Just Bought a Pakon NON-Plus Version

[guardado1213]

So I just bought a Pakon NON-Plus version and wanted to reach out and see what has worked better for Pakon users: Use a virtual box on a newer computer to run the software or find an old laptop/desktop with Windows XP. Both are options as I have a legal copy of Windows XP on a CD and a serial key and work has been kind enough to give me an ancient desktop running Windows XP.

Just curious to see how other users have setup their workflows?

-Juan

 

[brennanphotoguy]

I have a pirated copy of VMWare Fusion running on my Mac and it's seamless.

 

[guardado1213]

I have a pirated copy of VMWare Fusion running on my Mac and it's seamless.

Does it have an adverse effect on your Mac? I assume you have to partition a small chunk of your drive for the windows OS. Thanks for the reply!

 

[shawn]

Does it have an adverse effect on your Mac? I assume you have to partition a small chunk of your drive for the windows OS. Thanks for the reply!

No, you don't repartition at all with a virtual machine. The 'hard drive' of the virtual machine is basically one big file on your Mac.

Use Virtualbox (it is free)

https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

Create a machine and load XP into it. Works great with the Pakon.

Shawn

 

[mpaniagua]

Does it have an adverse effect on your Mac? I assume you have to partition a small chunk of your drive for the windows OS. Thanks for the reply!

It will take resources of your computer though, make it a bit slower if you computer specs are low. But you should be fine with most current computer. My Laptop is a i7 with 6g and handles virtual machines without a problem. Like Shawn said, use virtualbox, its free and is pretty good.

Regards.

 

[Jon Buffington]

I use a plus model on my windoze 7 laptop with MS version of VM XP. Was running for 3.5 years on my desktop, same setup but no longer works. Couldn't figure that one out. Obviously, a dedicated xp machine from circa 2004-2006 is ideal (compatible components, some people have not had new machines with xp installed work properly). If your not already a member, I highly recommend joining the facebook kodak/pakon F135 Scanner group.

 

[guardado1213]

I use a plus model on my windoze 7 laptop with MS version of VM XP. Was running for 3.5 years on my desktop, same setup but no longer works. Couldn't figure that one out. Obviously, a dedicated xp machine from circa 2004-2006 is ideal (compatible components, some people have not had new machines with xp installed work properly). If your not already a member, I highly recommend joining the facebook kodak/pakon F135 Scanner group.

I see, yes I have yet to confirm if the USB port of XP Machine are 2.0 so I'm not entirely certain if the Pakon will run on the old desktop...

Yes i have joined the FB group and they have been very helpful, i was just hoping to get a broader consensus of what current Pakon users were doing. This really help though, i think I'll set up a VM box on my Mac and see where it goes from there...

 

[anerjee]

I have both setups, but I prefer using my MacBook Pro plus virtualbox setup.

Reason being that image saving is much faster, and via shared folders I save directly into intended destination.

Also, you can use the tlxclient program to scan 16-base (3000x2000) even on the non-plus version.

So I just bought a Pakon NON-Plus version and wanted to reach out and see what has worked better for Pakon users: Use a virtual box on a newer computer to run the software or find an old laptop/desktop with Windows XP. Both are options as I have a legal copy of Windows XP on a CD and a serial key and work has been kind enough to give me an ancient desktop running Windows XP.

Just curious to see how other users have setup their workflows?

-Juan

 

[dfatty]

i didn't have any luck trying to run the pakon from virtual xp mode on windows 7 pro. couldn't figure out what the issue was.

so instead i run the pakon from an old dedicated xp netbook and it works fine.

it seems like a lot of folks run virtual xp on macs with no issue. i don't think as many run virtual xp on a newer windows machine, but i haven't really looked much.

