SCSI to USB Converter Question

[sooner]

Hi Folks,

With all the scanner-related threads here lately, and myself being on the prowl for a decent but cheap film scanner, I was wondering if anyone has hooked up an older scsi model scanner to a newer computer with only usb via a usb/scsi converter. It looks like one of those will save the trouble of needing a scsi card and cable. Does it work, and how does it affect operation, if at all? Just wondering if this is too good to be true. If not, then I may search the Bay for older scsi scanners to fit my tiny price limit. Thanks.....John.

 

[jlw]

How it works is variable. There's no standard for converting USB to SCSI signals. If you're lucky, the scanner manufacturer may have identified one or two specific brands of converter that definitely will work with its scanner. If not, then you're taking a gamble.

 

[Stephanie Brim]

On a similar vein, is there a USB to Firewire adapter? I'm wondering if Firewire would help the speed of my scanner any.

 

[peterc]

It looks like one of those will save the trouble of needing a scsi card and cable.

Get a SCSI card. It'll be faster and less problematic than a converter and SCSI cards a pretty cheap these days.

Peter

 

[peterc]

I'm wondering if Firewire would help the speed of my scanner any.

If your scanner has a FireWire connector ... possibly. That will depend on the speed of your computer. I don't know if there are USB-FireWire converters, but speed would still be limited by your computer's USB port so it'd probably be slower if you added a converter.
If your scanner is FireWire native and your computer can handle FireWire (check with the manufacturer) a FireWire card would likely speed things up since just about anything is faster than USB.

Peter

 

[JoeFriday]

essentially all newer Macs are set up with Firewire.. and yes, it's noticeably faster, but only if your peripheral is firewire, too.. I wouldn't bother looking for a USB-to-firewire adapter, or vice versa

nor would I bother with a SCSI-USB adapter.. I've looked at them in the past, and as Peter said, they're problematic, and won't give you the performance a SCSI card offers

 

[amateriat]

I would also nix SCSI-to-USB/FireWire adapters, as they're ususally more trouble than they're worth (I do freelance on-site Mac tech support, and have wrangled with this more than a few times). I got hold of a fabulous UMAX tabloid-size scanner a few years back, which is SCSI-only (and the only SCSI device I have). I simply went out and got a SCSI card for my G4 tower, and that was that (scanner works great under both OS 9 & X). As long as you have an empty PCI slot, why look for trouble?

Also, some older SCSI film scanners are more worthy than others: a Minolta DiMage Scan 2900 (a/k/a Elite) or Elite II is clearly worth it, as well as any Nikon from Coolscan III forward. I might mention a few Polaroid scanners, but unless they're going real cheap (I'll exempt the 4000, with one or two caveats), I'd pass.


- Barrett

 

[sooner]

Thanks for the comments, folks, I'll take this to heart and either go scsi or shell out for a newer model like the KM IV--assuming I can still get one!