I am considering switching from Windows 10 to a mac M1 mini
but the only thing that is holding me back is the grey area
surrounding Firewire support.
The Coolscan device uses Firewire 400 (AFAIK) and has a
Windows and Mac app on a disk but hasn't been supported
since about 2004 and I think the Mac version was for a
PowerPC mac.
The disk says Windows 4.0.3 (Vista) 4.0.2 (Macintosh)
but I used it with Windows 7 Pro/32 without any problems,
though after the Win10 Pro/32 upgrade it seems to have
vanished so I guess there is no point in trying to install
it manually.
It seems that a modern Mac should support Firewire but
only by daisy chaining more than 1 type of adapter.
Has anyone done this to use Firewire devices ?. I can
buy alternative software to Nikon Scan from Silverfast
(expensive) and a couple of other companies but unless
I can be sure about making a physical hardware connection
to the scanner I will have to stick with a newer Windows/PC
(and accept that that still needs an add-on Firewire card).
On 17/01/2023 14:17, Andrew wrote:
Can't say for sure if it *will* work, but it should using the
appropriate adapters.
Although to be honest, for the cost of the extra bits, you might be better/easier just buying a new, more modern, scanner (depending on why
you need it of course). The Epson V600 seems to get mentioned a lot.
There are of course plenty of cheap oriental devices out there as other options, but YMMV applies as to how well they'll work (can suffer with throttled port speeds, and rubbish chipsets and so on).
I am considering switching from Windows 10 to a mac M1 mini
but the only thing that is holding me back is the grey area
surrounding Firewire support.
The Coolscan device uses Firewire 400 (AFAIK) and has a
Windows and Mac app on a disk but hasn't been supported
since about 2004 and I think the Mac version was for a
PowerPC mac.
The disk says Windows 4.0.3 (Vista) 4.0.2 (Macintosh)
but I used it with Windows 7 Pro/32 without any problems,
though after the Win10 Pro/32 upgrade it seems to have
vanished so I guess there is no point in trying to install
it manually.
It seems that a modern Mac should support Firewire but
only by daisy chaining more than 1 type of adapter.
Has anyone done this to use Firewire devices ?. I can
buy alternative software to Nikon Scan from Silverfast
(expensive) and a couple of other companies but unless
I can be sure about making a physical hardware connection
to the scanner I will have to stick with a newer Windows/PC
(and accept that that still needs an add-on Firewire card).
I've successfully daisy-chained an Apple iSight firewire 400 webcam to
an Intel Mac Mini using an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor
[1] connected to an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter [2] connected
via a generic Firewire 800 to 400 adaptor cable off eBay.
It proves the daisy-chaining works but the scanner will face software problems. The most likely being that it is most likely 32-bit and the emulation on the M1 mac will only support 64-bit.
There are Windows emulators e.g. Virtualbox so you could run the
original Windows software under Windows 7 in the emulator. No idea
though how well the Firewire would be supported. Sorry.
I am considering switching from Windows 10 to a mac M1 mini
but the only thing that is holding me back is the grey area
surrounding Firewire support.
The Coolscan device uses Firewire 400 (AFAIK) and has a
Windows and Mac app on a disk but hasn't been supported
since about 2004 and I think the Mac version was for a
PowerPC mac.
Bruce Horrocks <07.013@scorecrow.com> wrote:
I've successfully daisy-chained an Apple iSight firewire 400 webcam to
an Intel Mac Mini using an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor
[1] connected to an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter [2] connected
via a generic Firewire 800 to 400 adaptor cable off eBay.
The Thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapter is essentially just converting power supply voltages, so I wouldn't worry very much about daisy chaining adapters.
It proves the daisy-chaining works but the scanner will face software
problems. The most likely being that it is most likely 32-bit and the
emulation on the M1 mac will only support 64-bit.
I wouldn't expect to be able to run the old Mac software.
There are Windows emulators e.g. Virtualbox so you could run the
original Windows software under Windows 7 in the emulator. No idea
though how well the Firewire would be supported. Sorry.
Firewire in a VM needs PCIe passthrough (IOMMU/VT-d). I don't think that works for M1/M2. I think it is possible for Intel Macs (at least the hardware implements it, I think Parallels does, not sure about VMWare Fusion). So realistically you won't be able to have the Windows software talking to a Firewire device on an Apple Silicon Mac.
Theo
PS Does it need a dedicated apple keyboard or will a USB PC
keyboard work ?
On 18/01/2023 14:48, Theo wrote:
Bruce Horrocks <07.013@scorecrow.com> wrote:
I've successfully daisy-chained an Apple iSight firewire 400 webcam to
an Intel Mac Mini using an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor
[1] connected to an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter [2] connected
via a generic Firewire 800 to 400 adaptor cable off eBay.
The Thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapter is essentially just converting power supply voltages, so I wouldn't worry very much about daisy chaining adapters.
It proves the daisy-chaining works but the scanner will face software
problems. The most likely being that it is most likely 32-bit and the
emulation on the M1 mac will only support 64-bit.
I wouldn't expect to be able to run the old Mac software.
There are Windows emulators e.g. Virtualbox so you could run the
original Windows software under Windows 7 in the emulator. No idea
though how well the Firewire would be supported. Sorry.
Firewire in a VM needs PCIe passthrough (IOMMU/VT-d). I don't think that works for M1/M2. I think it is possible for Intel Macs (at least the hardware implements it, I think Parallels does, not sure about VMWare Fusion). So realistically you won't be able to have the Windows software talking to a Firewire device on an Apple Silicon Mac.
Theo
Ok, thanks for that. It won't stop me heading for the Apple
store on 24th jan anyway.
PS Does it need a dedicated apple keyboard or will a USB PC
keyboard work ?
PS Does it need a dedicated apple keyboard or will a USB PC
keyboard work ?
Any USB keyboard will work, but there may be minor differences
with key assignment.
On 17/01/2023 14:17, Andrew wrote:
I am considering switching from Windows 10 to a mac M1 mini
but the only thing that is holding me back is the grey area
surrounding Firewire support.
The Coolscan device uses Firewire 400 (AFAIK) and has a
Windows and Mac app on a disk but hasn't been supported
since about 2004 and I think the Mac version was for a
PowerPC mac.
The disk says Windows 4.0.3 (Vista) 4.0.2 (Macintosh)
but I used it with Windows 7 Pro/32 without any problems,
though after the Win10 Pro/32 upgrade it seems to have
vanished so I guess there is no point in trying to install
it manually.
It seems that a modern Mac should support Firewire but
only by daisy chaining more than 1 type of adapter.
Has anyone done this to use Firewire devices ?. I can
buy alternative software to Nikon Scan from Silverfast
(expensive) and a couple of other companies but unless
I can be sure about making a physical hardware connection
to the scanner I will have to stick with a newer Windows/PC
(and accept that that still needs an add-on Firewire card).
I've successfully daisy-chained an Apple iSight firewire 400 webcam to
an Intel Mac Mini using an Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adaptor
[1] connected to an Apple Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter [2] connected
via a generic Firewire 800 to 400 adaptor cable off eBay.
It proves the daisy-chaining works but the scanner will face software problems. The most likely being that it is most likely 32-bit and the emulation on the M1 mac will only support 64-bit.
There are Windows emulators e.g. Virtualbox so you could run the
original Windows software under Windows 7 in the emulator. No idea
though how well the Firewire would be supported. Sorry.
The alternate software for the Coolscan should work though. Maybe
they'll give you a trial period?
[1] https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MMEL2ZM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter
[2] <https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/product/MD464ZM/A/thunderbolt-to-firewire-adapter>
In article <1q4rwm5.cdpxfd3z8tk1N%nospam@de-ster.demon.nl>, J. J.
Lodder <nospam@de-ster.demon.nl> wrote:
PS Does it need a dedicated apple keyboard or will a USB PC
keyboard work ?
Any USB keyboard will work, but there may be minor differences
with key assignment.
which can be changed in system preferences/settings
PS Does it need a dedicated apple keyboard or will a USB PC
keyboard work ?
Any USB keyboard will work, but there may be minor differences
with key assignment.
which can be changed in system preferences/settings
Yes, but still a nuisance.
And why accept the ugliness?
In article <1q4tql4.e91blz13hknz5N%nospam@de-ster.demon.nl>, J. J.
Lodder <nospam@de-ster.demon.nl> wrote:
PS Does it need a dedicated apple keyboard or will a USB PC
keyboard work ?
Any USB keyboard will work, but there may be minor differences
with key assignment.
which can be changed in system preferences/settings
Yes, but still a nuisance.
not at all. it's a few seconds to change what the modifier keys do. the setting is keyboard specific, so someone can have multiple keyboards,
each with a different configuration, even when they're connected at the
same time (which also works).
And why accept the ugliness?
one person's ugliness is another person's beauty.
he already has a usb keyboard and wants to use it with a mac, which he
can easily do.
I thought the whole point of the mac mini was that you could
use any existing USB keyboards and mice, and at launch I believe
it was shown connected up to an old CRT vdu (or is this a myth ?)
On 19/01/2023 21:26, nospam wrote:
In article <1q4tql4.e91blz13hknz5N%nospam@de-ster.demon.nl>, J. J.
