[comp.sys.ibm.pc] HP SCANJET+ INFO WANTED

rsulliva@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (Robert W Sullivan) (04/05/91)

I am looking for info on a HP SCANJET PLUS:

I have the chance to purchase a Scanjet+ at a real
reasonable price, but I need to find some info about
interfacing it to a pc.  The system that it is presently on is a MAC,
and I wish to interface it to a 386SX.  In magazines I have seen ads
for the interface and software for about $400.  Is this interface
just a parallel port?  If it is just a parallel port, could I 
just install some device drivers, connect to a free parallel
port, and use PD scanner software?  Are there any interfaces for
this scanner that are better that the HP original one?  Will any other 
interface work?  Any suggestions appreciated!

Please e-mail if possible.

thanks,
Bob Sullivan

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=     Robert Sullivan      =    e-mail:  rsulliva@gn.ecn.purdue.edu   =
=  Industrial Engineering  =                                          =
=    Purdue University     =    Voice:   (317) 743-9478               =
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edm@hpfcmdd.hp.com (Ed Moore) (04/09/91)

>Is this interface
>just a parallel port?  If it is just a parallel port, could I 
>just install some device drivers, connect to a free parallel
>port, and use PD scanner software?

I have installed two Scanjet interface cards in PCs.  While the card looks
like "just a parallel port," I believe it has at one distinguishing
charactersitic that is absolutely essential -- bidirectionality.  If you
understand what that is, you know more about it than I do.  I've discovered
the hard way that most parallel ports don't have it.  If you have a
bidirectional parallel port it would be worth a try to see if the Scanjet
would work on it.