Cannot get Canoscan LIDE 30 working under OSX?

[Robert Nicholson]

Well I just returned from Comp USA and I don't have that happy feeling 
that you have the first time you see something work.

I have the scanner as the only USB device plugged into my Tibook and 
Photoshop sees it as an import source but when I select "Import" it 
says that

Cannot communicate with scanner.
Cable may be disconnected.
Check status
Scanner driver will be closed.

...

I suspect a bad cable.

Amazing you can walk into a store, by a brand new product and come home 
and the cable
does not work.