Invaluable for those doggone faxbacks! I found a compact Brother model with an ADF - model AFS 1000W - weighs about 2 pounds, scans color and B/W. Plug an adaptor into my car, hook up my laptop, turn on my mobile hotspot (secured VPN, of course), and I can handle a faxback in the field in 15 minutes!
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I use Scanbot on my iPhone. No large equipment to carry.
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Good point. I use Camscanner, myself - but the process is time consuming for more than a few pages. When I have a 40 or 50 page faxback, the Brother is better. Thanks!
I like the idea of the in car ADF scanner with wifi hotspot to laptop idea. Although a little more work, you may want to consider the VuPoint wand scanner PDS-ST415-VPS. It can scan to jpg or pdf. It’s small and easy to use, just get a micro storage card for it. You will need a flat to surface to scan with (maybe the closing table?). To offload scans, plug wand scanner into your laptop. I use a GREAT free software called irfanview to handle just about any doc image need. It’s open source software (free) and can do MANY MANY things with doc images/photos/etc. I use it to convert single page scans into multipage files and also convert the image to bi-tonal (i.e simple black & white) to reduce the file size. This could be done on the road and could be a less expensive solution the ADF scanner, but not as convenient. I have used the wand scanner to scan ID copies when the parties have failed to make copies before hand. And the images are protected by being on the scanner and not the web. Just plug the scanner into a printer connected computer, open the image, print then delete the image.
Thanks for the input! I considered a wand. However, personally I prefer leaving once I’ve checked docs for errors, and I like the speed of an ADF. The Brother scanner has a separate feeder slot that scans most ID cards, and I find Brother’s scanning software adequate. However, your points are all valid, and certainly there are many different technologies out there to help a busy NSA stay mobile.
I have a laptop and portable scanner which works pretty well. I have a Brother DS620 which scans 8 pages per minute in color or B/W and the clarity is solid. I will usually use this for a seller signing far enough away from my house that it would cause the title company agita if I drive home then scan.
For a job with only a few docs to scan back (like a reverse app) I use the Scannable app on my iPad. It works great, and links with Evernote to allow me to convert to PDF and email.
Any more than that and I will wait until I get home to use my desktop scanner.
Hi Judi,
’
Do you still like your Brother portable scanner? I’m going to hopefully use it to scan to flashdrive or to my phone.
Thank you,
Maria
I do. It’s held up under two years of regular use; it’s light and compact, and it packs well into a shoulder bag.
That’s good to hear! I’m really thinking about getting one. I already have the Brother app on my phone so hopefully getting things set up won’t be too painful!
I use the Epson DS 30. Small, inexpensive and easy to use.
Can it scan to a flash drive?
The Brother? Yes, it can scan to a flash drive.
Sorry, Judi. I was wondering if the Epson did. I’m sending the Brother back. I have to babysit it and gently feed it 5 pages at a time or else it gets hungry and eats the paper.
Sorry mj1968, I am not sure the Epson can scan to a flash. One caveat to the Epson,is that you have to do one page at a time which is sort of annoying but I do this in my car while waiting for my next appointment. Or have to stop someplace if I am on foot. Sometimes, I do it as I go while the borrowers are filling out information at the signing. Lots of the title companies I work with just want the scans of the signed pages. I use a very small notebook and a MiFi to get the docs back. That Brother scanner, the one you and Judi have, actually sounded good. I was going to upgrade to that but seemed kind of big. When travelling in NYC on the subway, not always easy to carry all of this stuff around so I have to pack light.
The Brother ADF is touchy, true. Took me a few tries to get the knack. But now I set it up on my traveling desk in the car, plop in 10 or 15 pages at a time, make sure they are aligned, and let 'er rip while I work on something else.
There was no “lettin’ her rip” with mine! 
I tried all of the tricks that other people had posted on Amazon (putting a binder clip at the top as a paper guide, decreasing the dpi setting so it wouldn’t grab the paper as fast) and I still had to baby it. It does have a lot of great features. I guess that’s the trade-off for the smaller size- I can’t just plunk 80 pages in it and walk away.
Info13, if you’re used to feeding one sheet at a time, you might really like the Brother. It does look a little more bulky than the one you have but it has a lot of cool features. You can scan directly to email without your PC which might make up for the trade-off for a bulkier scanner. Good luck!
Would love to see the travelling desk 
BTW, you always have great advice Judikidd. Thank you both for posting. I was really going to upgrade to this model.
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I agree with you. Judi does have great advice. I pay close attention when I see one of her posts. Arichter and KLewis have great ones, too. 
Agreed on all three! Arichter and KLewis are great as well. Always looking to lend a helping hand in a way that is clear, honest and tactful.
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