Computing Unplugged - Your first digital camera

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September 21, 2003 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Your first digital camera The Computing Unplugged mailbag This week's news

NEW NAME. SAME GREAT HANDHELDS. The name palmOne was chosen following interviews with a broad spectrum of Palm customers, partners, employees, naming consultants and industry influencers. When people inside and outside the company reflect on Palm's essence, three ideas emerged consistently: the company's heritage as a pioneer in handheld computing, Palm's worldwide leadership, which it has retained despite an influx of competitors; and the conviction that Palm always would place customers first, thereby delivering what matters most to them. Continue to palmOne.com

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DIGITAL CAMERA BASICS
Your first digital camera
By David Gewirtz

This week, we're kicking off a series of short articles about buying your first digital camera. I recently had a discussion with a friend who was buying a digital camera as a gift. From that discussion, I realized that digital cameras are still quite a mystery to many folks.

Let's start with the most common question I get from friends: are under-$100 digital cameras any good?

The answer is simple: no. Anything in that price range is a toy and, in my opinion, not spending on. The image quality sucks, and there are so many compromises that there's really nothing good, other than having a novelty item. I would STRONGLY not recommend it. You can get a good digital camera in the range of about $250-$400, but below that, in my opinion, you're just wasting your money.

That said, digital cameras are a lot of fun. I've personally held off buying a high-end one for myself. I'm a photographic artist (you can see my work at http://www.gewirtz.com) and I demand very high image resolution, very fast shutter times, and interchangeable SLR (Single-Lens Reflex) optics. These features are definitely available in professional digital cameras at prices above $2,500, but I just haven't seen the need, yet, to get rid of my trusty old Nikon film camera for art shoots. In concert with the 35mm film camera, I use a negative scanner, and can then manipulate my images in Photoshop very nicely.

However, I also have a $300 camera that's great for snapshots, fun pictures, and eBay stuff. The nice thing about the digital camera is you can reuse the "film", very quickly get a preview of your pictures, and send fun snapshots to your friends. When I moved, I took pictures of the new layout here and sent it to my friends to see. That was incredibly easy with the digital camera and something I wouldn't have done, had it been necesary to wait for film processing. If you're thinking about getting an inexpensive ($200-$400) digital camera for snapshots or eBay postings, I think you'd enjoy it, maybe send pictures to your friends and family, and generally have a good time with it.

Think of the sub-$300 and sub-$400 digital cameras as exceptionally nice Instamatics, and the ones that are $700-$1,500 as appropriate for the more descerning amateur, and those from $1,500 up (and they go way up) as professional grade. The more costly ones are also much more of a hassle to deal with; they're heavier, require much larger memory cards, and are not something I'd recommend at all unless you're a pro. You'd never see the benefit.

There are some minor downsides to digital cameras. Images take a breath or two of time to actually record after you press the shutter. The much higher end cameras don't have this delay, but with less expensive cameras, you're waiting for the image to transfer from memory to your storage card. Also, if you go on vacation and want to take thousands of pictures, you'd need more memory cards, because, like film, there is a capacity to them. Of course, you could bring a laptop or even one of the portable hard drives, and transfer images from flash memory to a hard drive. That means lugging more stuff, but to be fair, carrying 50 rolls of film takes more space and weight than a small laptop.

The really good news, though, is there's no processing cost and you can delete pictures you don't like, upload pictures to your computer, store them on CD, and reuse the memory card over and over. Think of the memory card as a more advanced floppy disk. It's just storage. If you're a very active photographer, the mere savings over film and developing (even on one trip) can often pay for the purchase of a digital camera.

Given all this, it's likely you'd spend about $300+ for something good, and that'd be pretty much all you'd need to spend. If you don't want to spend at least $200, consider a different gift area completely.

We'll talk about specific cameras, printing, service bureaus, and connecting the camera to your computer in the next few weeks. Since I'll be answering some digital camera questions, now's a great time to send them to me. If you've got a "first digital camera" question for the series, sent it to address@hidden. Remember, almost no question is too dumb so feel free to ask away.

David Gewirtz is the Editor-in-Chief of the ZATZ magazines. He can be reached at address@hidden.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Plug in to the Computing Unplugged mailbag

In this edition of letters to the editor, readers offer comments and questions on a variety of topics, including Palm m130 frustration, Xbox and access to online gaming, Linux advice, the FatFinger review, and when Computing Unplugged will be available on AvantGo.

Birthday bust
My son gave me a nice Palm m130 for a birthday gift. I brought the first one back because I had to press most buttons (tap on screen) over and over to get them to function. The second unit is not much better.

What a waste of money. I have heard wonderful things about Palm handhelds, but mine has been sitting here for months just collecting dust! It is so frustrating I have to put it away.

