Review: Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner

After what to me seemed like an eternity, today my Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner arrived at the post office.*

Can you tell I was excited?  My wife was like "Really?, You're taking pictures of the box? C'mon and open it already..."

I was surprised to find no Styrofoam peanuts, bubble-wrap, etc. in the box.  However, when I pulled it out, I realized that my new toy was well packaged.

I'm impressed that the company gives you batteries.  In today's age of "batteries not included" it was nice to be able to open up the package and get started without hunting around the house for suitable batteries.  The 2 GB SD memory card is a nice plus as well.


I was prompted to purchase this scanner due to the review of fellow GeneaBlogger Susan Petersen of Long Lost Relatives.  Susan wasn't exaggerating when she said that the scanner was able to be producing images within a couple of minutes.  This scanner is very fast!  I've been used to using my combination printer/scanner and frankly it was sooo slow.

The first photo I scanned was one of Megan and her grandmother.  The scanner did a good, fast scan.  I quickly popped in a few more photos and was impressed with the ease and speed of the scanner.

I was impressed with how light weight this scanner is.  At less than 2 lbs. this is going to be a great tool to use at the courthouse for research and for taking to family get-togethers and holidays.

Next, I decided I would take the lid off of the scanner and try to scan something that was not a standard photo.  I was eager to test out the 'stitch' technology used by the Flip-Pal to merge individual scans together.

My first attempt was a colossal failure.  I tried to scan an 8X10 printout of an obituary I had received from the library and attempted to 'stitch' them together.  The software that comes with the scanner is fairly straight-forward:

My first attempt to stitch images together did not work because I failed to read the instructions.  I didn't allow for the proper overlap in my images, and the software failed to recognize and properly stitch it together.  Undaunted, I read the instructions and tried again, this time with an 8x10 photo of my nephew.  Here are the individual images:

Using the 'Stitch Scans' option, you select the images that you want to put together.  The software then does its magic and puts them together.  Finally, you can open the image and edit it in your photo editing software.  Here is the finished image produced by the Flip-Pal:

Now all I have to do is trim up the edges, and I have a nice, clean scan of my nephew, Eli.  The best part is that it took less than 5 minutes!


I cannot wait to dive into scanning the photo albums, postcards, etc. around the house.


The Flip-Pal website


Disclaimer: I purchased this product directly from the Flip-Pal website.  I received no compensation for this review.


* Eternity is defined in this case as the time it took from order to arrival.  I ordered on November 4th, and the product arrived November 20th.  The company shipped using FedEx SmartPost, which for some reason took the package from Indianapolis (FedEx hub) to Cincinnati to have the USPS deliver.  The distance from my house to Indianapolis is 65 miles.  The distance from my house to Cincinnati is 170 miles.  Go figure.

Surname Saturday : MAXSON

The MAXSON surname is in my paternal line.  The origins of the surname are English.


Stories and history :


Ahnentafel # 39 : Prudence Maxson (1817-1890).  Prudence was born June 15, 1817 in Green County, Ohio.  She married October 3, 1836 in Clark County, Ohio to William P. Smith (1815-1894).  William was born July 25, 1815 in Clark County, Ohio.  They had 4 children and lived in Cass County, Michigan, Jay County, Indiana and Richardson County, Nebraska.  William died April 19, 1894 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Prudence died February 22, 1890 in Salamonia, Jay County, Indiana.  Both are buried in the Salamonia Cemetery, Jay County, Indiana.


Ahnentafel # 78 : Jesse Maxson (1772-1851).  Jesse was born October 8, 1772 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.  He married February 23, 1797 in Harrison County, Virginia to Sarah Sutton (1779-1863).  Sarah was born January 3, 1779 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.  They had 12 children and lived in Harrison County, Virginia and Clark and Greene Cos., Ohio.  Sarah died March 18, 1863 in Clark County, Ohio.  Jesse died March 24, 1851 Clark County, Ohio.  Both are buried in the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, Pike Township, Clark County, Ohio.


Ahnentafel # 156 : Ephraim Maxson (1743-1795).  Ephraim was born in 1743 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.  He married April 27, 1764 in Monmouth County, New Jersey to Elisabeth Davis (1746-1807).  Elisabeth was born in 1746 in New Jersey.  They had 6 children.  Elisabeth died 1807 in New Salem, Virginia.  Ephraim died September 10, 1795 in New Salem, Virginia.


Ahnentafel # 312 : Joseph Maxson (1692-1747).  Joseph was born March 10, 1692 in Westerly, Rhode Island. He married circa 1715 to Bethia Maxson (1693-1747), his first cousin.  Bethia was born July 31, 1693.  They had 10 children.  Bethia died in 1747 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.  Joseph died in 1747 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, New Jersey.


Ahentafel # 624 : Rev. Joseph Maxson (1672-1750).  Joseph was born in 1672 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  He married in 1691 to Tacy Burdick (1670-1747).  Tacy was born in 1670 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  They had 7 children.  Joseph was a minister of the Seventh Day Baptist Church.  Tacy died in 1747 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  Joseph died September 1750 in Westerly, Rhode Island.


Ahnentafel # 1248 : Rev. John Maxson (1637-1720).  John was born in 1637 in Newport, Rhode Island.  He married in 1665 in Westerly, Rhode Island to Mary Mosher (1641-1718).  Mary was born in 1641 in Westerly, Rhode Island. They had 6 children.  John was a minister of the Seventh Day Baptist Church.  Mary died February 2, 1718 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  John died December 17, 1720 in Newport, Rhode Island.


Ahnentafel # 2496 : Richard Maxson (1602-1639).  Richard was born 1602 in England.  He married before 1637 to Rebecca ________(c1602-????). They had 3 children.  Richard was killed by Indians in 1639 in Westerly, Rhode Island.


Related blog posts :

• Today in my database: Jesse Maxson (b. October 8, 1772)

• Tombstone Tuesday: William P. and Prudence (Maxson) Smith

Family Recipe Friday: Stuffed Franks

My grandmother, Bonnie (Lambertson) Wright was always using leftovers in creative ways, according to my mother.  Perhaps this came from being raised during the Depression where you never wasted anything.  This recipe was a cheap meal to fix and easy, too.


This recipe is a great use for left over mashed potatoes.  It's a generational favorite, now being served to Bonnie's great-grandchildren.  Bonnie always served baked beans and wilted lettuce with stuffed franks.

• 1 package of "hot dogs"
• mashed potatoes cold
• mustard
• Velveeta cheese
• paprika

Split each hot dog lengthwise.  Squirt mustard down the middle of each hot dog.  Fill with cold mashed potatoes.  Put 2 slices of Velveeta cheese lengthwise in the mashed potatoes.  Sprinkle with paprika.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and potatoes are hot.

There's also an interesting story to go with this recipe.  When my uncle, Terry Wright, had to give a demonstration speech in college he decided to demonstrate how to make stuffed franks.  When he made up the entire package of hot dogs, the professor asked him if that wasn't a lot of stuffed franks.  Terry replied, "I eat the entire package by myself."


Family Recipe Friday – is an opportunity to share your family recipes with fellow bloggers and foodies alike. Whether it’s an old-fashioned recipe passed down through generations, a recipe uncovered through your family history research, or a discovered recipe that embraces your ancestral heritage share them on Family Recipe Friday. This series was suggested by Lynn Palermo of  The Armchair Genealogist.