David LaGesse
The old promise of a paperless society has left a wake of cynicism as
homes and businesses wallow in stacks of manila folders, printouts, and
statements. But hope still burns for some, though even evangelists set a
lower bar. Instead of paperless, it's "less paper," says
Most consumers have experienced at least a taste of going digital. Online banking, electronic statements, and online bill paying have eased the paper chase. And consumers use less dead-tree paper, while saving on postage, envelopes, and printing costs.
Still, many documents can't be downloaded in electronic form, such as
bills from small contractors, government forms, and receipts from
brick-and-mortar stores. That means an annual "tax weekend of dread,"
says
Here is a quick guide for those who want to take the digital dive:
Basic scanner.
All-in-one printers from
Hewlett-Packard,
Brother, Epson, and others with a built-in scanner can do the job. It's worth spending
Better scanner.
Dedicated scanners from companies like
Basic software.
Most scanners can scan directly to the PDF format of Adobe Acrobat, which can be easily viewed, shared, and printed. Some, like the ScanSnap, include software that converts the images to text files for easy editing. Many also include software for organizing documents, such as Nuance's PaperPort v12, which displays large thumbnails of documents, making them easier to recognize, and indexes text for simple keyword searches.
Nuance PaperPort v12
sells separately for
Advanced package.
The NeatDesk,
which costs roughly
It's the NeatDesk system that Bolotnick and his wife adopted. The system is hardly a perfect solution, he says, adding that the process and software force habit changes and new tasks. "But the new tasks are far less painful than the old ones were," he says.
Available at Amazon.com:
Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500 Instant PDF Sheet-Fed Scanner for PC
Fujitsu ScanSnap S1500M Instant PDF Sheet-Fed Scanner for the Macintosh
NeatDesk Desktop Scanner and Digital Filing System
How to Save With Cutting-Edge Tech
David LaGesse
An economy in the dumps has taught many consumers to live without the extras. And that would seem to include the latest in gadgets: New HDTVs, MP3 players, and game consoles can cost a bundle. But some of the best in fresh tech not only comes cheap; it can even save cash over time. Here's how savvy buyers can cut their budget and still brag that they're on the cutting edge
Suddenly Instant Photos Are Everywhere
David LaGesse
It seemed that instant cameras were dying, yet another analog victim in a digital world. When Polaroid announced that it would quit making the film that fueled its instant cameras, it appeared to be the final nail in the coffin. Then -- in what seems an instant -- instant printing has roared back.
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Rob Silverblatt
In an era in which the Internet is steadily uprooting traditional business models, David-versus-Goliath stories are becoming increasingly common. Meanwhile, the traditional investment and fund players have responded with advances of their own. Here's a look at some technologies that have emerged in this climate
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David LaGesse
Few revelations from Apple had generated more anticipation than Apple's recent iPad product announcement. Though nobody knew exactly what the iPad would be, reports widely agrees that the device was to be a new type of portable computer akin to a tablet.
Apple's iPad: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Ben Baden
Apple has announced its latest -- and what some say -- greatest creation yet. The iPad is the biggest news since the launch of the iPhone. The iPad is going to be aggressively priced so Apple can get as many iPads into as many hands as quickly as possible. Most of the news reported was positive, but there are still some unanswered questions. Here's a look at what the iPad has to offer ...
An Amazon Kindle for Every Student
Zach Miners
Forget better standards, merit pay for teachers, or rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure of America's aging schools. No, if we really want to fix the U.S. education system, we must start with Kindles. Thomas Z. Freedman, the primary author of the paper, writes that having a "Kindle in every backpack" (the title of the proposal) is not just an educational gimmick but could improve education quality and save money
The War on the Book
Paul Greenberg
In Ashburnham, Massachusetts, a prep school has just given up on books. The headmaster of Cushing Academy, one James Tracy, doesn't see any need for them. Not any more. Anybody who's anybody or wants to be now has an iPhone with apps, a Kindle or whatever the Next Big Thing turns out to transiently be. Who needs books?
Ultimate HDTV HD Television Buying Guide
David LaGesse
We studied the hundreds of HDTV flat-panel television sets that plastered walls at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and have distilled a quick guide to today's key options
What's New in Consumer Technology and Electronics
David LaGesse
The 2010 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is smaller than in recent years, but it's still where the world takes stock of what's coming in consumer electornics and technology. And obscure acronyms -- the valued shorthand of geekdom -- seem especially prevalent as new tehcnologies roll out. Here are five new technologies and getting a big push this year ...
CES 2010: Peripheral Vision
Kyle Orland, Crispy Gamer
Many video gaming hardware makers were showing off their new wares at CES 2010 in Vegas each year. Here are the most noteworthy of the selection shown at the show earlier this month.
Mobile Tech That Stole the Decade
David LaGesse
If the '90s were the Internet era, maybe the '00s were the mobile decade. Technology packed ever more power into ever smaller devices, putting portable electronics at the leading edge of innovation this decade. With freedom of movement in mind, here are the top tech innovations of 2000-2009 ...
The Biggest Technology Flops of the Decade
David LaGesse
The new millennium was born amid an Internet bubble that soon burst, not a good omen for the technology industry. The sector rallied, however, and continued to produce a remarkable run of new gadgets. But it had more than its share of flops, as well. Here are the 10 biggest debacles of the decade
(c) 2010 U.S. News & World Report