Is this a poor performing unit, this m130? What can I do?

Mike Bouyea

Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz responds
Folks generally like their Palm handhelds. There's no question that the Palm m130 is a lower cost unit (which means, most probably, less robust). But most folks are quite happy with them. If you're having problems (especially during the warranty period), don't hesitate to contact Palm's support organization. I'm sure they'll want to help you out.

Another option (more of a long shot) is to do what's called a "hard reset" on the device. Make sure you backup your data first. Sometimes, these things get stuck in a weird state and a complete, fresh restart helps. Beyond that, Palm's folks are the experts.

Click here for more reader letters.

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COMPUTING UNPLUGGED NEWS CENTER
This week's news
Want to get the very latest mobile and wireless news? The Computing Unplugged News Center is updated every day with news of product releases, industry info, tips, techniques, and pointers to great mobile and wireless resources on the Web. Here's this week's news:

Get email on your mobile phone
Xpherix announced the introduction of Remo, a connectivity solution for mobile subscribers, developed for QUALCOMM's Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW) platform. Using Remo's Get Email function subscribers can easily view, reply, and send email right from their mobile phone. Remo's Calendar function enables subscribers to use the mobile phone to view, add, edit or delete calendar events stored in their computer. Any changes made on the phone are automatically synchronized back to their Microsoft Outlook calendar.

A look at first color Blackberry
PC Magazine reviews the RIM BlackBerry 7230 handheld, the first RIM model with a color display and 900-, 1,800-, and 1,900-MHz tri-band GSM/GPRS coverage for international use. The 7230 can serve as a BlackBerry Enterprise Server client for email from Outlook Exchange or Lotus Domino systems and for Internet mail, with up to ten Internet email accounts configured via a wizard.

Improve wireless experience
PMN reports that Bytemobile has announced a tool for improving enterprise wireless data experiences. Bytemobile claims its Optigo Enterprise product can increase the performance of wireless data by up to ten times, creating an experience equivalent to an office LAN connection for a remote user.

Motorola's new smartphone
MobileMag takes a quick look at the recently announced Motorola MPx200, the first smartphone from the alliance between Microsoft and Motorola. The new Motorola MPx200 allows customers to manage their personal information and synchronize their email, calendar and contacts with Microsoft Outlook either via a PC connection or via seamless over-the-air synchronization with Exchange Server.

Keep track of Hurricane Isabel
Weather updates and information are on high demand this week due to the advancing threat of Hurricane Isabel. The AccuWeather.com Wireless BREW application offers zoomable and animated radar imagery directly to a wireless cell phone. Consumers can watch Hurricane Isabel on the radar screen sweep across their wireless handset while zooming in and out on the radar - to view specific metropolitan areas, and state or regional views. Wireless carriers such as Verizon and ALLTEL currently offer the AccuWeather.com BREW-enabled wireless application.

Using PGP to secure data
This article from Tech Republic says that one of the best ways to secure data, whether in storage or in transit, is by using PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) by PGP Corporation. All PGP versions secure email and stored data; the enterprise and desktop editions even encrypt ICQ messages. The enterprise version adds administration tools and a keyserver, which works with Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes, and Novel GroupWise servers. The desktop version, useful for SOHO operations, provides the same level of encryption but without the administrator and server applications. The mobile computing version for Palm provides email and disk protection. Windows CE devices get only mail protection.

Nokia gets into enterprise mobility
InfoWorld reports that on October 1, Nokia will launch Nokia Enterprise Solutions. For Nokia, the term enterprise mobility means integrating IBM's WebSphere, Oracle application servers and databases, and RIM's email servers with next-generation smartphones.

Treo 600 goes Orange
PC Pro reports that Orange is adding the Treo 600 to its roster of smartphones. As part of Orange's Signature range, the Treo 600 is offered with Signature services including Orange Backup and Orange Update, which keeps the phone up to date with the latest software, as well as allowing you to download new applications. It will be available in the UK from next month for a penny short of 300, subject to contract.

Source code exploits vulnerabilites
Security experts spotted working source code on underground hacker sites that exploits the most recent vulnerabilities in the Windows RPC DCOM interface, hundreds of machines have already been compromised with Trojan horses bearing the code, and a worm able to infect thousands of systems is not far behind. According to this article in Internet Week, the exploit code found on multiple hacker sites would allow an attacker to obtain authenticated access to RPC DCOM vulnerable computers, which then opens the system to all kinds of mischief, including identify or password theft, deleting files, and initiating a denial-of-service attack.

