I have seen may OCR apps on the web and even in the store. Has anyone had first hand knowledge of an app?
I do not know if my new printer has it bundled as it is not here for another week and am doing research.
I think PDF to Word would be ideal.
It is scanners & combined printer-scanners that often come with some sort of bundled OCR utilities.
If the new printer you referred to is a combined printer-scanner then look it up on the maker's website to find out what it comes with.
- Be careful to check exactly what it says in any references to bundled scanning software as it might only mean software that scans paper into pictures.
- Comments about scanning paper into Word files would get you moving in the right direction but if they only mention scanning paper into pdf then that might only mean graphics pdfs not ones that actually contain the words.
If it sounds right but you are not entirely sure then download the user manual and search that for OCR. And have a nose around their user forum if they have one.
Denis
This HP Officejet Pro 6830 came with I.R.I.S. OCR software. I still have yet to use it. Maybe something to experiment with tonight.
Likely due to my lack of understanding, or low price range, I have had a rough time selecting an all in one printer.
I would like to have ethernet capability. Amazon and Brother just falsely advertised a Brother as having it but it does not.
I would like to be able to fax from the printer bundle.
Example, Word doc >file >select printer or fax and do so without a pc fax modem.
I have been to stores and looked over the web but am stuck.
Can anyone suggest one?
Thank you
I have a Brother AIO, which scanned OCR to Notepad. Unfortunately, this seems to have broke with the Creators Update. Guess I'll have to go searching for patches/updates to the software (just haven't had time or need).
Brother make very good printers and the replacement ink/toner can be had for reasonable, as compared to all the others. Mine is connected to the wifi, so I can place it in the house wherever I want.
Your printer selection needs to be based on your needs. For instance, if you don't print that often, inkjets will tend to dry, whereas laser models don't have that problem (using toner).
I agree scanning ocr to notepad is not good.
Brother is also made in the USA which I like.
Good tip about ink.
Are you concerned that the wifi is bgn and not ac?
I have no luck online with a search for what I need. Either there is no price,it is discontinued,it does not say what is in the bundle such as ocr, it makes errors re: ethernet port.
The brother site is weak for a lot of the above reasons.
I am old and disabled so going store to store is tough.
I fax a lot, print a moderate amount and need color, copy average and scan quite a bit. I do not like the way they all scan to email or or memory device now - the other option is to pc but it is awkward.
I really need to get a machine as I have doctors, vets, and other agencies to fax etc to.
I saw in the store where Windows has free OCR. I don't know if it is any good though.
If anyone comes across one I have outlined please write back.
Thank you
I have to say, I'm a big fan of Brother machines, and I have an AIO here, but it's an inkjet, and it dries up on me because I don't print enough. So I also bought a Dell E525W color AIO laser, and it is a great machine. It's on sale right now at Staples for $130.
No, notepad is not the best. And I can scan from my Dell laser using OCR to doc, docx or PDF using the Dell Document Hub software.
No, not at all. wireless-N is fine enough speed for a printer.
I have not used the fax function, but I'm sure it's fine - just like any other fax. You can also plug in your auto-numbers using your web browser (that makes it nice). It has an ethernet port, a regular USB printer connection, and wifi capability (wifi is how I have mine setup).
Not trying to push it or anything, but it is a pretty slick printer with all the bells and whistles for the sale price. The only thing it doesn't do is auto-duplex (I have to do that manually).
Another possibility (perhaps in a pinch, but not really practical for every day) is to snip a picture of a document using a smartphone and the free MS Office Lens app, which will convert to OCR doc/pdf, and save to your phone, then send to OneNote or upload to OneDrive and download to your computer. But I would only do that in a pinch. It would be a chore to be doing that all the time.
Brother MFC-J5830DW Color Inkjet All-in-One Printer MFCJ5830DW - Micro Center
Brother MFC-J5830DW
Not much on their page in the way of pictures, but on the Brother (mobile) site, reading user reviews, I see one person says "I have a newfound use by scanning packets of documents to electronic pdfs", so that tells me the Brother software has been updated since I last used it.
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