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Rating: 
Summary: Great hardware, very good software
Review: First, a warning. As I type this, Amazon's description states that this "Recognizes text, numbers, handwritten numbers, bar codes, and dot matrix documents." That description applies to the EXECUTIVE version of this product, NOT the Standard. Standard's software is NOT designed to output bar codes, handwritten numbers, and dot matrix documents. A test of handwritten numbers just now shows that it will read a few neat handwritten numbers, but only about 30% of them. As for dot matrix, the manual states that this WILL read good quality 24-pin printouts, but not poor quality 12-pin printouts and worse. If you need that kind of capability, buy the Executive. Do note that the hardware -- the physical scanner itself -- is EXACTLY the same in both the Standard and the Executive (so for more reviews you might check out the reviews of the Executive version too). Only the software differs. You have the option of upgrading to the Executive version later if you'd like, and the software is available for paid download at the IRIS site. The Executive version also includes translation capability and supports text to speech so that you can hear the words as you scan. I chose the Standard version for budget reasons, and I'm quite happy with it. The error rate on this pen is excellent. For example, if I printed out this review and scanned it, I would probably find two or three minor errors. The cord is distracting, but I've solved that problem by hanging the cord on a hook attached to my desk so that it's in the air and out of the way. Scanning does take just a little getting used to, but once you get it down you can scan quickly and efficiently. It helps if the book is flat. I tried scanning while a book was in a book holder, and that was too hard. I had no problems with installation on a Dell 4400 desktop running Windows XP. XP informed me that the IRIS driver was not approved, but I installed it anyway and had no problems. The software is fairly thorough, including such thoughtful features as end-of-line hyphen removal and the option to set your button to tabs, enters, or other keystrokes. It also has a spacing feature to help you get around problems when you scan, say, short newspaper columns and accidentally scan a little of the adjacent column. You can set the scanner to ignore sudden jumps in space, etc., which is nice. However, there are a few irritating limitations. First, there appears to be no way to turn off the prompt asking you if you really want to shut down the software. I have shut down my computer at night several times only to wake up to find my computer still on, locked and waiting for my response to the question. There should be a way to disable this nag without using third-party automation software, which I installed just to get around this problem. Second, there is no easy way to have the scanner insert two spaces between sentences instead of the usual one. There is probably a way to do this through the character conversion feature, but as many papers and manuscripts are supposed to be formatted with two spaces between sentences, it should be a built-in option. It's a pain to go and add those spaces. I have resorted to turning on my word processor's built-in function for the extra space, but that means loss of control over my document (which is why I turned that function off to begin with), and is something that should have been addressed in the software. But these are minor points that only partly detract from five stars (I'd give it four and a half if I could). Overall I'm very satisfied. I use this 1) To collect quotes, and 2) To insert long passages into a working outline I maintain that covers a specific field. I wish I'd had this when I was a student. It would have made typing up block quotes and class outlines much easier.
Rating:
Summary: Great hardware, very good software
Review: First, a warning. As I type this, Amazon's description states that this "Recognizes text, numbers, handwritten numbers, bar codes, and dot matrix documents." That description applies to the EXECUTIVE version of this product, NOT the Standard. Standard's software is NOT designed to output bar codes, handwritten numbers, and dot matrix documents. A test of handwritten numbers just now shows that it will read a few neat handwritten numbers, but only about 30% of them. As for dot matrix, the manual states that this WILL read good quality 24-pin printouts, but not poor quality 12-pin printouts and worse. If you need that kind of capability, buy the Executive. Do note that the hardware -- the physical scanner itself -- is EXACTLY the same in both the Standard and the Executive (so for more reviews you might check out the reviews of the Executive version too). Only the software differs. You have the option of upgrading to the Executive version later if you'd like, and the software is available for paid download at the IRIS site. The Executive version also includes translation capability and supports text to speech so that you can hear the words as you scan. I chose the Standard version for budget reasons, and I'm quite happy with it. The error rate on this pen is excellent. For example, if I printed out this review and scanned it, I would probably find two or three minor errors. The cord is distracting, but I've solved that problem by hanging the cord on a hook attached to my desk so that it's in the air and out of the way. Scanning does take just a little getting used to, but once you get it down you can scan quickly and efficiently. It helps if the book is flat. I tried scanning while a book was in a book holder, and that was too hard. I had no problems with installation on a Dell 4400 desktop running Windows XP. XP informed me that the IRIS driver was not approved, but I installed it anyway and had no problems. The software is fairly thorough, including such thoughtful features as end-of-line hyphen removal and the option to set your button to tabs, enters, or other keystrokes. It also has a spacing feature to help you get around problems when you scan, say, short newspaper columns and accidentally scan a little of the adjacent column. You can set the scanner to ignore sudden jumps in space, etc., which is nice. However, there are a few irritating limitations. First, there appears to be no way to turn off the prompt asking you if you really want to shut down the software. I have shut down my computer at night several times only to wake up to find my computer still on, locked and waiting for my response to the question. There should be a way to disable this nag without using third-party automation software, which I installed just to get around this problem. Second, there is no easy way to have the scanner insert two spaces between sentences instead of the usual one. There is probably a way to do this through the character conversion feature, but as many papers and manuscripts are supposed to be formatted with two spaces between sentences, it should be a built-in option. It's a pain to go and add those spaces. I have resorted to turning on my word processor's built-in function for the extra space, but that means loss of control over my document (which is why I turned that function off to begin with), and is something that should have been addressed in the software. But these are minor points that only partly detract from five stars (I'd give it four and a half if I could). Overall I'm very satisfied. I use this 1) To collect quotes, and 2) To insert long passages into a working outline I maintain that covers a specific field. I wish I'd had this when I was a student. It would have made typing up block quotes and class outlines much easier.
Rating:
Summary: Works well for research and notetaking
Review: I have been using the IRISpen for about a year and have been extremely satisfied. It is particularly useful for taking notes and reads standard text from books with few errors (and very quickly too). It can be set up for left or right-handed use and can be adjusted for text that is light or dark. I have the executive version, which I believe adds some additional features (recognizes handprinted numbers, bar codes, and dot matrix text and can adjust for different shades of paper). Drawbacks: Must remain attached to a computer (it inserts text into an open application as it scans), many errors on some text--light printing, unusual font, etc. Overall, an excellent product that I would highly recommend for researchers, students, etc. I use it nearly every day.
Rating: 
Summary: easy to use - great for Macs
Review: I purchased the IRISPen II with the intent to use it for my Master's thesis. So far I am very pleased with it. It was very easy to install- I simply popped the CD in my Mac (running OS X), installed the software, and then plugged the pen into the USB port at the front of my monitor. Immediately, I scanned a line of text and automatically it was displayed on screen and imported into my clipboard. I could then copy that text into any application. I tried scanning faster and it wasn't as accurate as my first line, but there *is* a learning curve with it and it still beats typing the text in. Just pass it over text and it automatically turns on and scans- no button to press or keystroke required. At first it appeared that the pen didn't scan more than one line, and that I had to paste the text into my documents, but as long as the IRISPen software is running, and your doument is active, each line you scan is automatically inserted after you lift the pen from the page. When you are in the IRISPen software itself, the pen will only scan one line at a time.
The Standard model is very nicely priced compared to the other pen scanners on the market (and offers more accuracy and ease of use, PLUS Mac compatibility). I'd give it 5 stars, but I haven't used it heavily enough to know if the accuracy will improve with use or if it works with all the apps I will want to use it with. But so far, no regrets.
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