Visioneer PaperPort fix for Mac OS 8.5 is coming!

Visioneer has replied to my queries about the conflict between their PaperPort software and Mac OS 8.5. Here's the official scoop:

"We indeed have a conflict with MacOS 8.5 and PaperPort 5.x Macintosh software, the ScanDirectInit specifically. The problem is, if the ScanDirectInit is loaded, when the user clicks in Mac OS Finder's menu bar (to use any of the Menus), the Finder will crash. We are still working on a fix for this problem. We hope to have it ready by November 15. In the meantime, we have found a work-around: Disable the Control Strip Extension."

This symptom and work-around is consistent with what we have previously reported. The good news (previously unreported) is that a fix is definitely coming.

I finally tried the work-around and it worked to prevent the crashes. However, I still had problems with the scanner not working properly until I did a clean re-install of the PaperPort software.

More generally, my contact confirmed that Visioneer halted development of any new software or hardware for the Mac about a year ago. They are still in this holding pattern. So, beyond this sort of bug-fix, don't expect anything new from Visioneer any time soon.

FLASH! Apple posts $106 million earnings; shows year-over-year growth;
iMac a hit; Mac OS 8.5 announced It's official! Apple had a great year. A super year. A profitable year. Did I mention that the news is great? Here are the highlights:

Apple Computer announced fourth fiscal quarter earnings of $106 million, capping its first profitable year in three years. Unit shipments in the quarter increased 28 percent year-over-year.

Apple shipped 278,000 iMacs in the product's first six weeks, making iMac the fastest selling Macintosh ever.

Over 40 percent of iMac buyers are new customers for Apple, according to a survey.

Apple's new operating system upgrade, Mac OS 8.5, will ship worldwide this weekend.

Apple Computer announced that it's expanding its channel distribution to include Best Buy. Best Buy will feature iMac computers beginning early November.

Press releases More details on Apple Press Releases:

• Apple Reports Fourth Quarter Profit of $106 Million
• Apple Caps Fiscal Year With Strong Result
• iMac a Hit With First Time Computer Users
• Apple Introduces Mac OS 8.5--The Must-Have Upgrade
• Apple Expands iMac Distribution With Best Buy
• And previously: Jeff Goldblum Featured In New Apple Ads

Mac OS 8.5 site Apple has also posted a new Welcome to Mac OS 8.5 site. It includes a page of QuickTime movies that demo new features of the OS.