Umax 2200 Scanner - Will it work with my 550 Titanium PB, Mac OS10.4?

Question

Level 1

0 points

Umax 2200 Scanner - Will it work with my 550 Titanium PB, Mac OS10.4?

Hello

I want to use my old Umax 2200 scanner with my Powerbook but I can't source any drivers. I've seen posts elsewhere on the web saying that Umax does not support Mac OS 10.

Can anyone confirm if I can use the scanner with my Powerbook?

Thanks, Russ.

G3 iMac 500, Ti Powerbook 550, Mac OS X (10.4.8), iMac runs on 9.2.2

Posted on Jun 15, 2008 5:30 AM

Reply

Answer 1

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Jun 15, 2008 3:15 PM in response to bowruss

Hi, bowruss. I believe the UMax 2200 needs to connect via SCSI — is that correct? If so, do you already have a SCSI adapter card for your Powerbook's CardBus slot?

If you do have a SCSI card, then you can use Hamrick Software's VueScan driver/controller software to run the scanner. But if you'd have to buy either a SCSI adapter card or VueScan or both, it would probably be less expensive just to replace the scanner with a modern (and probably better) one that connects via USB or FireWire.

Reply

Answer 2

bowruss Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 21, 2008 2:50 AM in response to eww

Hello eww and thanks for your reply. Sorry for not posting a response sooner.

I haven't got the kit you list - my PB just has the standard ports.

I used the Umax with my CRT iMac and it worked fine. It connected through one of the USB ports.

I suspect that the Umax 2200 is old kit so to speak and I think I'll pass it on to someone who can use it.

Thanks again, Russ.

Reply

Answer 3

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Jun 21, 2008 4:29 AM in response to bowruss

If the scanner has a USB port, you can use VueScan (excellent professional-quality driver and control software) to drive it without buying any hardware. But VueScan costs more than many new scanners do, and a new scanner — even a very inexpensive one — might be better at picking up shadow and highlight detail in scanned copy than the old UMax scanner is. Of course any new scanner will come with its own driver software.

A possible downside of an inexpensive new scanner may be lower mechanical quality than the UMax has, but unless you're going to use it quite heavily and/or transport it on occasion, that probably won't be much of a concern.

Reply

Answer 4

bowruss Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 22, 2008 3:00 AM in response to eww

Thanks again eww. I neglected to mention that I've also got a Canon multi-function device and so I'm not really in the market for a replacement for the Umax. The Umax/PB situation arose because I moved the PB to another part of the house for my wife to use as a second computer and I thought she might find the old scanner useful - mainly for photocopying.

I think I'll probably end up passing it on to a friend who could use a decent scanner. As you say, the Umax seems a better build quality than many of the lightweight devices you see nowadays.

Thanks again, Russ.

Reply

Answer 5

Network 23

Level 6

12,351 points

Jun 23, 2008 9:54 AM in response to eww

eww wrote:
Hi, bowruss. I believe the UMax 2200 needs to connect via SCSI — is that correct? If so, do you already have a SCSI adapter card for your Powerbook's CardBus slot?
bowruss wrote:
I used the Umax with my CRT iMac and it worked fine. It connected through one of the USB ports.

Looks like VueScan won't help here. While the UMAX 2000 is on the list of supported scanners, it says "SCSI only" and this one appears to be the USB version. I think I remember reading about this somewhere: The problem is that the USB version of the UMAX 2200 is simply a hacked SCSI version and therefore is not addressable by normal means. No other scanner manufacturer tried used a crazy approach to transition to USB, which is why this scanner is one of the rare models not supportable by VueScan.

Looks like giving it away and buying a new, inexpensive, and yet much more capable scanner is the best way.

Reply

Answer 6

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Jun 23, 2008 4:59 PM in response to Network 23

Hi, Network 23. Interesting explanation — thanks for that. It sounds from Bowruss's last post as though it won't actually be necessary for him to resolve the matter. He and his wife will just use their MFP to do whatever scanning is needed.

Reply

Answer 7

bowruss Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 24, 2008 1:49 AM in response to Network 23

Hello again and thanks to Network 23. This sounds about right - I bought it in 2000. As eww says, I'm OK for scanning, with the MFD so I'll pass it on to someone who might be able to use it.

Thanks again

Reply