Hey - OfficeMax has the Acer 320U USB scanner for $59.99 with $30 mail in rebate : $29.99 total! Not bad.
The original box says 'USB - Works with PC & Mac', but then has an added sticker that says: 'PC ONLY'. Hmmm ... & of course, that's the only ones they had. Thought I'd try it anyway. (BTW, I have an iMac DV SE, OS9).
I did have to download the 8.5MB new Mac driver/app file from Acer (as I suspected); there was no Mac driver software at all on the installer CDs. And then, it didn't work at first. GRR. all the apps quit unexpectedly, "Error type 1,010" ... (???)
I had installed the (new) Acer software, then 'Kai's Photo Soap 2 SE' that came with the scanner on another CD (yes, a Mac version on CD, even done up in ** OS X ** regalia!). I would have preferred a regular OS9 looking app ... but, I digress.
I had called Acer twice (toll-free 24/7 support - got a human after <2 minutes!). The first time, while the 8.5MB was downloading, BEFORE I had actually installed any of the software; they said the 'simple scan' app wouldn't work, but I should be able to acquire from within PhotoSoap or other apps. Didn't seem to work ... crashes as mentioned above.
The second time, I got a guy who said to de-install everything & start over, installing in a particular order. Well, that can't possibly work, I thought, but I did it anyway. it worked!
I had to install 'Kai's PS' FIRST, then the new Acer software. During the Acer SW install, you 'choose' which app to install the (TWAIN?) Photoshop-type plug-in. You can 'custom' re-install the Acer software again to pick other apps (GraphicConverter, ...).
I guess dragging copies of the plug-in to the apps’ plug-in folders isn’t good enough ..
So now it all works. Halfway decent scans, $30. hard to beat! - Rick.
Top
