Technology Blog

Portable scanners let you scan and manage receipts, business cards, and other documents while on the road.
With the aid of a portable scanner, business travelers can easily manage receipts, business cards, and any other documents or scraps of paper they need to digitize. Many of today's mobile scanners include advanced features traditionally found on desktop document scanners, such as duplexing and/or an automatic document feeder (ADF). 

We've seen a lot of devices with docks, but the Visioneer Strobe 500 is the first scanner we've reviewed that comes with one. Primarily a desktop document scanner, it can be removed from its dock to function as a portable scanner as well.

The Canon imageFormula P-150 Scan-tini isn't as teeny as its name implies, but it makes up for its relative bulkiness (for a portable scanner, at least) with high speed and features such as duplexing and an automatic document feeder (ADF). The Fujitsu ScanSnap S300 also duplexes and has an ADF, but software issues make it a less appealing choice.
Although NeatReceipts can scan business cards and other documents, its forte of course is scanning receipts and managing them using the included NeatWorks 4.0 software, which lets you export the data to various financial management programs.
The PlanOn DocuPen Xtreme X05 is the most portable scanner featured here. It's larger than a true pen scanner, but it's easier to use, letting you sweep vertically down a page rather than highlighter-style.
Today's portable scanners provide enough features and functionality so that many businesspeople are adopting on them as their sole scanner in lieu of traditional desktop scanners.
Featured in this Roundup:
Canon imageFormula P-150 Scan-tini
$295 direct
 
The Canon imageFormula P-150 Scan-tini more than justifies its large size with fast speed, an automatic document feeder, and the ability to scan both sides of a page.
Fujitsu ScanSnap S300
$295 direct

The Fujitsu ScanSnap S300 scanner brings the convenience of duplexing and an automatic document feeder to scanning on the go.
NeatReceipts
$195 direct

NeatReceipts combines a portable scanner with software designed to scan and manage receipts, business cards, and documents.
PlanOn DocuPen Xtreme X05
$369.99 direct

The DocuPen Xtreme X05 is easier to use than a true pen scanner, but it stubs its toe on an unusually large number of minor flaws.
Visioneer Strobe 500
$399.99 direct
 
The Visioneer Strobe 500 is a personal desktop document scanner complete with an automatic document feeder, but it's also portable if you need it to be.