Hi Erik, I have an HP CM2320, which is a color laser all-in-one. I installed the HP software, so get the scanning and other functions even over the network. THis machine costs I believe about $700, but I was abel to get it on sale for about $450 or so. I am lucky and pleased this does work. I can appreciate the difficulty in trying to use this and that app to accomplish a task. My understanding with ABBYY that if the scanner is twain compliant, it should work, but some scanners do have some very odd front-end software that makes it difficult at best to use on any platform.
Scott On Dec 12, 2010, at 1:36 PM, erik burggraaf wrote: > Hi Scott, Since most scanners are unfortunately not supported directly by > fine reader express, you have to either know the make an model of one that > does and ask for it when you buy your computer, or you have to get hellishly > lucky. I don't even know the make and model of a scanner that's directly > compatible with fine reader. If you know the make and model of yours and you > should be kind enough to post it, that might very well be the first one > posted since FRE was released, despite the question being asked about once > every 6 weeks for the past year on this list. > > The poor OCR results I've experienced with FRE are a direct result of needing > to use image capture to acquire scans because wouldn't you know it, my > scanner is one of the thousands of models that isn'd directly supported in > FRE. I'm glad it's working for you, and I hope they come out with a full > product that has vastly improved driver support and will read content > automaticly without needing to import it into something like text edit, but > for now, it's not ready for the vast majority of us, and it's certainly not > something I see most seniors adopting at all, let alone seamlessly. > > Best, > > Erik Burggraaf > User support consultant, > Now posting occasionally on twitter at eburggraaf, > 1-888-255-5194 > http://www.erik-burggraaf.com > > On 2010-12-12, at 1:19 PM, Scott Howell wrote: > >> Erik, >> >> I have to disagree because I have had very good success with ABBYY's Fine >> Reader Express. Now I'm fortunate in that my scanner works fine with the >> included software, so I can either use that software and feed the results to >> ABBYY or use ABBYY to drive the process. I cannot say how it compares to >> Openbook etc. since I have not used such software in over 10 years if not >> 15. So, you may be right that these other solutions produce better results, >> but I consider the quality of results based on the ability for me to read >> the output. SInce I have had such success with ABBYY, which costs about $100 >> I think at least for me I have found a viable solution. >> Hopefully you will get the software etc. sorted out and be able to provide >> some more feedback because this does sound interesting. However, I have to >> admit that for me personally, I do not believe I would spend even half that >> amount for an OCR solution, but again, remember I'm only referring to what I >> would or would not do. >> >> Scott >> >> >> >> >> >> On Dec 12, 2010, at 8:01 AM, erik burggraaf wrote: >> >>> Well now, Hold your horses, smiles. >>> >>> 2 grand is too much for this baby. No doubt about it. There are serious >>> drawbacks that need to be addressed. The manual is horrendous The mac >>> software isn't integrated with the mac and tries to be windowsish >>> apparently. The actual windows software has been crashing like crazy here, >>> but that's in my virtual machine, where a lot of things don't exactly play >>> ball. It's a testing ground for anything and everything and I'd take my >>> crashing issues to a couple of actual windows pc's before I really worried >>> about them. The unfortunate thing about the crashes from my standpoint is >>> that I can't show the unit to a client if that's what it's going to do . >>> >>> Now having said all that, we've got a couple of off the shelf solutions for >>> the mac for around a hundred bucks. You know what? They suck. I know a >>> few really ambitious people on this list have gotten it to fly for them, >>> and that's great, but a fare few of us here are high end computer users. >>> You've got to realize, The vast majority of blind people are over the age >>> of 60. They have interests and poppies and things they like to do and a >>> computer is a great help to them, but they can't be having to worry about >>> hardware compatibility, and they don't want 5 or 6 steps and 3 programs to >>> do a simple scan and read. I'm not gonna take them through image capture, >>> then fine reader, then text edit, only to find out that what they scanned >>> didn't OCR properly. The first time that happens I'll lose my audience. >>> You've got to face the fact that there is nothing for OCR on the mac that >>> is simple as openbook or kurzweil, and you've especially got to face up