The paperless office on the Mac - very easy with the ScanSnap iX500

Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500
Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500
The Fujitsu ScanSnap iX500 is a document scanner that also runs under Mac OS X and can even scan thick stacks of paper printed on both sides in one go (Photo: Fujitsu).

Perhaps other self-employed people are also familiar with the problem: You urgently need an invoice for a device that you bought several months ago. Unfortunately, the bills are all in folders with the accountant, who first has to dig out the documents, scan them and email them away. Everything is very cumbersome - I thought to myself again and again. For this reason I am now taking the step and at least switching incoming invoices and other correspondence to the paperless variant. Of course, the original receipts will continue to be filed and archived in the accounting department - if only because you have to archive the documents for a possible tax audit - but for my personal needs everything is now transferred to a hard drive as a PDF.

Unbeaten good: the ScanSnap iX500 document scanner for the Mac

I got the ScanSnap iX500 a long time ago times introduced. For this reason, it was also the first choice for me when buying a document scanner. I think there is hardly a device that can hold a candle to it in terms of price-performance ratio, especially if you are looking for a solution that also runs under Mac OS X (for me under Mavericks).

The range of capabilities of the Fujitsu scanner is unbelievable and I would just like to introduce it here in brief. If you intend to implement a paperless office with your Mac, then this scanner is certainly the heart of the whole project.

Here are the features of the ScanSnap iX500:

  • wireless scanning via WLAN
  • alternatively also connectable with USB 3
  • Android and iOS App to scan directly into the iPhone or [Android Smartphone->android-smartphone]
  • runs on Mac OS X and Windows 8
  • Speed: 25 pages or 50 images per minute
  • Duplex scanning (scanning of sheets with front and back printing)
  • automatic activation when opening and deactivation when closing
  • Scanning problematic documents such as credit cards or cut-out articles from glossy magazines
  • Scan directly to the iPhone or iPad WITHOUT a PC or MAC with the ScanSnap Connect app
  • automatic text recognition (OCR software ABBYY Finereader) and generation of searchable PDFs with the help of text recognition
  • automatic color recognition and scanning in black and white or in color
  • Automatic cropping and rotating of templates that contain, among other things, text by which the alignment can be recognized
  • automatic skipping of blank pages
  • automatic removal of translucent backsides (background pattern)
  • Combine multiple pages into one searchable PDF
  • Scanning at the touch of a button on the scanner starts scanning when the Mac is on
  • Scanning business cards creates contact data in the address book if required
  • Convenient scan software with quick keys for:
    • Send the scan to a printer
    • Scan to a specific folder
    • Scanning and sending as an email attachment
    • Scanning of text templates in a Word, Excel or Powerpoint file for word processing
    • Scan straight to Evernote, Google Docs or Dropbox

     

Prices, availability and review

I've just ordered the scanner. If I have been using the scanner for a while, I will be happy to give you a short test report so that you can get an idea of ​​the device. And for everyone who has ever wanted to get the document scanner: It is available for under 400 EUR at Amazon.

I also found a small product video. This is really interesting if you want to see it in action:

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4 Responses to “The paperless office on the Mac – made easy with the ScanSnap iX500”

    1. Hello Viktor! Yes, the scanner is still on my desk and used every day. I still think it's great and already have some friends who were also enthusiastic about how quickly I can turn paper into searchable PDFs. ;) So still my recommendation ... also works fine under OS X El Capitan.

  1. Hallo,
    really a good scanner that you have chosen. I've used it myself for a long time and have never been able to complain. Really do what it says on the tin and the price is fair.
    Another question:
    did you make the video yourself or did you have it made? Looks very professional. (Y)
    LG

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