Re: Card Reader For Win 98

Dave Cohen wrote:
"Randall Ainsworth" <rag@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:110320061236162244%rag@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
In article <Xns978371D619F07garfieldanetcom@xxxxxxxxxxxx>, Lou
Leciejewski <garfield@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

I won an Olympus D-360L Digital Camera (SmartMedia) and would like to but a
card reader that would work with SmartMedia and Windows 98 (First Edition)
and a PC which has a speed of 400MHZ. I bought a Dazzle Card Reader from
CompUSA that reads SmartMedia but it won't work with my Windows 98. Are
there ANY card readers out there that will work with First Edition Win98? I
was told none will and that my 400MHZ speed is also a problem. The Dazzle
unit I had ran at minimum 500MHZ. Any suggestions?
The original release of Windows 98 had poorUSB support. Looks like it's
time for a new computer.

Randall, my problems have been with win98se. The problem items are sandisk cruzer micro (ok on some win98se machines not others) and a visioneer usb scanner. In each case I have vendor's drivers. These are recent purchases and I suspect:
1. Vendors aren't busting their butts over win98se
2. Possible bios problem.

Let's hope that with a new generation of windows software and 64 bit processors we don't get screwed again.
Dave Cohen


There is no protection against a computer being passed by in the software, hardware, or driver market. If you wait long enough, then your computer won't be able to be upgraded enough to do what the newer ones do. Win98 had very minimal USB support, and it may be that the BIOS just isn't able to handle the drivers for your USB device. It's a fact of life that things don't last forever, even if they continue to work as they did when you bought them, it doesn't mean they will always be able to do the things you now want to do. I just upgraded my old computer to an AMD Athlon 64, for just exactly this reason.
My wife said it should last 5 years. I told her that 3 was more likely. Frankly, if it lasts 3 years, then it has cost me about $.75 a day, and a lot less than she spends on HER hobby (Bingo) in a few months.
Of course, if one hasn't the money to buy a new computer (or a camera that uses something newer than Smartmedia cards), then one must accept the limitations this imposes. Been there, done that.
.