The Nikon View 3.0 software shipping with the CoolPix 990 doesn't support use of the 990's USB connection under Windows NT. I'm trying to use USB connection on the Nikon 990 with a Dell Inspiron 7500 equiped with a CD-RW, a device which is not supported by Windows 2000. I'm going on an extended camping trip and would like to mail CD-ROM's of images home burning discs with the CD-RW drive, but due to the operating system problem I'm reduced to using the serial port connection on the 990 side unless I can find a third party product. Any suggestions on a software or memory card reader product that will permit me to use the 990's USB connection with an NT laptop?

-- Chris Thollaug (chris@montara.com), June 04, 2000

Answers

Use a Parallel port Compact Flash reader like the Lexar unit on the market for about $65, or use a PCMCIA adapter for the flash card. Both solutions work under NT. Either way, you remove the card from the 990 and read the images without using the stock cabling. Forget the serial port cable, unless your hobbies are watching paint dry and grass grow, serial is way to slow for the files the 990 puts out.

-- Cris Daniels (danfla@gte.net), June 05, 2000.

BSquare recently released a progra m to add USB capabilities to NT 4.0. The price is $79USD, which is fairly steep, but if you use USB a lot, it sounds useful. The page doesn't mention digitial camera compatibility, but you would hope that it wouldn't be a problem. You could email the support person (heatherg@bsquare.com) to ask.

-- Ben Bardill (koolben@yahoo.com), June 05, 2000.

USB on NT would be nice, I'll have to check that program out. My only concern is that these little programs often have limited compatibility and give the Windows platform in general a bad name. They work about 75% of the time, then trash your machine the rest much to the enjoyment of Steve Jobs and his disciples (sp?). I would be suprised if the camera worked well because unless the driver is specifically written for USB ( and for NT it wont be), your rolling the "Blue Screen of Death" dice. PCMCIA is really the way to go but I can't remember if you can hot swap the media like Win98, I don't think you can.

-- Cris Daniels (danfla@gte.net), June 06, 2000.

Wait a minute, you have a laptop, you shouldn't be messing with card readers or USB connections at all. Just get a PCMCIA adaptor for compact flash, they're maybe 10 bucks, nothing is faster or easier.

-- benoit (foo@bar.com), June 06, 2000.

I totally agree but a parallel port reader might prove to be easier. I seem to remember that you can't hotswap flashcards under NT which means re-booting every time you need to swap the card in/out. Argh... I cant remember for sure though, might want to ask an NT guru.

-- Cris Daniels (danfla@gte.net), June 07, 2000.