Section 8.3. Scanning

8.3. Scanning

In theory, you should be able to use your old Windows scanner with your new Macif it connects with USB, FireWire (IEEE 1394), or some other connection that physically fits into the Mac.

But in practice, scanning is often a sore spot for Mac OS X fans. Most current scanner models (Epson, Canon, Agfa, Nikon, Microtek, Umax) work with Mac OS X, but hundreds of older ones still don't have Mac OS X drivers.

If your scanner model isn't one of the lucky ones, pay a visit to www.hamrick.com to download VueScan. It's a $40 shareware program that makes dozens of scanners work with Mac OS X, including:

• SCSI models including SCSI scanners from Apple, Epson, Canon, HP, Microtek, UMAX, LinoType-Hell, Acer, and AGFA.

• USB models including scanners from Epson and many from Canon, HP, Microtek, Umax, and others.

• FireWire models including scanners from Epson, Microtek, UMAX, and LinoType-Hell.

If your scanner model isn't on the VueScan list, it may be on the list of SilverFast (www.silverfast.com), which restores to life 150 older SCSI and USB scanners from Acer, AGFA, EPSON, Linotype, Microtek, PFU, Polaroid, Quato, and UMAX.