Not long ago, converting scanned text into a computerized format that could be edited required the use of a beefy computer and some expensive software. C Technologies has somehow managed to shrink all that hardware and software into a series of pocket-sized devices that are actually affordable. Their low-end C-Pen 200 is an accurate tool for taking notes, scanning addresses, and making outlines.

So what is the C-Pen 200 missing that its bigger brothers have? The LCD has a lower resolution, making it less readable and useful than those found on the C-Pen 600 and C-Pen 800. It also lacks their dictionary and translation features and doesn't come with as much storage space. What it does offer is the same outstanding optical character recognition engine and slick interface you'd get with the more expensive products. Menus are navigated via a thumbwheel on the end of the device, which moves up and down to highlight entries. To make a selection, you simply press the wheel. You never need both hands to use the device, which is great if you need to use one hand to hold a book open.

The standard fonts used in books and on most printouts are what the C-Pen 200 was designed to handle, and it did a great job in our tests. We didn't achieve 100 percent accuracy, but in most cases the device was more accurate than most of the optical character recognition software packages we've tested for PCs. To enter text, you just press the tip of the C-Pen down on the page, hold down a button that activates the scanner, slide the device across the text, and release the button when you're at the end of the line. The text you scan appears immediately on the C-Pen's display, where it can easily be edited, moved, or deleted.

The C-Pen 200 has a program called C Write that's used for editing text or jotting down notes, and it lets you "draw" numbers or letters with the pen. The software interprets your movements and types the corresponding number or letter on the screen. It doesn't take long to learn C-Write's alphabet, and although the accuracy could be better, it's still a simple and intuitive way to enter text into a device that lacks a keyboard.

You can send the text stored in the C-Pen to a notebook computer, desktop computer, Palm OS handheld, or nearly any other device that has an infrared port. Most desktops don't have an IR port, so consider buying one when you get the C-Pen.

As long as you have the right equipment and a little patience, the C-Pen is a great tool for students and professionals who could need a quick, portable scanning device.--T. Byrl Baker

Pros:

• Compact design
• Surprisingly accurate OCR
• Designed for 1-handed operation
• Screen accommodates left-handed users

Cons:

• Mediocre LCD quality
• No dictionary features