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Vsx1 · May 12, 2002, 09:11 PM

Hey folks! I'm looking at getter a scanner for a flat panel iMac soon and I'm having trouble w/ finding one for OS X native. We like the slim type designs but limited to. Already have Epson Stylus printer. Any ideas?

Ken_F2 · May 12, 2002, 09:49 PM

Vsx,

Unfortunately...one of the areas where OSX is still quite lacking...is scanner support. It does seem curious, given the Apple's past focus on the publishing customer.

Umax was among the first to offer OSX support, but they've since dropped their consumer line and will not be providing additional support/drivers in the future. Epson released an OSX scanner utility for their latest scanners in March, but it has a number of limitations (ex: won't scan through Firewire, etc etc), and has not been updated since. Epson does look like the most likely candidate to get scanner support in 10.2.

While not the perfect solution, your best bet is probably a copy of Vuescan for OSX. See Vuescan's list of supported scanners on this page. I just purchased the highly-regarded Epson Perfection 2450 from Newegg for $352. It offer 2400x4800 DPI resolution and 48-bit color, plus it is one of the few scanners to offer both Firewire and USB 2.0 connectivity; this provides for much faster scanning than through the traditional USB interface.

mgl · May 13, 2002, 03:26 PM

Originally posted by Vsx1:
Hey folks! I'm looking at getter a scanner for a flat panel iMac soon and I'm having trouble w/ finding one for OS X native. We like the slim type designs but limited to. Already have Epson Stylus printer. Any ideas?

I'm using an Epson Perfection 1250 with the beta OS X driver from Epson's site without problems. The beta driver scans to a file. I couldn't care less about the other crap software that scanner makers stuff in the box and I've had zero problems with the beta driver. They can recompile it and call it 1.0 for as much as I care, it just works fine for me.

Mike

mike one · May 13, 2002, 06:08 PM

Originally posted by mgl:


I'm using an Epson Perfection 1250 with the beta OS X driver from Epson's site without problems. The beta driver scans to a file. I couldn't care less about the other crap software that scanner makers stuff in the box and I've had zero problems with the beta driver. They can recompile it and call it 1.0 for as much as I care, it just works fine for me.

Mike

mgl, is it an app, or just a driver that works with photoshop?

Ken_F2 · May 13, 2002, 08:41 PM

It's just a little utility from Epson. You can download it right here. It hasn't seen an update since March, and it does have some limitations.

Vsx1 · May 13, 2002, 09:42 PM

I'd like to thank everyone for their input. I will watch Epsons site more carefully. I'll also check out Umax.

mgl · May 13, 2002, 11:53 PM

Originally posted by Vsx1:
I'd like to thank everyone for their input. I will watch Epsons site more carefully. I'll also check out Umax.

I'd be careful of umax. I believe they have stated their intention to exit the consumer scanner market altogether for all platforms, so unless you're buying a high-end scanner, stick with somebody like epson or hp who you know is going to be around next year.

On the other question, yes, the scan to file app is an app. Pretty basic but it works. There are limitations but none of them affect the feature set that I use, which is basically stick a standard photo in it and click scan.

G-mac · May 14, 2002, 01:45 AM

I've heard that the Epson scanners make some really great scans, but could improve their OS X compatibility (read Macworld, MacAddict, and CNET's reviews on scanners for more info). Apparently Epson scanners do work well enough in X. I'm thinking of getting a 1650 from Epson's website. Check out their online clearance store - they have some really awesome prices, sometimes with free shipping, on refurbished products (often with full warranties).

drjoe · May 15, 2002, 02:58 PM

Originally posted by Vsx1:
Hey folks! I'm looking at getter a scanner for a flat panel iMac soon and I'm having trouble w/ finding one for OS X native. We like the slim type designs but limited to. Already have Epson Stylus printer. Any ideas?

I own a Lexmark x83 all-in-one.It scans and scans well. As of today Omnipage Pro is not supported as an OCR software option but you can scan and then import the scan into that software. The quality of the scans is fine and the software has settings fr Twain compliance. I do not know if it imports directly into photoshop. The device is also a fine printer and as a low speed copier i have no complaints. The cost is about $2oo and for what you get that is a low price. Be sure you have the upgraded drivers.

ibook4me · May 15, 2002, 06:18 PM

Originally posted by G-mac:
I've heard that the Epson scanners make some really great scans, but could improve their OS X compatibility (read Macworld, MacAddict, and CNET's reviews on scanners for more info). Apparently Epson scanners do work well enough in X. I'm thinking of getting a 1650 from Epson's website. Check out their online clearance store - they have some really awesome prices, sometimes with free shipping, on refurbished products (often with full warranties).

Actually, I found that Costco Online are selling (item #51218) the Epson Perfection 1650 Photo Scanner (capable of scanning 35 mm film and slides) for $179.99 plus shipping and handling. Maybe you�ll find it at their local warehouses and save the shipping charges.

KidRed · May 15, 2002, 08:55 PM

Epson's scanners work with photoshop 7 natively thru twain support now.

Get an Epson (I have the 1200u), get the Epson scan to file, and get the latest Cannon twain drivers and install them. Photoshop somehow uses the canon twain driver to access the Epson scanner and allows you to use Epson's scan software right their in PS7.

It's in a thread around here somewhere.

pcarrington · May 16, 2002, 05:17 PM

Hmmm......this is intriguing. I bought and returned the Epson PhotoPerfection 2450 (?) as it took nearly 7-9 minutes to scan 4 35-mm slides. I even tried TWO of them and they both did it. I was using my iBook Dual USB with 648 megs (?).
And, MacOSX. What was I doing wrong? I need a FAST scanner to scan thousands of 35-mm medical slides but won't afford the expensive Nikon. Thanks.
DrC
MacOvation, Inc.

SimeyTheLimey · May 17, 2002, 06:23 AM

Originally posted by pcarrington:
Hmmm......this is intriguing. I bought and returned the Epson PhotoPerfection 2450 (?) as it took nearly 7-9 minutes to scan 4 35-mm slides. I even tried TWO of them and they both did it. I was using my iBook Dual USB with 648 megs (?).
And, MacOSX. What was I doing wrong? I need a FAST scanner to scan thousands of 35-mm medical slides but won't afford the expensive Nikon. Thanks.
DrC
MacOvation, Inc.

A flatbed with transparency adaptor isn't going to cut it for what you need. You need a film scanner. 2700 dpi (or thereabouts) film scanners are hovering around $400-$500 and will probably do you nicely.

This is one of the quicker but cheaper ones. http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/ES10/ES10A.HTM Canon also makes a nice one. You could also hunt for a used Nikon LS-2000 which would let you add the very nice automatic slide feeders.

Or you could get an intern to spend all summer loading them one-by-one into a flatbed.

Stogieman · May 17, 2002, 08:19 PM

Originally posted by KidRed:
Epson's scanners work with photoshop 7 natively thru twain support now.

Get an Epson (I have the 1200u), get the Epson scan to file, and get the latest Cannon twain drivers and install them. Photoshop somehow uses the canon twain driver to access the Epson scanner and allows you to use Epson's scan software right their in PS7.

It's in a thread around here somewhere.

Do you have the cannon twain drivers? I have a CanoScan N1240U that I'm trying to get to work in OS X. I went to Cannon's website and it looks like they took them down.
Canon's driver webpage