Sprint PCS Wi-Fi access available
Sprint announced the availability of PCS Wi-Fi Access in hundreds hot spots across the country, including airports, convention centers, hotels and other public venues. PCS Wi-Fi Access is now available at all Wayport airport and hotel hot spots and select Airpath Wireless locations as a result of roaming agreements. Sprint also announced the availability of PCS Wi-Fi Access at Mohegan Sun. Subscribers will also be able to use PCS Wi-Fi Access at over 250 Cometa Hotspots in the Seattle market later this year as a part of an agreement with Cometa Networks.

Ultimate Expo
WowGao is set and ready to go for its upcoming Ultimate Leading Edge International IT Conferences and Expos, which is to be held in Toronto, Canada at the Toronto Congress Centre from October 14 to 16. The events employ a unique format of 7 conferences and exhibitions under 1 roof.

Microsoft introduces 802.11g gear
Microsoft introduced 802.11g-based wireless networking gear. New in Microsoft's wireless LAN line are an 802.11g access point with four-port Ethernet switch, the Microsoft Wireless Base Station MN-700, and wireless cards for portable computers and desktops, the Wireless Notebook Adapter MN-720 and Wireless PCI Adapter MN-730, respectively. InfoWorld reports that Microsoft also introduced an adapter for the Xbox game console, the Xbox Wireless Adapter MN-740. This 802.11g adapter allows gamers to make their Xbox part of a wireless network.

Samsung's new flat screen monitors
Samsung introduced four new flat screen monitors targeted to corporate, financial and medical markets. The new monitors include the high-end 15" SyncMaster 153T and 17" SyncMaster 173T which sport dual analog and digital inputs, narrow bezels and Pivot technology and the 15" SyncMaster 153B and 17" SyncMaster 173B which offer built-in speakers for any multimedia application. All four new LCD monitors are currently shipping.

AirStation 54Mbps Compact Repeater Bridge-g
Buffalo Technology, SOHO and SMBs, announced the AirStation 54Mbps Compact Repeater Bridge-g (WLA-G54C). The WLA-G54C is a 54Mbps wireless bridge/repeater with a 10/100 Ethernet port that features Buffalo's unique Wireless Distribution System (WDS) to provide point-to-point or point-to-multi-point communication. The WLA-G54C is a multi-functional device in that it not only can connect Ethernet devices; it can simultaneously accept wireless client traffic and act as an access point.

Palm announces new accessories
Palm, Inc. announced an array of fall accessories. Available on Oct. 1 in consumer-electronics outlets, major retail chains and online e-stores in most countries worldwide, the new line of accessories includes an innovative wireless infrared (IR) keyboard; a multifunction stylus; six handheld cases; a plug-and-play, 1.3 megapixel camera card; handheld protection products; and complete accessory kits.

Pumatech acquires Synchrologic
Pumatech announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Synchrologic in a transaction designed to cement Pumatech as the leading provider of synchronization solutions to the enterprise, technology licensing and consumer markets. Valued at approximately $60 million, the transaction is expected to generate operational savings and positive cash flow for Pumatech.

ePeople Teamwork 8.8
ePeople announced ePeople Teamwork for PeopleSoft CRM Sales 8.8. ePeople Teamwork provides a collaborative workspace, where members of the sales team and subject matter experts can assemble to resolve issues or brainstorm. Resources outside the organization such as a business partner that has insight to either the client or the competition can easily participate in the discussion using a messaging device including Microsoft Outlook, cell phone, pager, PDA or email.

Buffalo Technology releases news DRR modules
Buffalo Technology announced the latest addition to its DDR family of memory modules, the DDR533. The DDR533 modules support data sizes of 256MB (DD533-256/HB) and 512MB (DD533-512/HB). This next-generation of memory products features 533 MHz, 64Mbit x 64 DDR (Double Data Rate) synchronous modules, with transfer rates up to 8.4GB/s (in dual DDR mode).

Motorola, Microsoft partner up
Microsoft and Motorola introduced the first Motorola-branded phone to use Microsoft's software, the MPx200, which will go on sale first in the U.K. with French wireless carrier Orange. The phone will come to the U.S. later this year, carried by AT&T Wireless.

MS/Motorola phone?
Drudge Report is reporting "MICROSOFT AND MOTOROLA SAID TO BE IN CELL PHONE VENTURE: Microsoft plans to announce on Monday that Motorola has agreed to produce a high-end phone based on the Windows Mobile software platform, media sources tell DRUDGE... Phone designed to make it easy to use e-mail messaging, synchronize phone with a computer..."

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Copyright © 2003, ZATZ:Pure Internet Publishing, a unit of Component Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

Computing Unplugged is an independent publication of ZATZ:Pure Internet Publishing, a unit of Component Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Component Enterprises, Inc. ZATZ, the ZATZ logo, and Computing Unplugged are trademarks of ZATZ Publishing, a unit of Component Enterprises. All other brands and product names are trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective holders.