SCSI II compatibility

[RobertP]

I have a 1 GB mac mini with 400 GB external HD also. I would like to run a printer with SCSI II interface. Is there a way to adapt the mac to allow this printer to run? Thanks, Robert

 

[sanking]

I have a 1 GB mac mini with 400 GB external HD also. I would like to run a printer with SCSI II interface. Is there a way to adapt the mac to allow this printer to run? Thanks, Robert

I am not familiar with the Mac mini. Does it have a firewire port? If so you might try a SCSI to Firewire adaptor.

Sandy King

 

[RobertP]

Sandy, it does have a firewire port plus the ministack external HD has 2 firewire ports and you can actually use the external HD as a start up drive. I'll shop around for an adapter. Thanks, Robert

 

[RobertP]

Sorry about the my brain dead post. I meant scanner not printer. Like I said I'll look into an adapter. Thanks, Robert

 

[RobertP]

It seems that the best solution is to pick up a used power mac G4 and add the needed SCSI card and dedicate that to the scanner. A couple of Geeks just told me that with an adapter the scanner software won't recognize the system.

 

[Baxter Bradford]

There are a number of SCSI converters which people are using successfully with SCSI Imacon Flextight scanners. Imaconusers on Yahoo is where you'll find the info on which one to buy.

Personally, I struggled with getting one to work several years ago and bought a G4 with the SCSI card to go with my Precision II. Works fine, but think it would be worth you investigating as above.

 

[sanking]

It seems that the best solution is to pick up a used power mac G4 and add the needed SCSI card and dedicate that to the scanner. A couple of Geeks just told me that with an adapter the scanner software won't recognize the system.

If you meant scanner instead of printer then I agree that the most stable envirornment would be a MAC G4 with the Adaptec 2906 SCSI card. This has proven to be the best combination for working with some of the vintage high-end scanners that work through SCSI. I have a dedicated MAC G4 (Quicksilver 867) with the 2906 Adaptec board and it has worked fine with both an old Leafscan 45 and now an EverSmart Pro.

Does your scanner work with OS9 or OSX? Some of the vintage scanners will only work with OS9, which introduces another set of issues.

Sandy King

 

[RobertP]

Sandy, It works with OS9. But the older G4 has OS9 installed. And the adaptec 2906 card is what they recommended.

 

[Baxter Bradford]

That's the card I have in my G4 - hassle free. A dual boot G4 offers better flexibility if you want some other capability for the computer.

 

[frugal]

I think that the comment about the scanner's drivers not working with a firewire adapter is likely to be true, the drivers are going to "look" for a SCSI interface and probably not find it.

In terms of OS X support, you might want to check Vuescan, it supports tons of scanners and could be a way to get it working, not sure if it would pick it up over a firewire SCSI adapter either though.

 

[sanking]

I think that the comment about the scanner's drivers not working with a firewire adapter is likely to be true, the drivers are going to "look" for a SCSI interface and probably not find it.

In terms of OS X support, you might want to check Vuescan, it supports tons of scanners and could be a way to get it working, not sure if it would pick it up over a firewire SCSI adapter either though.

With OS9 and SCSI the best operating system is the last OS9 system, OS 9.2.2 system. This one is very stable, and if you are working with OS9 and don't have it, I recommend that you get it and install it in separate partion of your hard drive.

As for the SCSI-Firewire adaptor, you just never know. I have a Leafscan 45 which has never worked for me with the SCSI/Firewire adaptor, but other people report that it works fine with the SilverFast software for the Leaf.

But vintage scanners are very temperamental about who they will dance with, especially with MAC OS9 and prior! But if you take them to the dance and and get through the first waltz they won't abandon you later.

Sandy