Scsi to USB for scanner

[Peter Langham]

I am using a Microtek 2500 scanner. It is the older SCSI type. Someday, I will need a new computer (hope to switch to mac) and will not want to continue having to support the SCSI card. Has anyone used a SCSI to USB converter with a scanner? How has it worked out? Which cable or converter? Any suggestions appreciated.


Thanks,
Peter

[Ed Richards]

You should consider keeping the old computer just to drive the scanner. Network it to the new one and it can scan to the new computer's harddrive.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I agree with Ed.

I've got a few old scanners, and getting SCSI and the scanner drivers all to work properly on a newer computer running XP generally seems to produce flaky results. Not sure how this goes on a Mac. My old Adaptec SCSI PCMCIA card seems to work properly on my current laptop in XP with my Agfa Duoscan, but the Minolta Scan Dual I doesn't seem happy with that arrangement, so I've just left the scanners hooked up to an older desktop machine running Win98SE with a SCSI card, and I figure that we'll just get rid of that machine when it's time to replace the scanners.

[Roger Richards]

I'm totally with Ed and David. I found great deal on an excellent condition pro scanner recently that is SCSI only, and was having a hard time connecting it to a Wintel XP machine. I thought the only other option was purchasing a SCSI to FireWire adapter to a Mac G4 laptop with OS X 10.4 'Tiger'. But I ended up installing an Adaptec SCSI PCI in a mothballed older Mac G3 Blue and White, and it runs like a dream. With over 1 Gb of RAM, OS X 10.4 and nothing but FlexColor 4 installed, as a scanning station it is a fast machine. Hang on to your older computers, if possible, for using those legacy devices. If you do not need blinding speed for deadline work then a good deal on an older top line scanner can really be worthwhile.

[Jon Shiu]

I've found SCSI card set up with a Win XP machine easy and automatic. So, I wouldn't hesitate to install a SCSI card in a new XP machine. Finding an updated XP scanner driver may or may not be a problem, depending on the scanner, and whether Vuescan is an option.

Jon

[Peter Langham]

Thanks to all for the replies. The scanner runs fine with a SCSI on a Windows XP machine. The drivers are up to date and vuescan supports it well. I am really trying to avoid keeping a legacy machine for the scanner only (wife agrees so it is probably not an option). Has anyone had luck with SCSI to USB cables?

Thanks again for replies.