What computer/OS are you using?

[Aurora Borealis]

Leopard is running well on my Mac Mini but upon finding out that my scanner does NOT work with Leopard, I am torn between the decision to switch to Tiger or not. It's hard because Leopard looks so freaking cool!! But, I really REALLY do not want to get a new scanner and get rid of my otherwise still perfectly usable scanner (which still works with my G3). And my parents aren't allowing me to keep my old G3 either

And I'm afraid that if I do switch to Tiger on the Mini, that I would have to reinstall Inkscape all over again!

[Bella]

I've never been one to encourage keeping an OS cause it looks good...would you be installing Tiger alongside Leopard, or replacing it?

That's so sad that you don't get to keep your old G3! Did your folks give you any reasons why you can't? Will you be donating it as a school computer or giving it to a friend, or just scrapping it? O__O

I sure know that I'm keeping all my computers, even they they end up not running. Ditto for scanners and printers...I somehow feel the junk of today will be the antiques of tomorrow...

[Aurora Borealis]

Unfortunately if I do install Tiger, it would be replacing Leopard entirely. Unless there really is a way to dual-boot.

I still want to keep my G3, at least for running Classic applications. But if I'm not able to keep it, I'll sell or give it away. Say no to e-waste!

[C-Chan]

Well look at it this way,... is it cheaper to buy Tiger or a new scanner?  ^^;

Very sad to see this happen, but are you absolutely sure you exhausted all possibilities to get the scanner to work?  There's many internal and workflow benefits that Leopard offers over Tiger, so downgrading might solve that one problem but create 10 more for you.  '__'

Please keep at it -- check Mac forums if need be.

If you can, post up your scanner's specs and maybe I can dig up some more info?

Added after 2 minutes:

Worse comes to worse, we can set up a Virtualbox environment (with a shared folder with your Mac) and have a Linux distro handle all your scanning needs.  

[Bella]

If I were you, I'd ask if I could keep that computer. If it has some use, you don't want to lose that...

And you should go to the scanner company website and see if you can find drivers for Leopard...

[Aurora Borealis]

Can't use Virtualbox (isn't that Intel-only? I'm using a PowerPC Mac Mini)  though.

I'm using an Epson Perfection 636u scanner (it's old but still gets the job done well) but through some LURKING MOAR online I did find one solution on a discussion where a person was having the exact same problem as I did:

http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=6549144

The solution is a program called VueScan which supports Leopard and a variety of scanners, including the one that I have! The downside though is that the free version is only a trial and the full versions cost $40 or $80 for the high-end one.

However I am not sure how much longer my 636u will keep working so if I do spend $40 for the basic VueScan, it may not be money well spent.

And all the scanners I have searched for online cost at least $50. There was a very good one I found for $50 but was not sure whether it supported Leopard or not (some sources said yes, others no)

[C-Chan]

WAAAAAAH??  You mean Leopard is also available in PowerPC-mode?  I thought they'd gone 100% Mactel.  @___@

Well yeah, in that case that changes the whole playbook altogether.  -____-;

The enfuriating thing is that that particular model is presumably well-supported by SANE's Epson frontend:

http://www.sane-project.org/sane-mfgs.html#Z-EPSON

But that just won't do us any good in this particular case.

You do make it sound like the scanner is in pretty bad shape, so I would happen to agree that the investment on VueScan might not be worth it -- certainly not when you can get a newer and faster scanner for the same price.

If you have the opportunity to purchase the other scanner locally, do so as it will make it easier to return in case it doesn't work.  But by all means, your first step is to check this website to make sure it has a recent Leopard driver for the new scanner in question:

http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/support/SupportLeopard.jsp

And if something doesn't sound clear, call them and ask them before making any kind of purchase.

For the time being, you might have to do like I do and just draw straight to the computer.  Inkscape is particularly forgiving to mouse-only artists.  ^___^

[Aurora Borealis]

My scanner is not in bad shape at all, just old and because of how old it is, my parents are afraid that it may not last much longer but it hasn't shown any signs of breaking down and I have been using it for 2 and a half years.

