bit-tech Shopping: Nuance PaperPort 11 Professional (Full Product)

• Microsoft Windows 2000
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows XP
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Rating: 10

Time with product: 4 Months

Strengths: Powerful document manipulation, ability to merge and separate various documents, superb scanning features, great PDF compression software.

Weaknesses: Occasionally becomes unresponsive when trying to manipulate very large uncompressed PDF files, even on a high-end PC.

Summary: I've been using Scansoft Paperport 11 Professional for several months at work, and was very impressed with the capabilities and versatility of the program. I like to scan all of my records and documents to store electronically. I had been using a free paperless printing utility to create PDFs, as well as my old scanner's PDF-creating software, and they had worked okay. But I envied how Paperport could smoothly merge and split various files, work seamlessly with a scanner, and how the program produced crisper, more professional-looking documents. I scan all my documents from within Paperport, which makes it extremely easy to change the highly customizable scan settings. And you can create multiple profiles to handle different types of documents or images. And you can create PDF files using PDF-MRC compression, which dramatically reduces file size without compromising quality. One suggestion I would make to any user is to try using the TWAIN settings instead of WIA when setting up your scanner in Paperport. I realize that TWAIN is the older standard, but it seemed to me that documents scanned faster, and there were more scan settings available.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 6 Years

Strengths: I have had every version of Paperport since 3.0 and I have used it everyday since

Weaknesses: $9.95 fee for a tech support email is unbelievable

Summary: Looks like the world has changed when Paperport was sold by Vissioneer to Nuance. The basic features are still there so if it works you will be happy. I recently upgraded to IE 7.0 and the web capture

Rating: 10

Time with product: 10 Years

Strengths: Visual desktop,document thumbnails,PDF capability,document annotation tools

Weaknesses: Product activation

Summary: Anyone who tries Paperport 11 will find it a great new tool for their home or business office. Paperport allows you to easily organize both paper and digital files so that you will never have to find them again. I am a small business owner that needs to watch how I manage my time. I stumbled into Paperport many years ago and thought that it was simply a program to help scan files. Little did I know its power and potential. I have used PaperPort for almost a decade. Version 11 has some great new features like a wizard that makes it far easier than ever to process paper work, it is faster in its actual processing and navigation and just plain easier to use. With PaperPort I do not have to search for that elusive file that I know I have somewhere or that my assistant created. It is such a time saver - I couldn't live with out it!

Rating: 8

Time with product: 2 Weeks

Strengths: Really easy to use.

Weaknesses: Requires an internet connect for activation.

Summary: I've tried to get better organized by scanning paper before and it just never felt easy. It's hard to explain but files would get lost, it took to many steps, I didn't get what I wanted. It was hard even when all I had to do was hit a button on my HP officejet. There where just too many choices and too much software opening when I didn't want it to. In frustration I decided to get PaperPort. What a difference. I really feel I am making progress now. Setup was a little tricky but the software guides you through it. Once that was done when I hit a botton on my scanner I can see my files right away. I am still sxploring all the features but even within a day the software has paid for itself. It also lets me create PDF files really easily from everything, not just what I scan. I highly recommend this software.