Kim Komando Tip of the Day Archive
(Tip of the Day archived for 14 Days)
Friday, July 18, 2008
Trouble formatting a memory card
I bought a Secure Digital High Capacity card for my digital camera. I had to format it before I could use it. I inserted the card in my computer's card reader. As soon as I did this, I received a blue screen. It said Windows had detected a problem and would shut down. I had to reboot. What do I need to do to allow the computer to read the card? Or should I never insert it in my card reader again?
Are you using Windows XP? If so, that's probably your problem. But, before we get to that, let's examine the situation.
First of all, it's a good idea to format any new card. This will help you avoid future errors.
Format memory cards in your camera, not the computer. That ensures the card will be formatted correctly for the camera.
Your computer generally will be able to read a camera-formatted card. Format it in the computer, and you're asking for camera problems.
Steps vary
The steps for formatting a memory card will vary from camera to camera. So, consult your manual.
Using your camera should eliminate difficulties formatting the card. But, that doesn't fix the compatibility problem with the computer.
There is probably a simple explanation for your problem. You're using a Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) card. This is a relatively new type of card.
SDHC cards look like regular SD cards. However, they're not. The SDHC format allows capacities larger than 4 gigabytes. Regular SD cards top out at 2 gigabytes.
They use a different method to address memory than SD cards do. They also use the FAT32 file system. This is what allows partition (or drive) sizes larger than 4 gigabytes.
Install Microsoft fix
The whole thing is a bit much for Windows XP. It tends to choke on SDHC cards. Fortunately, Microsoft has a fix. Just download and install its update.
If that doesn't do it, it's probably a hardware problem. SDHC cards are not compatible with many older gadgets. That could be the problem with your card reader. If necessary, get a new one. And double-check that it is compatible with SDHC.
Or, put the card in your camera and connect it to your computer. The card should appear as a removable drive on your computer. That is, assuming the camera is SDHC-compatible.
This will allow you to move pictures from the memory card onto your computer.
For more on flash memory, visit my site:
WOW! EXTRA HOUR THIS WEEKEND!
This Saturday morning, I will be taking your calls for a whole four hours! The extra hour will be broadcast when I am away on a family reunion. So, if you have a question about something digital, let me help! It takes just three easy steps: 1.) Call the LIVE broadcast. Thats this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the East Coast, or, if you live on the West Coast, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. 2.) Know the phone number. It is, of course, toll-free 1-888-825-5254. 3.) Talk to me. Thats all there is to it!
Every day, Team Komando produces some of the best content you'll find anywhere on the Internet. Here is a sampling of what's new on our site today!
Video of the Day: At well over 100, Olive Riley was the world's oldest blogger. Olive recently died. This video is from a 2004 documentary.
Cool Site of the Day: Are planning a trip? Travel is exciting. But trying to get it just right can be stressful. I've found a great site that can help.
Digital Minute, on your radio: Laptop theft is bad news. But I'll tell you about a program that could recover a laptop. And it's free!
Free Download of the Day: Digital photos can be flat and featureless. The solution? Create HDR images. But you'll need special software.
Tip on the site: Reformatting a hard drive is never fun. But sometimes it's necessary. Try a little preparation. It will save you some headaches.
Monday's Tip, in your e-mail: Picking a backup method.
Kim :)
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Hibernate vs. Sleep: What's the difference?
Hibernate and Sleep seem mighty similar. Is there a notable difference? A friend suggested that prolonged use of Hibernate can damage a PC. Is that true?
Hibernate and Sleep (called Standby in XP) are both power-saving features. You'll find them on both PCs and Macs in some form. I'm not surprised they have you confused. They appear to do the same thing.
When you shut down your computer, you turn everything off. All of your applications, windows and documents have to be closed. Starting up your computer again can take some time. And then you have to reopen everything you want to use.
To save time, you can use Hibernate or Sleep. Both of these save the exact state of your computer. You don't have to close anything. All your windows, programs and documents are stored as-is.
When you start up the computer, everything is restored. All your windows are just as you left time. They're even in the same place on your desktop. And you can pick up right where you left off.
They both still seem the same, don't they? But each offers a different level of power saving and convenience.
Sleep
When using Sleep, your computer's state is stored in RAM. The display is turned off. Your hard drive is stopped. And other components are shut down. But a minimal amount of power is still applied to the RAM. This allows the RAM to hold on to your computer's state.