For my digital work, drawing straight on the computer is not a problem but without a scanner, I won't be able scan up my hand-drawn comics

[C-Chan]

Aa sou sou... that means no conclusion to System 1-chan's fairy tale.  @.@

....

Okay, time to check that list.    ^^
Or,... conversely,... spend a few days with Leopard-chan and see if she's everything you ever wanted and more.  If not, then you can downgrade to 10.4.  But if so,... then mayhap it's time for a new scanner...

ORRRRRR... just try to find some way to keep the old one.  I mean you SHOULD have a second one anyway for backup purposes -- see how much it helped Bella-hime during her XP reinstallation!  ^^

What if, for example, your Mac Mini blew up while working on some important term paper?  Wouldn't it be great to have another system handy to finish the job?  I wish I knew more about the situation, but between that, running legacy programs, getting your scanner to work... and just plain saving money... it seems like there's many reasons to build a case for keeping the G3 handy.  '___'

[Aurora Borealis]

Upon finding out that Photoshop 7 is also unsupported in Leopard, I am going to switch to Tiger.

It's for the best, I'll be able to keep my old scanner and Photoshop version (and not have to pay $40+ for a new scanner, $500+ for a new version of Photoshop) and I will not sacrifice very much when switching.  But still... I'm going to miss the cover flow, Quick look features and the really cool-looking 3D dock! ;__;

But when I do switch, I really really hope that I don't have to reinstall Inkscape and X11 again!

[Bella]

Awww, I'd just hissy fit my way into keeping that old Mac. 'Course, that is me...my family knows full well that I'm keeping my old computers and peripherals no matter what.

I actually always assumed that Macs came with PS preinstalled. Today I found out otherwise...damn, I guess when my dad gets his iMac he's gonna have to get Photoshop for it (because PS will be very, very, very needed for its use).

[C-Chan]

Ah well, guess Tiger-sama it is.  ^__^
It's not a bad choice (she's like the XP of the Mac world), but you will need to reinstall Inkscape/X11, I'm sure.  `v'

Not sure who I should be angrier at... Apple for creating those kind of artificial incompatibilities, or Adobe for not patching older software (and charging a helluva lot of money for new copies).

I actually always assumed that Macs came with PS preinstalled.

@.@

...

BWAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!  ^V^
Maybe if you substituted Mac for Ubuntu, and PS for GIMP, that'd sound about right.  Otherwise, I'll just have to add that to the list of whoppers I've heard in my lifetime.  ^___^'

Today I found out otherwise...damn, I guess when my dad gets his iMac he's gonna have to get Photoshop for it (because PS will be very, very, very needed for its use).

Right.... purchase.... >___>

...

....

.....

......

Nah... gave up that world a LOOOONG time ago....  -v-

Let's just be safe and tell him that A), he can always try running Windows Photoshop in Virtualbox, Parallels or BootCamp, B) he can trying buying a used copy, if the license permits it, and C) [legal] Mac ownership can be as expensive as mole-asses , and well... he might have to get used to forking over quite a bit of dough if he doesn't plan on making any sacrifices.  ^^;

[NejinOniwa]

Sup, fellows.
Having a computer worth bragging about isn't really normal for me yet, so I'm gonna have to make a run for it.


RRRRRRRRRAAAAAADEOON 4870~~~~~


GAWR! Delta is on SPEED! And I run on ELECTRICITY! This world is AWESOME! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIII!

*explodes*

[C-Chan]

Eewww.... isn't it gross when people spontaneously explode?  The nerve of them... so glad I never do that.  Fufufu...  ^____________^

This is the thingie, right?  ^__~

[NejinOniwa]

Yup. Or, relatively, since it's a Sapphire brand, but still.

I WANT TO LICK IT ALL OVER! BUT THEN IT WOULD BE BROKEN SO I CAN'T! BUT STILL! GAWR! OwO