 

[Jon Buffington]

i didn't have any luck trying to run the pakon from virtual xp mode on windows 7 pro. couldn't figure out what the issue was.

so instead i run the pakon from an old dedicated xp netbook and it works fine.

it seems like a lot of folks run virtual xp on macs with no issue. i don't think as many run virtual xp on a newer windows machine, but i haven't really looked much.

what dedicated xp netbook are you using? Was thinking about just using a dedicated machine. I don't trust VM windows for long term solution.

 

[dfatty]

what dedicated xp netbook are you using? Was thinking about just using a dedicated machine. I don't trust VM windows for long term solution.

hp 2133 mini upgraded with an ssd drive. the really small screen can get annoying when scanning a lot at one sitting, but it's been a decent compact solution that doesn't take up much space. i recently got a dell d620 for a bigger screen. haven't actually tried it with the pakon yet, but folks on the pakon fb site recommended it and there always seem to be some on *bay.

 

[kiemchacsu]

I have both setups, but I prefer using my MacBook Pro plus virtualbox setup.

Reason being that image saving is much faster, and via shared folders I save directly into intended destination.

Also, you can use the tlxclient program to scan 16-base (3000x2000) even on the non-plus version.

Recently I sold my Nikon 5000 and start to think about the Pakon,
As you said that, any other paricular reason to get the Plus version? I can see huge price difference between the two models.
I am still not sure if the PLus version is worth for extra money.
Thanks.

 

[anerjee]

It's the same hardware and software, no need to pay more.

You need to be ok with a bit of tinkering if you're buying unsupported software. Be prepared.

Recently I sold my Nikon 5000 and start to think about the Pakon,
As you said that, any other paricular reason to get the Plus version? I can see huge price difference between the two models.
I am still not sure if the PLus version is worth for extra money.
Thanks.

 

[Fjäll]

I dragged down my old HP Pavilion from the attic because I heard running a virtual OS was a pain for quite a few people, especially when you don't have the original CD. Didn't work at all so eventually I went and sorted out the virtual OS and everything worked flawlessly. It's a great scanner that eases the work flow if you scan full length rolls, great colours straight out of the machine. Perhaps a bit too contrasty for my taste but definitely good enough. Make sure you use the TLX software for the full 6mp files. Expect a lot of error messages from time to time though.

I got the non plus version by the way. Supposedly a tad slower but you get the same resolution with the included TLX software.

 

[FujiLove]

Recently I sold my Nikon 5000 and start to think about the Pakon,
As you said that, any other paricular reason to get the Plus version? I can see huge price difference between the two models.
I am still not sure if the PLus version is worth for extra money.
Thanks.

I used to own a F135+ and now have a non-plus. If you're happy using the relatively basic interface of the TLXclient software, there's no particular reason to pay the extra for the plus. Make sure you download and read about all the available scripts for TLX on the Facebook page. They make using the software a whole lot better. There are scripts which enable keyboard shortcuts, maximise the screen, enable B&W scanning etc. The essential script is 'TLX: Scan Positive, B&W, 16 Base', which enables 3000 x 2000 mode so the output matches the plus version.

I've noticed my non-plus runs a little slower than the plus...or seems to. I reckon it takes about 8 minutes to scan a full 36 frame roll whereas the F135+ took maybe 6 minutes. Hardly slow either way and not a big deal...unless you're running a minilab and processing 300 rolls a day!

I use VMWare on my Mac for both units. I tried using an old Toshiba laptop with XP installed but it point blank refused to recognise the Pakon. Using the VM is seamless.

Personally, I think the Pakons are essential if you shoot 35mm film and want to digitise it (and can't justify a Frontier/Noritsu).

Someone recently noted on Facebook that the Pakon unit retailed for $15,000 when new. Someone else asked if that was for the entire mini-lab, but apparently that was just the Pakon itself. I'm not sure how accurate this is, but either way you have an amazing, pro scanner on your hands. Excellent purchase. Have fun with it 🙂

 

[winzenbourg]

If you can make it work, running the Pakon through your Mac with a virtual machine is the simplest setup. I could never get it to work, unfortunately. I was using VirtualBox and I would get an error (I forget the code now) at some point during almost every roll -- sometimes I'd get to the 35th frame and it would crash. I picked up an XP desktop for free by asking around and haven't had a single problem since.

