3 Aug
2009
3 Aug
'09
11:07 a.m.
[Scanner]
Oh, I could build the interface, no problem. But Iam not a programmer,
and writing the drivers (and the higher-level software) is not something
I'd want to do.
Only if
a) It can be connected to a classic PERQ or a PDP11 with an I2S Model 70
iamge display (these being the 2 machines I have with reasonable graphics)
b) You have (or can gat) a proper service manual for it
c) Spares are available
We'll leave a) up to you. We are confident that you could design and
build an interface. RS232 style of serial, "Centronics" style of
parallel, or [ALMOST] standard SCSI
As for c), some are so common that we could ship you enough "spares" to
use as bricks to build a shed. Each set of spare parts is connected
I don't class that as 'spares availability' :-)
b) is the stumbling block. Way too much of the USA
(and other) industry
considers proper service manuals to be a matter of "trade secret"s!
Exactly. And while reverse-engineering things is not genrally beyond me,
I suspect most scanners (including the Nikon one I've been inside) are
stuffed with custom silicon and not much else so working out how it all
works is a 'challenege'. And I've got more interesting things to work on.
-tony