Lodder <nospam@de-ster.demon.nl> wrote:
PS Does it need a dedicated apple keyboard or will a USB PC
keyboard work ?
Any USB keyboard will work, but there may be minor differences
with key assignment.
which can be changed in system preferences/settings
Yes, but still a nuisance.
not at all. it's a few seconds to change what the modifier keys do. the
setting is keyboard specific, so someone can have multiple keyboards,
each with a different configuration, even when they're connected at the
same time (which also works).
And why accept the ugliness?
one person's ugliness is another person's beauty.
he already has a usb keyboard and wants to use it with a mac, which he
can easily do.
I thought the whole point of the mac mini was that you could
use any existing USB keyboards and mice, and at launch I believe
it was shown connected up to an old CRT vdu (or is this a myth ?)
I thought the whole point of the mac mini was that you could
use any existing USB keyboards and mice, and at launch I believe
it was shown connected up to an old CRT vdu (or is this a myth ?)
In that respect, the Mini is no different to any other Mac (or indeed any device that uses a keyboard - I use them with my iPad Pro). You can plug in any USB keyboard or mouse, and it should work fine.
However, a non-Mac keyboard (such as a PC/Windows keyboard) will have some
of the keys configured differently. This can vary quite a lot depending on the exact model of keyboard in use.
Most of the time just switching the modifier keys (Control, Alt, Command)
is enough, but there are others that need reconfiguring too (such as the @, Œ, and sometimes others too).
Basic keys, a-z, A-Z and numerics work OK, but the shifted numerics can
vary a bit. It can also cause issues for some softwares if they have their own custom configurations too.
In that respect, the Mini is no different to any other Mac (or indeed any device that uses a keyboard - I use them with my iPad Pro). You can plug in any USB keyboard or mouse, and it should work fine.
However, a non-Mac keyboard (such as a PC/Windows keyboard) will have some
of the keys configured differently. This can vary quite a lot depending on the exact model of keyboard in use.
Most of the time just switching the modifier keys (Control, Alt, Command)
is enough, but there are others that need reconfiguring too (such as the @, ‘, and sometimes others too).
Also, modern Apple keyboards are all very low travel. The only Apple
desktop keyboard I would be prepared to use on a regular basis is one of the old (2003) USB ones: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_keyboards#/media/File:Apple_Keyboard_(A1048).jpg
Also, modern Apple keyboards are all very low travel. The only Apple
desktop keyboard I would be prepared to use on a regular basis is one of the old (2003) USB ones:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_keyboards#/media/File:Apple_Keyboard_(A104
8).jpg
(there's also a wireless version although the Bluetooth is very old and may not work on some modern machines)
Andy Hewitt <thewildrover@icloud.com> wrote:
In that respect, the Mini is no different to any other Mac (or indeed any
device that uses a keyboard - I use them with my iPad Pro). You can plug in >> any USB keyboard or mouse, and it should work fine.
However, a non-Mac keyboard (such as a PC/Windows keyboard) will have some >> of the keys configured differently. This can vary quite a lot depending on >> the exact model of keyboard in use.
Most of the time just switching the modifier keys (Control, Alt, Command)
is enough, but there are others that need reconfiguring too (such as the @, >> ‘, and sometimes others too).
Macs have a keyboard layout setting for 'British PC', which works fine with PC keyboards. You have to know that the Windows key is the same as Command, and Alt the same as Option, but that's the only difference.
I have my MBP set to that so that I don't have to retrain muscle memory across Linux/Windows/etc. I never look at what's written on the keys so it doesn't bother me what Apple wrote there.
I suppose there is an advantage to what's printed on the function keys (volume controls etc), although Apple have changed that over the
years:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_keyboards#Usage_of_function_keys
As to the 'ugly' complaint, well there's a wide range of pre-existing keyboards and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And if you aren't using an Apple monitor then I don't see how a non-Apple keyboard makes things much more discordant.
Also, modern Apple keyboards are all very low travel. The only Apple
desktop keyboard I would be prepared to use on a regular basis is one of the old (2003) USB ones: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_keyboards#/media/File:Apple_Keyboard_(A1048).jpg
(there's also a wireless version although the Bluetooth is very old and may not work on some modern machines)
On 20 Jan 2023 at 19:27:25 GMT, "Theo" <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
Also, modern Apple keyboards are all very low travel. The only Apple
desktop keyboard I would be prepared to use on a regular basis is one of the >> old (2003) USB ones:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_keyboards#/media/File:Apple_Keyboard_(A1048).jpg
Nar. Far too clunky; SWMBO uses one of those. I use this one (the A1243):
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_keyboards#/media/File:Apple_Keyboard_with_Numeric_Keyboard_9612.jpg>
and have for years. Must get it cleaned tho.
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