Scanner choices for new purchase

[TallTravel]

OK, it looks like I am going to purchase a new flat bed scanner next week. My primary purpose is to scan pages/documents from a large textbook and import/edit a handful of words and sentences on each of 1000 pages into either Word or Power Point.

Later, I may convert these to MP3 files and listen to them, but the main reason for purchasing this scanner is simple:

scan pages and use the accompanying OCR software to edit and place the text into one or both of these Office applications.

I don't want to spend much on this, and want as simple a device as possible. Resolution, as you might guess, will need to be for text import and nothing else.

Any specific suggestions? I have found a range of them for under $100, and I would like to remain under that amount. glc has provided one option in another thread, but I am looking for other opinions as well.

I cannot say scanning photos will never be important to me, but am making this decision solely on the ease of moving text into various formats.

Thanks.

[henri915]

Originally Posted by Sunset OK, it looks like I am going to purchase a new flat bed scanner next week. My primary purpose is to scan pages/documents from a large textbook and import/edit a handful of words and sentences on each of 1000 pages into either Word or Power Point. Later, I may convert these to MP3 files and listen to them, but the main reason for purchasing this scanner is simple: scan pages and use the accompanying OCR software to edit and place the text into one or both of these Office applications. I don't want to spend much on this, and want as simple a device as possible. Resolution, as you might guess, will need to be for text import and nothing else. Any specific suggestions? I have found a range of them for under $100, and I would like to remain under that amount. glc has provided one option in another thread, but I am looking for other opinions as well. I cannot say scanning photos will never be important to me, but am making this decision solely on the ease of moving text into various formats. Thanks.

I like the Canon LIDE series scanners myself. They're USB Cable ONLY, no power cable. They're cheap enough and they get the job done. I've often felt that scanners are all the same and that the real question for text bridging is what program you use to do it.

I've also found if you text bridge to a .txt file and then open that in word, it works better

YMMV

[TallTravel]

Originally Posted by henri915 I like the Canon LIDE series scanners myself. They're USB Cable ONLY, no power cable. They're cheap enough and they get the job done. I've often felt that scanners are all the same and that the real question for text bridging is what program you use to do it. I've also found if you text bridge to a .txt file and then open that in word, it works better YMMV

Many thanks. I have seen plenty of evidence of Canon' product lines in the scanner area, and I know they offer quite a range of products in the area..

I don't really want to purchase a separate software program, so I am hoping the one included with the scanner will be good enough. Since Canon makes so many high end scanners, they ought to have some good software even with the low end scanners.

Follow up question:

Once I get these into .txt or .doc form I am also going to use an conversion program to create an audio file for each chapters' highlights, then use the audio file (MP3 format, I am thinking?) for repetitive learning in the car during traffic.

Any ideas about the conversion software to create an audio file from .txt files?

[giuseppe]

I know that some of the voice recognition software will convert text to audio. I use the Dragon software at work and it will convert text to audio. Don't know if you would be able to save the audio file though since it processes off the text file.