NeatReceiptsProfessional Mobile Receipt and Document Scanner and Software Combination Version 3.0

I have had this for a couple months now. I travel sometimes for work and this sucker does a great job handling the receipts. When I get back to my hotel or whenever I get a chance to scan the receipts, it scans them into a folder. I can add comments, so that I remember why the company has to bill it back. For me, I need to add contract numbers, who was in attendance (for meals), etc. I can add all of these things and even have it kick out a nice little expense report.So far I have been happy with it, except for a few glitches with the software, and some lack of functionality....it has been fantastic for the following reasons:1. It puts everything into a folder that I can name and add a date to. I do my expenses by the week, so I have weekly folders.2. It will generate a nice little pdf with a cover page, a line by line listing of receipts, the comments about the receipts, and the actual receipts. I will have upwards of 30 receipts and still be under 1 meg.3. They let you know that IRS accepts scanned receipts as originals. This means that every receipt that I need to keep until tax time can be scanned in and placed in a receipt folder for taxes for that year. Then when tax time comes, I can just generate one big pdf file for the whole year.4. Everything stores in a database. There is some limited searching that you can do, but my main happiness is that I haven't lost a receipt, yet.5. This thing comes with a mounting bracket so that you can hang it upright. It's a fantastic idea. I scan my receipts straight into the trash. Once they are scanned, they drop into the garbage....it has had some issues.1. In the version 3.0 that I purchased, it would just not print out all of the comments if you had too many receipts. This was frustrating for the first month and a half. Then, since I had complained about it, they sent me a free license for the next version, NeatWorks 4.0.2. They only let you use their scanner. This is frustrating because I come home, dock the laptop, but can't use my home scanner that's attached to the docking station. I have to drag out the specific scanner and use that. Apparently, Mac users can use alternative scanners. They need that with PC users. Currently, their software is crippled.If you're a traveler who needs to generate copies of receipts, then this is a great deal. If you have a workspace and already have a scanner, then this may be for you. Once they un-cripple their software and allow any scanner to work with it, this will be a much better deal.

I give the product two stars after having it for only a few days. I say "beware" to the novice (like myself) for a few good reasons.Portable scanner- it's not. There are two main reasons it's not truly portable. First, it's not self powered or contains any internal memory. It must be powered up by the supplied USB cable (which for a RH person seems awkward with the cable on top feeding paper from right to left- but we'll overlook that)thus portability is quite limited. You cannot attend a trade show and scan all those business cards they might make you think you can- unless you drag around the power supply also....Secondly, while you might choose to lug around a laptop for powering this unit it will only actually work on a laptop (or pc) to which the full software program has been installed. Meaning you cannot tap a bit of USB from Bob at the Widget booth to scan his latest product card- unless Bob's computer has the Neat software installed. And even if you did...the scan will remain on Bob's computer after you scan it, not on yours!For me this is somewhat counter productive as I'd hoped to scan receipts at my shop and work on filing them later at home. No can do! I'd need the software in BOTH computers then after scanning them at the shop I'd have to thumb drive them or such to take them home with me, then import them to file them. And later delete all the uselessenss on the shop pc. Far easier to haul all the paperwork home (again?) and do it there.The software did not load as planned when installed. To their credit Neat was good with phone tech and prompt. They got me up and running after moving files around in the C-drive that were incorrectly loaded. (2yr old XP with modest specs) After working the software for a few hours and trying to figure out how to make a file system I began to scan about 40 receipts to take it for a test drive. Scans look clear but many were loaded into Documents and not receipts given they were full page. Neat did a reasonable job of reading true thermal paper 2" wide receipts but can't understand "tips" to get the proper total. Full page receipts were often (well over 50%) not to the proper amounts so each one needed to be edited before I filed it.For me the jury is still out. So far I don't see any time really saved over my old school receipt filing. With the transfer of paper, the scanning, the moving of files in the software, then having to review and edit way many of them before done it's as much work (or more) than I had previously. Just different work.I'll look for other uses but I'm thinking like other add-ons this one's another "cool idea" that's not ready for prime time.

I don't know what the deal was with the person that said he scanned 40 receipts in 8 hours; he must need a new PC or something. I scanned about 20 receipts in about half an hour or less and this includes filing everything. It doesn't automatically file, but it does automatically recognize vendors and what kind of category that should be placed in. It sometimes makes mistakes on finding the correct total cost of purchases on a receipt. I've had issues with it scanning to PDF; a reboot of my PC usually fixes it. The Search feature is sweet; very easy to find past receipts! I tried backing up using the built-in backup feature, and the software froze up; haven't tried it again since. I paid for the Ver. 3 software package to save some money and they sent me Ver. 4 for the same price and when I installed it, gave me the option to upgrade to the latest. It comes with a stand to stand it up vertical that takes up less desk space and will even scan the receipts that way. It also comes with a wall mount which I haven't tried.The business card scanner feature it kinda cool too. It recognizes the address and puts everything in the correct fields for easy searching later.It's a wonderful product and I have recently recommended it to a family member. I only gave it 4 stars because of all the minor problems I had, otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.