It is now Thursday, February 22, 2007 on/about 12:30PM. I came into my "workroom" to turn the terminal/computer on - curious to see if anyone had responded to my concern. I was really surprised to find three responses - ALL most informative - I will try to respond to each in this communication.
1st:
mrcaptainbob: I have contacted HP many times in the past and have not found them all that helpful - if you can understand their communication. I do know that I would have been able to go to the HP.com site to download the drivers, software and firmware that would allow my new computer system to "speak" to the Windows home XP operating system. I gave a copy of this page with the product number (for my scanner) noted to my computer person to use. I honestly do not know if he utilized this connection.
As for returning my current ScanJet 4c Scanner to HP for a "discount" - the scanner weighs a ton, so to speak. I would probably cost me more to return it than any "discount" that might be allowed. However, it might be well worth the effort. I will give that considerable thought before I make my decision.
2nd:
Joseph: I have been "working" with a computer company that deals with new and used equipment. Their website:
Alliance Computer Stores, Inc. - I have been "working" with one of their technicians for the past year - while he attempted to retrieve my old Windows98, 2nd edition to function after a previous - certainly less able - computer person had transferred many of my files from a previous hard drive to a 20 GB hard drive, but that is really ALL he did - I spent the best part of last year trying to clean up that mess!
So when my technician from Alliance took away my old system - I gave him as much detail as possible concerning what had taken place.
I do believe that he tried using the SCSI taken from my previous system and when that did not work for whatever reason - he purchased and/or used an alternate on - I do believe it was attached to the Motherboard. He did not clarify in what manner it did not work.
Bless your heart - you really do believe I know what I am doing with the computer system - I am just stumbling along. However, the next time I talk with the technician on the telephone - I will ask him your questions -
Until I get the replacement scanner - he will not be making another trip to my home.
3:
Meffy: Thank you for your input on those websites - you have given me another source to possibly get a better feel on the activity of these different websites. I will use your suggestions - my concern - generally when I purchase something via the web there is not a great deal of dollars involved - so if I do/did have a problem - it was not all that of a problem. However, this scranner will be costing at least $400.00 and with that kind of money involved - I really want to try to be cautious.
---as an aside --- I really have searched the web for a scanner for less dollars, but have not have all that much luck. I did find some in/about $100.00 but they would not copy legal documents.
I had told my comuter technician that I was willing to consider a scanner that did not copy a legal document, but I really did need it to copy colors -
As I indicated in my original contact - I have really 'searched and searched' the web and did not find anything of interest - the HP ScanJet 8300 is as close to my previous scanner that I have been able to find. Considering that the HP ScanJet 4c cost close to $900.00 - I feel that the $400.00 is not all that bad of a deal.
Again, I would appreciate any additional feedback on this concern.