On May 12, 2005, at 10:50 AM, Roy J. Gromlich wrote:

> However, they obviously have schematics and board layouts for the
> scanner - otherwise they couldn't produce and sell them.

You're assuming a lot for the times.  Somewhere, probably deep in China,
is someone who once had schematics and board layouts.  But the product
may have come to your country as little more than an "OEM scanner 
module"
with connection diagrams and minimal specifications (you've seen some of
what passes for LCD panel "documentation" from surplus dealers, right?)
If you bought it two years ago on sale, it was probably designed 5 years
ago at a company that may no longer be in business.  The company you 
dealt
with may have done little more than slap on their label, written a 
manual,
and done phone support; none of which requires schematics or PCB info.

Yeah, it's a bit sad.  It's why I keep telling myself to buy stuff 
that's
well behind "state of the art", at deep discounts.  I mean, you can get 
a
pretty good scanner for about $40 bucks these days, assuming it's not 
part
of a $100 all-in-one printer/copier/scanner.

BillW

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