Comments on: Mail Pixily your monthly papers to scan

By: Khalid

Khalid — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:08:23 +0000

Forget HP all in one , cumbersome menu system. I have it never use it for scan. Instead, I use daily Canon MP830, simple menu easy set up to pdf from feeder and then just put the stack at any time and push either the color or BW button ! Has duplex too ! Infact for a year I never printed a single page but as a a great scanner ! I am practically paperless at the office ! I would like to get the ScanSnap S530 for the home though to compensate for the lame HP all-in-one scanning function (in fact I wish I never bought it..ugly)

By: Mitch

Mitch — Sun, 17 May 2009 09:41:25 +0000

Hey, I use a similar service to Earth Class when I travel, http://www.privatebox.co.nz They seem to do a very good job!

By: David Ray

David Ray — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 19:34:20 +0000

This is looking like a great service. I had already tried the somewhat similar http://www.shoeboxed.com. This is quite a lot easier to use mainly because shoeboxed is narrowly focused on receipts. Pixily makes it easy to download a pdf if you want it. Shoeboxed seems reluctant to give the images back to you in anyway that would be easy to do something else them. Plus, pixily is cheaper.

To me this is looks to be a superior solution than buying a $450 ScanSnap (which, I admit, I would like to have). No deskspace required. Also fewer regrets and easier to get rid of if I don’t stick with it.

By: Mike Hawk

Mike Hawk — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 06:15:09 +0000

HAHAHA… That’s what I get for having two browser windows open! That was supposed to go here:

http://unclutterer.com/2008/08.....k-problem/

By: Mike Hawk

Mike Hawk — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 06:13:07 +0000

I actually LIKE phonebooks. But not for the reason that they bring them to me. I use the paper from them for papier mache art. Since I get all my news and info on the internet, I don’t subscribe to any newspapers. That makes phonebooks a great source for paper for these projects. This paper is nice and soft and absorbs the adhesives much better than newspaper.

Now that I think of it… this could be a great “green” project for elementary school teachers to do with their students. Have them bring in last year’s phonebooks and make papier mache halloween masks and things!

By: Ellis Godard

Ellis Godard — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:57:22 +0000

I love Jim’s suggestion of http://www.earthclassmail.com. Not sure I’m ready to trust someone else with financial statements. But axing snail mail could be a boon!

By: Michele

Michele — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 18:18:59 +0000

I agree with some previous comments – I just don’t have enough paper in my personal life to make this worthwhile. I try to get as much as possible electronically.

By: G8trGirl

G8trGirl — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:11:13 +0000

I think this sounds like a fabulous idea.

I too have a rapid scanner that is great, and a “to be scanned” folder, but I do not have the time to actually DO it. It would well be worth $15/of my time to have someone else do it -and actually get it done- rather than piling up on my desk!

One way I can see using this in my personal life (as opposed to business use) is the gazillion health insurance statements and medical invoices I’ve been receiving due to a recent illness. (my insurance for some reason has to send a paper copy of the EOB/claim to your address on file) I really need to scan them as I try to match what’s been paid etc, but being ill, and trying to keep up with life in general, it is just impossible to find the energy to do this.

I would also love to scan magazine articles I tear out and keep (minimizing clutter by recycling the magazine and keeping only what I need) but would be nice to reduce even more by having electronic versions- and searchable too! Bonus : )

Recipes, too- very good idea…

My big concern would also be the security issue, epecially with medical information. I like the security measures outlined above, and it is a good point that none of your information is all that secure to begin with. Really, any number of employees at various companies see and handle your sensitive information as they process the document and send it to you anyway. Kindof makes you wonder what security measures are in place for your bank, insurance, finance, medical employees… likely a very similar policy. … but of course, the fewer steps, and fewer people that have access to sensitive information, the better.