to >>> the fact that there's no one program on the mac that has as many features >>> in one place as either of those two packages. >>> >>> For two grand, EyePal doesn't support enough languages. It's not >>> integrated with all the services like RFB&D and bookshare. It doesn't have >>> a spell check, dictionary or thesaurus. it doesn't read currency. It >>> doesn't have automatic calibration features that will optimize the camera >>> settings for the particular text you are reading, lighting conditions and >>> so on. >>> >>> What it does do, is handle large books really and I mean really well. It >>> will allow my elderly mac-wealding clients to walk up, put down a document, >>> hit a button and find out what's on the paper just like my windows clients >>> can. Is that worth 2 grand? I'm not convinced, but I'm not ready to >>> writhe it off until I get to see current software working on a real >>> platform of my choosing. Meanwhile, I suggest you pour yourself another >>> cup of coffee and mellow out. I know exactly how you feel. I felt the >>> same way when the original knfb reader came out. Now that product is a >>> stone-age brick and I could probably have one for $500 if I asked around. >>> I'll tell you what though. I got those so and so's right where it hurt. >>> You know what I did with there $3600 piece of astonishingly portable, >>> nice-looking and effective technology? Oh ho ho you'll never believe >>> this... I left it in the store. *rubs hands together with glee* That >>> showed 'em. Now I've been working in AT for almost 3 years, all be it on >>> the very bottom most rung of the ladder, and It's not like it was 10 years >>> ago. They're still charging stupid amounts of money for high end screen >>> readers and braille displays, mostly because it's tradition. They can >>> charge it and people are paying, so you can't very well blame them. Newer >>> technologies though are subject to the same laws of depreciation as every >>> other damn thing. EyePal pricing just dropped in December. I'm hoping >>> that applies to canadian sales as well. Next year it will go down again. >>> The year after that, abisee will introduce something else and you'll be >>> able to have one of these for a fraction of the cost. The market is going >>> a certain way that will eventually freeze out gouging prices for access >>> technology, but change is slow and you just have to pace yourself and not >>> let it rip you up so much. >>> >>> Take 'er easy. >>> >>> Erik Burggraaf >>> User support consultant, >>> Now posting occasionally on twitter at eburggraaf, >>> 1-888-255-5194 >>> http://www.erik-burggraaf.com >>> >>> On 2010-12-11, at 7:19 PM, Yuma Decaux wrote: >>> >>>> Hi, >>>> >>>> Just wanted to jump in on this, but 2000 dollars for a demo? I mean, >>>> crashing and all, missing manuals or software and a total lack of anything >>>> integrated? How come it's that ridiculously priced? It's actually the >>>> price of two macbook airs, and i thought apple was going premium with >>>> their stuff. I understand the cost of manufacture/quantity of >>>> sale/specialization of the device but 2k for something like that is >>>> basically laughing at the blind man's difficulties and adding more fuel to >>>> the fire. >>>> >>>> Sorry for my language but i cannot comprehend the level of anger mustering >>>> out of me in regards to these so called accessiblity solutions when all it >>>> does is one function, and not even that great as i read on this thred. >>>> >>>> Shaking my head in complete disgust >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>>> For more options, visit this group at >>>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>>> >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >>> "MacVisionaries" group. >>> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >>> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >>> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >>> For more options, visit this group at >>> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >>> >> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "MacVisionaries" group. >> To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. >> To unsubscribe from this group, send email to >> macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. >> For more options, visit this group at >> http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. >> > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "MacVisionaries" group. > To post to this group, send email to macvisionar...@googlegroups.com. > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > macvisionaries+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > For more options, visit this group at > http://groups.google.com/group/macvisionaries?hl=en. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "MacVisionaries" group. 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