When my old desktop finally gave up the ghost, I got a newer Dell Inspiron. Nothing too fancy, but plenty for what I needed it for. The problem was that it came loaded with Windows 7. Here's the rub. I have a $3000 Nikon Super CoolScan LS-8000 in my office collecting dust. It does some of the most incredible negative and slide scanning, including medium format to 6x7 on the planet, bar none. But Nikon Scan 4.0 will only work with up to XP. And the new computer did not have a firewire card already installed. The LS-8000 uses a Firewire connection. I could have used something like VueScan but it sucks compared to Nikon Scan 4.0. And I never could get the scanner to talk with the computer even though I installed a firewire card in it. Back to square one.
So I go on Fleabay the other day and I see an IMB Thinkpad with 1.7 Ghz and 2GB RAM and 40GB HD and XP Professional for $50 plus $18 shipping. I eventually paid $88 including shipping for it. I will install Nikon Scan 4.0 on it and for less than $90 my scanner will be operational again! The IBM will essentially become a part of the scanner itself.
So I go on Fleabay the other day and I see an IMB Thinkpad with 1.7 Ghz and 2GB RAM and 40GB HD and XP Professional for $50 plus $18 shipping. I eventually paid $88 including shipping for it. I will install Nikon Scan 4.0 on it and for less than $90 my scanner will be operational again! The IBM will essentially become a part of the scanner itself.
