[Embermage]

I'm considering getting a Nikon Coolpix 995 for use with my beige G3. The Nikon says that only "built-in USB ports" are supported. If I added a USB PCI card, would it still work, or does it have to be a USB port that came with the computer?

Platform: USB interface (Windows®98/98SE/2000/Me; Mac®OS 8.6, 9, 9.1 (Only built-in USB ports supported)); CPU; Windows®: MMX® Pentium® or later, Macintosh®: iMac(TM), iBook(TM), PowerMacintosh® G3 (Blue/White), PowerMac(TM)G4 or later, PowerBook®G3 (USB built-in model) or later

Thanks!

[z0mbi3]

I think that what they mean with "built in ports" is you have to connect the camera directly to the computer and not use a USB Hub or another peripheral.....but that is IMHO

[OldManMac]

They mean that the computer has to have bus powered USB, not off a PCI slot. USB is still not a perfect science; there are some devices that won't work or act flaky if not powered of a native USB port. Having said that, I have sold a Nikon Coolpix 990 and a USB card for a Beige G3, and it works. I don't know if they changed the spec for the 995, so you might be on your own.

[flatcatch]

You know, with an old 8500 w/ PCI USB I've used my "built-in USB only" Olympus digital camera, my "built-in USB only" Epson scanner, and some other random things. Scanners and digital cameras are self powered, so bus power isn't an issue - I bet it comes down to their tech support policy. It is easier for them to say they support only built-in USB which they can test in house, otherwise they'd have to deal with people and their 3rd party USB cards that may or may not be reliable/installed correctly. This is why ISP/broadband providers in some places didn't "support" Macintosh - technically it all worked fine, but they didn't have anyone to work Mac tech support (or didn't want to pay someone to do it).

- fc