OpticBook 3600 on Mac or Linux

Gideon · 05-17-2009, 11:09 PM

I've had an OpticBook 3600 for a few years, and really love it but since I switched to Mac it's been largely mothballed... I take it out from time to time but have to run the software through a virtual machine, etc etc. It's a pain in the butt.

Is there any way to use the software on a Mac or linux (through Wine maybe?)

I don't currently have Windows installed on any portable machine, and the OpticBook is such that I really need to bring the computer to IT.

Thanks!

rogue_ronin · 05-20-2009, 05:11 AM

Are you just looking for drivers, or do you specifically need to run the software that came with it?

m a r

kurochka · 05-20-2009, 05:28 AM

If I am not mistaken, Optibook has a close tie-in between hardware, drivers, and scanning software. You just press a button (there are separate buttons for b/w, color, gray, and some options) on the scanner itself and it scans into the program. The program itself is very convenient. If there are drivers and alternative software for Linux that can read button presses from Optibook I would be interested too.

rogue_ronin · 05-20-2009, 06:09 AM

Looks like SANE doesn't support that scanner. <sad>

You'd have to try WINE, and be the test case. Sorry I can't help more.

m a r

Gideon · 05-20-2009, 08:59 AM

It's moot anyway. Scanner's lamp seems to be no longer functional. I emailed plustek days ago, but no response yet (I'm not really expecting one. As much as I like their scanner, the company seems a bit crap to me.)

Blackguard · 05-23-2009, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gideon

It's moot anyway. Scanner's lamp seems to be no longer functional. I emailed plustek days ago, but no response yet (I'm not really expecting one. As much as I like their scanner, the company seems a bit crap to me.)

Yep, I had the bulb die on me also. I would estimate about 50 hours of use over 1.5 years. Real shame. I considered purchasing another one, but then I decided to spend roughly the same amount of money and build a planetary (dual camera) system.

Gideon · 05-23-2009, 07:15 PM

Plustek wouldn't even respond to my emails, either... so on that point alone I won't replace it. I'm pretty much done dealing with tech businesses that can't be bothered to support their products at all (I'm looking at you NullRiver).

I don't know if I have it in me to do the planetary system... how's it working for you? Do you have problems with shadows? Average time to scan a book?

05-17-2009, 11:09 PM	#1
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	OpticBook 3600 on Mac or Linux I've had an OpticBook 3600 for a few years, and really love it but since I switched to Mac it's been largely mothballed... I take it out from time to time but have to run the software through a virtual machine, etc etc. It's a pain in the butt. Is there any way to use the software on a Mac or linux (through Wine maybe?) I don't currently have Windows installed on any portable machine, and the OpticBook is such that I really need to bring the computer to IT. Thanks!

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05-20-2009, 05:11 AM	#2
rogue_ronin Banned Posts: 475 Karma: 796 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Honolulu Device: Nokia 770 (fbreader)	Are you just looking for drivers, or do you specifically need to run the software that came with it? m a r

05-20-2009, 05:28 AM	#3
kurochka your neighbor Posts: 20 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2006 Device: PRS-500 lost (if you found it, I hope you enjoy it); DX on preorder	If I am not mistaken, Optibook has a close tie-in between hardware, drivers, and scanning software. You just press a button (there are separate buttons for b/w, color, gray, and some options) on the scanner itself and it scans into the program. The program itself is very convenient. If there are drivers and alternative software for Linux that can read button presses from Optibook I would be interested too.

05-20-2009, 06:09 AM	#4
rogue_ronin Banned Posts: 475 Karma: 796 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Honolulu Device: Nokia 770 (fbreader)	Looks like SANE doesn't support that scanner. <sad> You'd have to try WINE, and be the test case. Sorry I can't help more. m a r

05-20-2009, 08:59 AM	#5
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	It's moot anyway. Scanner's lamp seems to be no longer functional. I emailed plustek days ago, but no response yet (I'm not really expecting one. As much as I like their scanner, the company seems a bit crap to me.)

05-23-2009, 07:15 PM	#7
Gideon Wearer of Pants Posts: 1,050 Karma: 7634 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norman, OK Device: Amazon Kindle DX / iPhone	Plustek wouldn't even respond to my emails, either... so on that point alone I won't replace it. I'm pretty much done dealing with tech businesses that can't be bothered to support their products at all (I'm looking at you NullRiver). I don't know if I have it in me to do the planetary system... how's it working for you? Do you have problems with shadows? Average time to scan a book?

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