than 10 minutes to go from an unopened box to using the product.The Shine is also packaged in a more reusable and ready-to-transport box than the Aura. The internal packing contains a shaped foam to hold the scanner, the two cables, the thumb tabs, and the black mat. The box also comes with a built-in plastic handle. While it doesn't affect the functionality of the scanner, it does reflect some thought into not only the product, but the packaging to make the device more efficient, transportable, and usable. I always struggled with the Aura and making sure to bring the components, and do so along with notebooks, files, etc. This packaging makes it easier to bring the Aura as a self-contained kit.The Shine also comes with two yellow plastic thumb tabs to hold down the pages of the book. The best part of these tabs is the software is apparently coded to turn those tabs invisible, so that they don't appear on the pages. The most challenging part of using the tabs is getting used to the feel on your fingers, and making sure that they tab doesn't cover any of the material you want scanned.The Shine is the best all-around scanner that I've used. The image quality is outstanding. While it can't keep up with a document auto-feed scanner like a fujitsu, it has a broader, more versatile usage than a document scanner. It also has more versatility than a flatbed scanner, since the flatbed generally requires the item being scanned to be placed face-down. And, none of these scanner options have the ability to scan a book face-up, and remove the curvature of the pages. I still have and use the Epsom flatbed and the Fujitsu SnapScan, but their days of travelling are over. And, when they eventually stop working, they will not be replaced with newer models. The Shine can handle all of the functions those scanners do, in a more compact, and transportable fashion. And, if I had to make the decision to get rid of all of my scanners, except one, CZUR's product would be the one left on my desktop.This is also a great scanner if you want to leave it on a desktop, or need something for a small office workspace. The entire scanner takes up roughly 4x6 of desktop surface, so it can be easily put aside when it's not needed. The scanner will require more desktop for the mat when you want to scan, but it can be easily placed and removed on an as-needed (or not needed) basis.

This is a pretty nifty tool, though there is something of a learning curve in its use. For me, it was primarily getting the settings right (JPG size/quality) to get the best page scan, and then making quick type-of-scan changes when going from page to page (color, grayscale, B&W). The only thing that keeps me from giving it a five-star rating is the facing pages setting (scanning two pages at once). I'm currently scanning spiral-bound pages that lay flat on both sides, but the software thinks the pages are traditionally bound and tries to correct the image. If there was a way to turn off the auto-flattening function and allow me to scan the pages as they are, I would be able to work twice as fast. Also, the OCR function for making a searchable PDF seems to be pretty spot-on.

This device was beautifully packaged and easy to set up. I was scanning within 15 minutes. I used it to scan a set of large medical books with illustrations and the results were perfect. I liked the foot pedal but the automatic scanning option is even better. Scan as fast as you can turn the page. The color and detail in the images was excellent. Text recognition, even on the large pages mixed with images, was flawless. The scanner is small and light enough to be easily transported. I highly recommend the CZUR Scanner. Great device for a very affordable price.