I have been checking Siemens' web site (http://www.siemens.com), and
it seems like they do not currently make any handheld scanners for the
consumer market. If you are looking for a scanner intended for
professional use, please request an answer clarification.
I think the product you are looking for is the discontinued Siemens
Pocket Reader (which I will abbreviate to "SPR" in this answer).
According to Siemens' website for this product
(http://www.pocketreader.com), this is a battery-powered, handheld
scanner that will allow you to scan in printed text from letters,
books, magazines, newspapers and other paper media. You run the SPR
along a line of text to scan in the words you need, and the scanner
will store the information in its memory. The included software will
download the captured text to your computer (PC, Mac or Psion) when
you attach the SPR via the provided serial cable. You can then store
the information as a text file (ASCII format), or cut and paste it
into e-mail, text documents, spreadsheets or other applications.
http://www.pocketreader.com/store/index.html states that the SPR is no
longer available to buy. However, I have found one online shop who is
claiming they still have the SPR in stock. DataMind
(http://www.datamind.co.uk/Templates/frmTemplateM.asp?CatalogID=172)
sells the SPR at £34.99 incl. VAT, with free delivery within the UK
for online orders. They have a comparison of different brands of
handheld scanners at
http://www.datamind.co.uk/merchant/pen_scanners.htm
In addition, http://at.pocketreader.com/en/shopping/content_c.htm
lists PC World, WHSmiths, Dixons, Harrod's and Selfridges as UK stores
who sell the SPR. I believe that this list is outdated, as none of
these shops have the scanner available on their online shopping pages.
You might try asking these shops about the possibility of having any
Pocket Readers left in stock.
Also, http://www.zen7228.zen.co.uk/reviews/reader.htm states that the
SPR was sold through Psion dealers. You could try asking at one such
store.
As a last resort, a message from june 2002 in uk.comp.sys.mac
(http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=steve-595634.09101601062002%40nnrp-08.news.demon.net)
gives the following information:
"I have used a Siemens pocket reader, but on checking the website
(www.pocketreader.com) it's no longer available. Mind you, I saw a
shop on Tottenham Court Road (sorry, can't remember which, but on
Eastern side about 200 yards from TCR station) knocking them out for
about 30 quid about a month ago - you might be able to chase down a
bargain."
Search terms used on Google:
Siemens handheld scanner
Siemens pocketreader OR "pocket reader" |
