Forums | MacLife

Are there any free PCI slots? If so you may be able to add a USB PCI card, assuming it is compatible.

Rut roh...You haven't said which digital camera you have but it doesn't make much difference really since you're most likely screwed, as I was.

I bought a Canon VR50mc miniDV in September-great camera by the way-and I thought I had done my pre-purchase homework by visiting every site and reading every review, all the tech specs, etc. to make sure it would work with my G3 with 3rd party USB & Firewire cards. Lo and behold when I finally tried to hook it up I got that same message you did "cannot find device". Then after reading entire camera manual and accompanying software manual there it was...on page 52, "must have OEM USB PCI card installed, camera is not compatible with 3rd party..." Bastards! Why didn't they print that on the outside of the box? Why didn't anyone mention that in a review? All the published info said "Mac compatible OS 7.0 or greater". Period. Now which Mac came from the factory with OS 7.0 and a USB PCI card installed?

I'm now the proud (but poor) owner of a G4 dual 867 and the camera works great-in fact, screw Canon's software-it's crap compared to iPhoto- I don't even have it installed.

Also funny how one new device begats another, first I got the camera which required the G4, and now that I have the G4 I just have to have a highspeed internet connection too!

Despite the problems Blueboy626 had, I would still install a USB card and give it a try.  USB cards are really cheap and very easy to install.  Even though some system requirements (many system requirements) may call for OEM (originally installed by the manufacturer) hardware, that is more because they can't (or don't want to) test third party hardware, and there for, they don't offer support for third party hardware.  I also have a beige G3 (although I haven't used it since I got my QS933 eight months ago) and installed a USB card in it years ago.  I have been able to run all USB devices that I've connected to it fine (including an Olympus digital camera), even though many of the devices were not support due to third party hardware. 

Even if the camera doesn't work after you've installed (if you install) the USB card, there are plenty of devices that you'll be able to use that you can't now.  And like I said, they are very, very easy to install.  Also if you're running OS9 and earlier, you'll need to download drivers for the USB card.  Apple does have drivers, just do a search for Apple software for USB PCI card or some such thing.