Bar Code scanning

[fish_man]

Hi All

Was wondering if anyone as some experience or knowledge to share on this subject.

I need to inventory/document lots of computer equipment. I was thinking the quickest and most accurate way would be a bar code scanner.

most of the equipment will be Dell computers and Screens and printers and company asset tags that consist of a bar code with the number below it.

So i was thinking about getting a Motorola Symbol USB bar code Scanner, like the one in the link below.
http://www.resourcenow.co.za/Motorola-Mid-Range-LS2208-USB-Barcode-Scanner-p/ls2208-sr20007r-ur.htm

Does anyone have one and will i be able to scan a bar code to a excel document?
I see Motorola has a lot of different hand held scanners witch one would be best for me? and nice and cheap.
As i only need to scan the bar code (serial numbers) to a excel document.

 

[RoganDawes]

We have a USB barcode scanner lying around the office, I could probably check on Monday or so and tell you how it works.

I suspect that it is just a HID keyboard, but I'm not sure if it does anything clever like sending "Enter" when the code is finished being "typed in".

 

[ABCpt]

Install wBarCodesList on an android phone, scan the codes while keeping note of what you are scanning. The barcode list can be emailed from the phone and then imported into excel.

 

[biena]

Most of these usb scanners just send the barcode in plain text to the windows input. So no need for specialized handling.

to make things easier get something like this
http://www.ers-online.co.uk/p876/ers-complete-barcode-stock-taking-kit-opn2001-terminal
http://mobiscan.co.za/index.php/handheld-computers/neo

Then you can run around, scan in all the barcodes and dump it at the end of the day to your spreadsheet. Or use a phone as poster above said.

Last thing you want to do is drag all the equipment to the scanner, or drag around a laptop+scanner

 

[Tim the Techxpert]

Hi There,
I like ABCpt's idea neat and inexpensive.
For what you want to do it would be the best solution

Regards

Tim

 

[InvisibleJim]

Where I work we use USB barcode scanners quite a bit in our factories and warehouses. I have found the Honeywell 3800 series models best although they are not the cheapest. For a while I was buying some Mecer ones which were about half the price and not bad but over time I had more reliability issues with these.

 

[InvisibleJim]

I need to inventory/document lots of computer equipment. I was thinking the quickest and most accurate way would be a bar code scanner.

Have a look at OCS Inventory NG which I have used for a number of years at work.

For more detailed asset tracking, you may prefer to use OCS with GLPI or iTop both of which are designed to integrate with OCS.

All of these packages are Free open source software based on the LAMP application stack.

 

[fish_man]

Thanks for all the inputs I'll have a look at the recommendations.
Jim Would you recommend the Honeywell over the Motorola symbol ?

 

[InvisibleJim]

Thanks for all the inputs I'll have a look at the recommendations.
Jim Would you recommend the Honeywell over the Motorola symbol ?

Unfortunately I have never used the Motorola so I'm not sure of its relative merits compared to the Honeywell.

 

[beverlylarsen]

No idea how Motorola Symbol USB bar code Scanner works. My company is having a Motorola MC55A0, a wireless barcode scanner, working quite well, but it aint cheap. About exporting data into an Excel sheet, you might refer to the following link:
http://www.mrexcel.com/forum/excel-questions/677158-barcode-scanning

Actually, if the workload is not heavy, a smartphone app is more economimcal. I know there is a free app on Google Play, it's called Scanpet, free. And it works with excel directly to realize inventory management.

 

[quax]

Are you familiar with any programming? I once used a usb barcode scanner with a VB project. Not that hard if you got some backround.

EDIT:
Also I don't have much programming experience.