Plustek Introduces Dual-Purpose Photo and Business Card Scanner - the OptiCard 820; Plustek's OptiCard 820 High-Resolution Micro Scanner Packs Powerful Photo and Business Card Scanning Capabilities into Palm-Sized Scanner

Business Wire, August 22, 2005

LOS ANGELES -- Plustek Inc (www.plustek.com), a leading manufacturer of consumer, prosumer and professional scanners, today launched the OptiCard 820 micro photo and business card scanner, offering high-resolution scanning of four-inch by six-inch color photos and business cards - all in an ultra-compact package. Aside from scanning color photos, the OptiCard 820's 600-dpi resolution scanning is designed to help users digitally convert business cards into readable contact databases, all with two simple buttons - Scan (for photos and images) and BCR (for business card reader). Once scanned, powerful Cardiris 3.5 OCR software helps users organize their business cards with efficiency and accuracy. The I.R.I.S. software is designed to recognize business cards from up to 50 different countries. Priced at $169, the OptiCard 820 will begin shipping in the U.S. in mid-August.

OptiCard 820's other features include: auto orientation, database export, synchronization with a PDA, and much more. Users no longer need to worry about where to store or how to access stacks of photos and business cards.

Key Features

--USB high-speed 2.0 connection, up to four times faster than standard USB 1.1 transfer speed.

--I.R.I.S. Cardiris 3.5 is a "business card organizer," an unbeatable productivity tool for retrieving and organizing all your business cards. The latest 3.5 version now comes with more powerful features such as dragging and dropping from the card to desired fields, supporting multiple address databases/formats (HTML, Lotus Notes, Outlook 2003, Outlook, Outlook Express, Goldmine, Palm Desktop, ACT!, Text, XML, and vCard ... etc.) with export and synchronization, and auto orientation, de-skewing, cropping OCR after scan ... etc.

--Power cord free.

--Scan up to 4" x 6" color prints.

--Carrying bag - especially designed carrying pouch for the scanner.

Specifications

--Image Sensor: Advanced Color CIS (Contact Image Sensor)

--Optical Resolution: 600-dpi

--Software interpolated Resolution: 1200-dpi

--Interface: USB 2.0

--Color Depth: 48-bit/pixel

--Weight: 194g/0.4 lb (scanner only)

--Max Scanning Area: 105mm x 148mm (4.1" x 5.8")

--Scan Speed (gray mode): 7 sec @ 300 dpi

--Scan Speed (color mode): 8 sec @ 300 dpi

--Dimensions (D x W x H): 174.5 x 60.5 x 38.5 mm/6.9" x 2.4" x 1.5"

--Cable Length: 150 cm

--Scan Mode: single pass

--Power Consumption: 2.5W (500mA x 5V)

--Paper Sensor: Photo interrupter (reflective type)

--Regulatory Certificates: CE, FCC-B, C-Tick, BSMI

--Compatibility: Microsoft Windows XP, Me, 98, 2000

--Software: I.R.I.S. Cardiris 3.5, NewSoft Presto! ImageFolio, NewSoft Presto! Mr. Photo

--Launch Date: August 2005

--Price (ESP): $169

Sales

The OptiCard 820 begins shipping in mid-August and will be available online (http://store.alestron.us/plustek.html) and at select retail locations. Stores and other vendors interested in carrying Plustek's award-winning line-up of products may contact Plustek directly at sales@plustek.com.

ABOUT PLUSTEK

A Leader in Scanner Technology - Plustek Inc is a leading manufacturer of sheetfed and multifunction scanners for the professional, home and mobile markets. In business since 1986, Plustek continues a tradition of innovative design, superior quality, and world-class support. Plustek, with headquarters in Taipei, Taiwan, sells scanners worldwide.

Plustek's record for innovation includes several "firsts" in the scanner industry:

--1990 - grayscale sheetfed scanner

--1992 - color sheetfed scanner

--1993 - power-cordless ADF scanner

--1994 - multifunction color scanner

--1995 - personal page scanner

--1996 - EPP slim flatbed scanner

--1997 - A3 size flatbed scanner

--1998 - affordable multi-imaging flatbed scanner

--1999 - smallest CCD flatbed scanner

--1999 - multifunction peripheral (Taiwan's first, world's second)

--2001 - smallest business card reader

--2002 - smallest A4 mobile scanner

--2003 - slimmest CIS flatbed scanner

--2004 - dedicated, low-cost book scanner

--2004 - 7200dpi film scanner, highest resolution on market

--2004 - 3 axis (pan, tilt, focus) webcam

--2004 - A5 flatbed scanner

--2005 - a sub-12-ounce ultra-mobile sheetfed color scanner