ThunderScan for Apple II

[redrouteone]

Today at the local Goodwill I picked up a ThunderScan for Apple II for $5

If you haven't heard of it, it is a scanner that uses an ImageBanger ImageWriter for the mechanism. You use swap out the ribbon cartridge with the scanner head.

http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=Thunderscan.txt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ImageWriter

I'm sure it would work with a Mac if I picked up the Mac software.

If I come across an ImageWritter I just might have to hook it up to my Mac 512k.

 

[waynestewart]

I've got the Mac version as well as the Apple II version. I only used it once, some time back and can't recall the differences. I'll check tonight. I'm pretty sure it's not buried in storage

 

[Charlieman]

The significant difference is that the first version is powered by sucking power from the Mac serial port. The later Mac Plus version required a separate power source. I am not sure how wise it would be to take power via the Apple II serial port. Is the Apple II version for the IIgs or other models as well?

 

[Dog Cow]

Is the Apple II version for the IIgs or other models as well?

Here are some Usenet threads on the Thunderscan. The followups to these threads should answer most questions here:Thunderscan Scanner For sale

ThunderScan

Anyone remember the THUNDERSCAN?

Re: Help with ThunderScan software

Re: Thunderscan

ThunderScan & ImageWriter II

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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site sdcc3.UUCP

Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!gatech!seismo!lll-crg!ucdavis!ucbvax!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcc3!borton

From: borton@sdcc3.UUCP (Chris Borton)

Newsgroups: net.micro.mac

Subject: ThunderScan & ImageWriter II

Message-ID: <3108@sdcc3.UUCP>

Date: Fri, 6-Dec-85 16:25:06 EST

Article-I.D.: sdcc3.3108

Posted: Fri Dec 6 16:25:06 1985

Date-Received: Mon, 9-Dec-85 03:10:22 EST

Organization: U.C. San Diego, Academic Computer Center

Lines: 18

As a small-time dealer for ThunderWare, I would like to set the information

on ThunderScans and ImageWriters straight.

The old ThunderScan (shipped before 9/1/85) will not work with the 15"

ImageWriter or the ImageWriter II due to the hardware design. The old

software is incompatible with the LaserWriter/AppleTalk as well.

The new ThunderScan hardware will work with all three printers.

(ImageWriter I 10" and 15", ImageWriter II) The new software handles the

LaserWriter beautifully, but is not, however, compatible with the

ImageWriter II.

A software update to handle the ImageWriter II will be available by January 1

for a nominal update fee ($5). All ThunderScans currently shipped include a

postcard to order the updated software. An update to the old hardware is

currently available for $15 (if I remember correctly).

I hope this clears up the confusion.

 

[H3NRY]

I saw that scanner. So you bought it! It's kinda neat to watch it go - once or twice. It's sssllloooowwww, since each scan of the "printhead" only picks up a single line of pixels. I have one along with my old Imagewriter around here somewhere. Wonder if either one still works?

 

[Nathan]

You did read the first linked article in the first post of the thread, indicating that the software supported scanning on the printhead's return movement as well, right? Granted, the sacrifice of some quality for speed.

 

[H3NRY]

Yeah, bi-directional scanning got you a ragged picture that was ssllooowww, instead of sharp and sssslllloooooowwwwww. Make it 15 minutes to scan 8x10 inches instead of half an hour. Thunderscan really needed to index on a piece of white tape you wrapped around the left end of the printer's platten. If you could settle for a somewhat lo-res image, you could get a MacVision video camera capture in a few seconds. I had both, and the MacVision got a lot of use. ThunderScan got used for maybe 5 or 6 scans.