Once upon a time, not long ago—back in 2017 to be exact—portability was becoming a major selling point for technological gadgets. This trend did not skip the realm of document scanning, in fact, it was amplified. With the mobility of business operations, the need for handheld document scanners was higher than ever. Today, we shall take a stroll down memory lane, revisiting the best handheld document scanners that 2017 had to offer.

Portable Powerhouses: The Compact Titans

Let us begin with Fujitsu's ScanSnap S1300i. Unveiled in 2017, it was like a dream come true for many professionals. Its ability to scan up to twelve double-sided pages per minute with a resolution of 600dpi was a revelation in the world of portable scanning. But the real cherry on top was its intelligent scan correction, which performed tasks such as removing blank pages and auto-rotating upside-down documents.

Equally impressive was the Doxie Go SE. It was designed with the road warrior in mind, boasting an internal memory that held up to 4000 scans and providing the option to sync scans directly to your desktop or cloud service. Plus, included with the Doxie Go SE was ABBYY OCR technology, which translated scans into searchable PDFs.

Balancing Budget and Performance

Serious contenders in 2017 were not only the high-end devices but also those that provided a good balance between cost and performance. At the forefront was the Brother DS-620, known for its affordable price and strong scanning capacity. Able to handle up to eight pages per minute, the DS-620 supported a range of document types, including invoices, business cards, and even plastic I.D. cards.

The Flip-Pal mobile scanneralso carved out a niche in this category. Unique with its flip-and-scan technology, it allowed scanning of large originals, a feature that other portable scanners lacked at the time. Despite being budget-friendly, it didn't skimp on image quality, offering a respectable 300 or 600dpi.

Handheld Giants: Larger yet Portable

Lastly, the Epson WorkForce ES-300Wleft a substantial mark on the handheld scanner scene in 2017. Meanwhile, it was larger than its pocket-sized counterparts, but its comprehensive features were worth the additional bulk. The ES-300W offered wireless scanning, a 20-page automatic document feeder, and fast speeds—up to 25 pages per minute.

Holding its own in this category was Canon's P-215II, a scanner that perfectly merged performance and portability. It possessed a built-in card scanner, automatic document feeder, and delivered up to 15 pages per minute.

Without a doubt, 2017 was a pivotal year in the portable document scanner market. It was a year of incredible choices for consumers, with options suiting all needs and budgets. Whichever direction consumers leaned towards—powerhouses, budget-friendly, or the larger giants—2017 had a scanner for them. Feeding these memories to our nostalgia, it encourages us to appreciate how far technology has progressed, and yet, these timeless devices persistently hold their charm.

The echoes of 2017, the 'super scanner year,' still resonate in our tech-driven world. Let's continue to look back, learn, and propel forward, knowing well that the technological advancements we witness today are merely stepping stones for the marvels of tomorrow.