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Been reading Nettie's scanner adventures...and mine is even older HP Scanjet 11cx. Been also thinking about a new computer. have grown tired of Gateway....and thought about a Dell Dimension 8100. As far as Scanners go....there are lots of cheap ones out there....I know my old Scanjet cost me about $900 dollars new. When I spoke to Dell today they mentioned the Scanjet 5300C but said there was one called the Scanjet 5370C I think which was even better.....anyone got one and what do you think?....When I bought my Gateway P2 300...the Scanner was the only thing that caused problems....conflicts with the modem etc...not enough irq's or something.
Another thing....I have a 21" monitor the Dimension 8100 comes standard with a 17" or you can upgrade at no extra cost to a 19" Howmany who have 19" and 21" notice he difference....should I be thinking about another 21".....its a chunk more money on the price!....for 2"
------------------ Henry Barker #1924 akaKaftan SignCraft AB Stockholm, Sweden. A little bit of England in a corner of Stockholm www.signcraft.se info@signcraft.se
Posts: 1552 | From: Stockholm, Sweden | Registered: Nov 1998
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We did not have problems with the irq's ... it said to use 9 or higher, and it seemed to find one on it's own.
I went with the Dell 4100 ... saved money not going with the P4 ... and used the money to get a beefier system instead. Chuck Peterson went with the Dell 8100 and is having the irq problem ... so I don't know why they wouldn't give you enough of them in that model system. I don't really understand the whole thing anyway. Probably a good Dell question.
I can give you good feedback on the monitor thing tho. I have a 21" NEC monitor with my older computer, and ordered the 19" trinitron monitor with the new Dell. The case on my 21" is huge in comparison with the new 19", but when I put a ruler to the screens diagonally, the difference between the two in actuality is only 1".
Best of luck to you on your choices Henry. Nettie
------------------ "When Love and Skill Work Together ... Expect a Masterpiece"
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I don't notice much difference in size as long as the resolution is good. My scanner is older, 6200C which was the first USB type and it works wonderfully. Got it at the suggestion of Dell. Their computers are more commercial in nature and I have never had the problems others notice especially with their unique BIOS. Be wary of the operating system though, both Gerber and SignLab have told me that they are not working well above Windows 98 yet and the OS can cause IRQ conflicts especially with plug n' play.
------------------ Kent Smith Smith Sign Studio Greeley, Colorado, USA kent@smithsignstudio.com
Posts: 1025 | From: Estes Park, CO | Registered: Nov 1998
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It looks like I've come to a dead end trying to install my HP Scanjet 4c on my Dell 8100. Not enough IRQs. I didn't want to buy a new scanner, but it's the only option left. Right now I feel like buying a new set of quills instead. I understand them.
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I purchased a new system at the end of 2000 and had to make a few decisions. Many of the new computers seem to use up all the IRQs, and even share some of those. You might want to look into the newer USB scanners and shift directions to USB add ons instead of trying to fight the serial/parallel/irq battle. USB is usually built in so you just add a hub and the parts you need. I ended up adding a USB parallel printer adapter which lets me print to my Xerox printer/copier (parallel), and a USB SCSI adapter to use my legacy equipment which required SCSI attachments. I bought the 6300C HP Scanner and it works really well, with good resolution and nice color...and it is USB or SCSI. My Gerber EdgeII and Gerber HS15p plotter are connected to the systems LPT1 and COM1. My old serial Wacom tablet needed a Serial port and I ended up adding a Serial USB adapter which saved me the cost of upgrading to a new tablet. Most of the stuff went in and worked fine, but had some tech support calls to get the Wacom tablet to look for Com3 on the USB hub. Seems like the built in modem was taking Com2.
There may be some drawbacks using USB, but it does seem to be a nice alternative to SCSI cards which had a limited number of devices, all requiring a unique setting.
Good luck, Mike Jackson
------------------ Mike Jackson Golden Era Studios Jackson Hole, Wy www.goldenstudios.com/
Posts: 390 | From: PO Box 7850 | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
with the newer computer and win ME....the problem with irq's isnt that there all being used...the OS is just greedy and grabs all thats available. in the bios settings and iam not sure which one to look in as your bios may be different then mine..but most have the irq's on auto or legacy....if you change this to manual then you have to set the irq's for all devices....but once you do this then you can go back to auto or legacy....then the OS will see its being used and not take it over...if you can stay away from ME....do......i got this info from 2 different people i know who work/worked for microsoft.....
------------------ joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-944-5060 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND
Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
If you are going to buy a Dell system, you may as well buy a new scanner from Dell as well.
Dell offers deals on scanners with new PC purchases and the scanners they sell have been tested to work with their systems. You can also have Dell set the scanner up on the machine and get it working before they even ship it out to you. I would go this route before ever trying to make some $60 off the shelf scanner work.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Henry,I've got a Dimensions 8100 1.3 and had a 5370C and it's usb and not a hitch. Runs great and have had no problems. Also if you've got a monitor keep it and don't get the one from Dell save yourself some money. I had a 19" from a Dimensions 300 that I kept and use on this one now, works great with the Nividia 32 card. I've got the Dell 300 working in the front office now cutting away and the 8100 I use for large format printing. I've got 2 flexi programs and can cut from my computer to the front or just use the one in the front. Works great. I think you'll really like the Dell over the Gateway too, I know I do. Richard
------------------ Richard Girard Girard Signs & Graphics Oakland Park, Florida richard@girard.com 954-772-0059
Posts: 148 | From: Oakland Park, Florida U.S.A. | Registered: Nov 1998
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I just built a new Athlon computer. Had a Umax scanner with ISA card. Old scanner would not work, so I bought the Hp 7400c & used USB connection.It is legal size & scans direct to printer or e-mail. Did have a problem with the VIA chipset & USB, had to install a generic card. It works great & is a lot faster than the Umax. Thanks. Larry
------------------ Larry Presnell 19 Phillips Street, Canton, NC 27816 828-648-2326
Posts: 89 | From: Canton, NC USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I just got a Dell Optiplex GX110 last week. My husband's company has an account with Dell so we got a great deal on a PIII 933 w/256M ram. I also ordered it with Windows 98SE. Tech support told me that my plotter and software can't be supported under anything above that (that is tech support for the plotter and software, not Dell support).
I hooked my Canon Canoscan 1220U to it (USB). I've only had the scanner a few months but it works great. It can go as high as 1200x2400dpi.
As far as monitors go, I kept my CTX 19" .26 dpi. I use my friends 21" and it is nice as far as seeing things a tad bit bigger but I think mine is a lot clearer and the colors look a lot better.
Dell has great support but at the same time I hear they are having a price/additional options war with Gateway. You might want to check out both.
------------------ Amy Brown AMBO Design Lake Helen, FL jabrown@cfl.rr.com
"If only my toddler was better with paint & computers!"
[This message has been edited by Amy Brown (edited April 23, 2001).]
Posts: 3502 | From: Lake Helen, FL, USA | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
Well, after I gave up on trying to install my HP 4c scanner on my new Dell, I went and bought an HP Scanjet 5300c today. It appears to be able to do everything I need it to do. When I bought my 4c in '96 I probably went more expensive than I needed to. I'm finally set up and working, but with one amuzing ending note. When I went to download a patch from HP to run windows ME, as the instruction directed me to do, it told me it doesn't need a patch. Then it directed me to anoter site where I can order a special SCSI card to make my old 4c work on my new computer. I think I'm going to bed, it's been a long day.
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