11-16-2007, 05:56 PM

After all the hype about MACs being easy to use, no driver problems, stable platform, I now have to revert to my old PC to work on a project that requires me to scan a large number of photographs.

At the Apple Store I specifically enquired if my HP new Scanjet G4050 would work with the iMAC that I bought last week. I was told that it was so easy. All you have to is plug in the USB plug and off you go.

Well, a week later and much frustration trying to get help with hanging drivers, scanner not being recognized, trying all sorts of work rounds, I was told by Applecare today that at present scanning on Leopard is very problematic and that there is no way to resolve my problem with my expensive iMAC and expensive scanner.

So back to the good old Vista PC which recognized the scanner straight off.

Advice to anyone contemplating a MAC to use for scanning....THINK AGAIN!!!!!

11-16-2007, 06:12 PM

Did you try these drivers? I have a HP all in one and the scanner works great for me under Leopard. Those drivers are new and are fully supported for Leopard. Let me know how you get on, sorry about your so far bad experience with Mac.

11-16-2007, 06:14 PM

Check HP's site. Their old drivers do have some issues with Leopard.
HP has actually been working fairly diligently and they have been rolling out updated drivers specifically for 10.5 this month.
New package for mine has been out for a couple of days now.

11-16-2007, 06:15 PM

1) It's Mac, not MAC.

2) The drivers really are NOT Apples problem. HP is working on it.

11-16-2007, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by bobtomay

Check HP's site. Their old drivers do have some issues with Leopard.
HP has actually been working fairly diligently and they have been rolling out updated drivers specifically for 10.5 this month.
New package for mine has been out for a couple of days now.

I downloaded the latest driver from HP and it will not install fully. It hangs after about 50%.

11-16-2007, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by baggss

1) It's Mac, not MAC.

2) The drivers really are NOT Apples problem. HP is working on it.

1/ Sorry! I am new to this and all things Apple. I will remember Mac in the future.

2/ Why was I given all those assurances at the Applestore if this is a well known problem. Was I miss sold?

11-16-2007, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by nirvana

Did you try these drivers? I have a HP all in one and the scanner works great for me under Leopard. Those drivers are new and are fully supported for Leopard. Let me know how you get on, sorry about your so far bad experience with Mac.

Thanks for you response and advice. The drivers you suggest are the ones that I have used but they will not fully install.

11-16-2007, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by fixerman

1/ Sorry! I am new to this and all things Apple. I will remember Mac in the future.

2/ Why was I given all those assurances at the Applestore if this is a well known problem. Was I miss sold?

Maybe its not a well known problem. Alot of HPs printer drivers have been updated for Leopard, maybe they didn't realize that your's hasn't been updated yet.

11-16-2007, 06:38 PM

Advice to anyone contemplating a MAC to use for scanning....THINK AGAIN!!!!!

HP have rubbish drivers, they caused my windows PC to crash constantly and im getting similar problems to the ones you've described on my mac.

11-16-2007, 06:39 PM

Don't expect any computer salesman (even at an Apple store) to be all that knowledgeable. Particularly right after the release of a new OS.

If the individual hasn't installed Leopard themselves and have one of the HP printers with problems and/or spend a couple of hours a day reading multiple forums and blogs,.... Even the best out there can't know it all.

And a few people knowing about it on a forum, does not make it a well known problem.

11-16-2007, 06:41 PM

According to this HP .pdf, the drivers have been updated for Leopard.

Can you try a different source for your download? Maybe HP servers are acting up...



Edited to add:

Something better than what HP could ever come up with, in terms of drivers, is VueScan, a third-party driver. It isn't free but it works very well.

11-16-2007, 07:28 PM

I'd repair your permissions, reboot twice, and try again with the drivers mentioned above.

-Nick

11-16-2007, 07:28 PM

MacHeadCase, could you please tell me how to restore my Dowloads folder to the Dock. KISS...I am an old frog.

Mama Bear

11-16-2007, 07:34 PM

go to your computer name for example Ben James drag the downloads file down to the dock near the recycle bin, just don't put them in the bin :p

11-16-2007, 08:45 PM

Originally Posted by fixerman

After all the hype about MACs being easy to use, no driver problems, stable platform,

The operative word here being HYPE.
Yes, it is hype. No computer or platform is infallible. At the risk of sounding condescending, anyone who really buys into advertising hype needs to learn how to ignore it and base opinions on their own experience and research.

Advice to anyone contemplating a MAC to use for scanning....THINK AGAIN!!!!!

I have no problems using a scanner with my Mac at all. Never have. I use VueScan with an older HP ScanJet 2200c and it works flawlessly. Before that I used some off-brand cheapo scanner and that worked just fine as well.