And I'll just echo the general sentiment above that the non-plus model is the way to go for those who are interested in a Pakon.

 

[Jon Buffington]

hp 2133 mini upgraded with an ssd drive. the really small screen can get annoying when scanning a lot at one sitting, but it's been a decent compact solution that doesn't take up much space. i recently got a dell d620 for a bigger screen. haven't actually tried it with the pakon yet, but folks on the pakon fb site recommended it and there always seem to be some on *bay.

Thanks for that info 🙂

 

[Jon Buffington]

Recently I sold my Nikon 5000 and start to think about the Pakon,
As you said that, any other paricular reason to get the Plus version? I can see huge price difference between the two models.
I am still not sure if the PLus version is worth for extra money.
Thanks.

The difference really is speed. Think *ultra fast* with the plus model and *fast to really fast* for the non plus. And the ease of PSI vs TLX. TLX is clunkier than PSI but both are fully functional for what you want. The price difference today isn't really worth it necessarily. Thought about getting a non plus as a backup. I bought my plus back when they were $250.

 

[shawn]

what dedicated xp netbook are you using? Was thinking about just using a dedicated machine. I don't trust VM windows for long term solution.

Why?

Long term VM are typically easier to maintain than a dedicated machine. You can take snapshots of the entire image and easily rollback changes in case you have software corruption. Backing up the entire "machine" is as simple as copying one file and you can move the VM to another host computer by simply copying that one file and being up and running again immediately without having to reinstall an OS and all software.

A 10 year old computer running actual XP is going to be much easier to have a software or hardware failure take you down and it will be much longer to get back up and running again.


Shawn

 

[kiemchacsu]

It's the same hardware and software, no need to pay more.
You need to be ok with a bit of tinkering if you're buying unsupported software. Be prepared.

Thank you, I'm totally okay with old software, as long as it exploit full capacity of the machine. IN fact, I am still using Nikon Scan for may remained Nikon Coolscan IV ED

I used to own a F135+ and now have a non-plus. If you're happy using the relatively basic interface of the TLXclient software, there's no particular reason to pay the extra for the plus. Make sure you download and read about all the available scripts for TLX on the Facebook page. They make using the software a whole lot better. There are scripts which enable keyboard shortcuts, maximise the screen, enable B&W scanning etc. The essential script is 'TLX: Scan Positive, B&W, 16 Base', which enables 3000 x 2000 mode so the output matches the plus version.

I've noticed my non-plus runs a little slower than the plus...or seems to. I reckon it takes about 8 minutes to scan a full 36 frame roll whereas the F135+ took maybe 6 minutes. Hardly slow either way and not a big deal...unless you're running a minilab and processing 300 rolls a day!

I use VMWare on my Mac for both units. I tried using an old Toshiba laptop with XP installed but it point blank refused to recognise the Pakon. Using the VM is seamless.

Personally, I think the Pakons are essential if you shoot 35mm film and want to digitise it (and can't justify a Frontier/Noritsu).

Someone recently noted on Facebook that the Pakon unit retailed for $15,000 when new. Someone else asked if that was for the entire mini-lab, but apparently that was just the Pakon itself. I'm not sure how accurate this is, but either way you have an amazing, pro scanner on your hands. Excellent purchase. Have fun with it 🙂

Well, it sounds a bit complicated with adding script for TLX; I would ask you for more details if I buy the Pakon. So far I am still using my remained slowish Nikon IV ED

The difference really is speed. Think *ultra fast* with the plus model and *fast to really fast* for the non plus. And the ease of PSI vs TLX. TLX is clunkier than PSI but both are fully functional for what you want. The price difference today isn't really worth it necessarily. Thought about getting a non plus as a backup. I bought my plus back when they were $250.

Thank you, I am convinced in the non-plus model now.