>>First, thank you very much for your message. Interesting that the customer found the same URL you found (in item 2.). But I agree with you, and was thinking, that have a dedicated "gun" type scanner may work better. Probably not as easy to carry as using the camera. But turning the Surface up and down and sideways to point the camera at the barcode label may not so easy either. I will look for a USB-type dedicated scanner. I wish I had a Surface to play around but can't afford to spend several hundred just to play. Again, than you.
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>I seem to remember someone said that the best play scanner is something looking like a pencil, not having its own laser but using ambient light, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. We did have those barcode scanner/printer discussins at least six times a year, so I remember this did come up at once.
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>Now developing an algorithm to find that thread among the dozen others would be an interesting task in itself :).

Wand/pen type scanners are really only suitable for light duty use and they're not as ergonomic as gun-type units. With the latter starting under $100 there isn't much market for the wand type any more.