By: Mary Sue

Mary Sue — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:34:25 +0000

I’ve worked in a temp job before scanning personal documents. Before I was allowed in the building for this three week temp gig, I had to undergo a 15 year background check, a drug test, and watch a video suggesting dire things would happen if I so much as thought about these documents outside the workspace. The building was keycard-secure, and I needed a second keycard to get into the room with the scanner. The only thing allowed into the scanning room with us was our keycard and a cup with a spillproof lid. No pens, no paper, no cell phones with cameras. Additionally, the pages went into the hopper face-down, and we got a bonus if we finished over our page quota for the day.

However, the biggest detterent to ’stealing’ anyone’s information? Do you know how utterly DULL it is stuffing bank statements et. al. into a high-speed scanner all day? I didn’t care whose papers these were, I wanted them scanned and out of my freakin’ hair.

By: gypsypacker

gypsypacker — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:25:40 +0000

I devote an hour or two every two weeks to scanning documents. Quite easy to set up files for invoices, taxes, receipts, etc, even if using a bottom-of-the-barrel slowpoke Epson. I tried to use my 10MP camera and scan to Abbyy but I have neither the steady hand nor the bright light to make it work.
Microsoft has a PDF file program, free for download, but you can’t use a camera to scan marriage licenses, title documents etc.

I live just fine without a recipe box or file cabinet and keep only spare hard copies of my birth certificate, transcripts, and a few documentations.

If I had it to do over again, I’d get a HP wireless printer and the Fujitsu but I have financial minimalism problems…

By: Angel

Angel — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 10:31:45 +0000

So the only actual decluttering takes place if you shred them (or pay someone to shred them) AFTER the doc have been mailed back to you. Otherwise you have the digital copy and the hard copies.

By: Deb

Deb — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:55:28 +0000

Thanks battra92, I see the scanner model has been discontinued. Perhaps something better has been introduced. I hope my scanner is still working ok, I have many many more slides to go. I love my Kodachromes as well!

What software DOES make PDF files? Is it already on Word or in XP somewhere?

By: battra92

battra92 — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 01:30:18 +0000

@deb Ooh, that’s my scanner too. I can’t seem to get good Kodachrome scans out of it lately, which is a shame since I love my old Kodachromes so much.

Creating searchable PDFs aren’t that difficult with the right OCR software but it can be a pain with a flatbed.

By: Deb

Deb — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:42:29 +0000

What can a person do to make files they scanned into PDF’s themselves? I have an Epson Perfection 4990 Photo, which I am using for scanning mostly my 35mm slides. I would really like to use it to scan all of the teaching materials I have because they are taking up MANY linear feet of shelving, files and closet space.

I need it to be searchable, that’s what is holding me hostage to those 30 loose leaf binders and bazillion activity books.

The time is an issue but I’d rather take the time on a scanner I paid a lot for already.

By: Kristen@TheFrugalGirl

Kristen@TheFrugalGirl — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 12:32:42 +0000

The security thing makes me really nervous too…I just don’t know that I trust the employees that much.

By: Josh

Josh — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:46:47 +0000

Props to Mr. Anand Rajaram. Smart guy to see his service being covered and make smart relevant comments. Sounds like a great idea if you have a lot of papers and don’t want to clutter up your office with one more fax/printer/scanner machine.

By: Jim

Jim — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 06:36:31 +0000

I kind of see this is a related service:

http://www.earthclassmail.com

I’ve been using them for over a year and am very pleased. If I need some papers scanned which I can’t do myself, I just mail them to my ECM PO Box and it’s done.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 03:52:40 +0000

This kind of thing would be of no use to me personally (at least not in my current life), just because I have so few personal papers that actually come to me via paper-format. I get most of my bank statements and credit card bills via e-mail now.

I can, however, see where this would be great for businesses (big or small).

By: Michael@ Awareness * Connection

Michael@ Awareness * Connection — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 02:24:39 +0000

This is interesting. The HP all in one I have gives me scans that are enlarged, and it is unintuitive enough that I don’t want to mess with it or call tech support. This may be my magic bullet.

By: louisa

louisa — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 21:41:07 +0000

Um, I meant BANK statements, not BAND statements!