So, your computer isn't completely off. Starting the computer from Sleep is almost instantaneous. That's really convenient. You can jump right back into what you were doing.
The downside of Sleep is that it still requires some power. If you lose power for any reason, the RAM is wiped. You'll lose your computer's stored state. That could also mean losing any work you haven't saved.
Hibernate
When using Hibernate, your computer's state is stored on the hard drive. Your hard drive doesn't require power to hold on to that information. So, your computer can turn off power to everything.
Starting from Hibernate has the same result as from Sleep. Your computer is restored to exactly where it was before. But coming out of hibernation takes longer. So, it's less convenient.
But you don't have to worry about losing power. Even if power is cut, the computer's state is still stored. Nothing will be lost.
Coming up: Hybrid Sleep, Safe Sleep. Click here to finish this tip!
WOW! EXTRA HOUR THIS WEEKEND!
This Saturday morning, I will be taking your calls for a whole four hours! The extra hour will be broadcast when I am away on a family reunion. So, if you have a question about something digital, let me help! It takes just three easy steps: 1.) Call the LIVE broadcast. That's this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the East Coast, or, if you live on the West Coast, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. 2.) Know the phone number. It is, of course, toll-free 1-888-825-5254. 3.) Talk to me. That's all there is to it!
Every day, Team Komando produces some of the best content you'll find anywhere on the Internet. Here is a sampling of what's new on our site today!
Video of the Day: You've probably seen claw games. Kids manipulate a claw to grab a prize. Unless, of course, they have an alternate plan.
Cool Site of the Day: We take our language for granted. But even single words can be powerful. Just check that out on today's Cool Site.
Digital Minute, on your radio: You probably have an HDTV. But you may not be watching shows in HD. Find out how you can for free!
Free Download of the Day: Rootkits are nasty little devils. They hide deep within Windows. You need a specialized program to find them.
Tip on the site: Here's a nightmare: Your hard drive fails, taking your important files. Retrieval will be costly. So, why are you not backing up?
Tomorrow's Tip, in your e-mail: Trouble formatting a memory card.
Kim :)
Wednesday,
July 16, 2008
Expand your view in
Flight Simulator
I'm
a Microsoft Flight Simulator fan. I know
that Windows can support multiple monitors.
So, I would like to have three monitors,
each with a different view. The center
monitor would have the front view. The other
two monitors would have the left and right
views. How do I set this up so that each
view runs at the same time? Is it even
possible?
Yes.
Flight Simulator and Windows will do what
you want. Setting up the three monitors is a
relative snap. In fact, I've seen setups
with 13 monitors!
Setting up Flight Simulator is easy. But
first, you need to look at your hardware.
You'll need enough connections for the
monitors.
It isn't uncommon to see video cards with
dual outputs. You'll even see cards with
three or four. Dual-output cards aren't that
much more expensive than single-output
cards. But you'll pay a premium for cards
with more outputs.
Fortunately, the outputs don't all need
to be on the same card. You can install two
video cards on your machine. So, you can use
a dual-output card in tandem with your
current video card.
You current card probably uses an AGP or
PCIe slot on the motherboard. If you have an
empty PCIe slot, buy a card that fits it.
Otherwise, find a card that fits in regular
PCI slots.
Make sure you're buying the right card
for your computer. Check your computer's
manual if you need help. You can also use
Belarc Advisor to learn more about your
system.
You'll need a good video card for Flight
Simulator. That's especially true since the
card will be running two monitors. I
recommend one with 512MB of memory. You
could go higher than that,
but remember the effect on RAM.
You can install the new video card fairly
easily. If opening the computer scares you,
take it to a shop. In that case,
make sure your data's protected.
Of course, Flight Simulator requires a
fairly powerful computer all around. I
assume your computer can handle it now.
A powerful video card will help. But
running Flight Simulator on multiple
monitors will tax your system. You will be
running different views on each monitor. So
you need a healthy processor and plenty of
RAM.
You also want to make sure the monitors
you buy are up to snuff. Most gamers prefer
CRTs because they perform better than LCDs.
Fortunately, though, LCDs are improving. For
help picking a model for Flight Simulator,
check my tip.
After installing the new hardware, you'll
need to make adjustments in Windows. I have
a column that will help you with this.
Windows does a pretty good job of
managing multiple monitors. But I recommend
downloading
Multimon. It will help you fine-tune
your setup.
Once you have your monitors set up, you
can set up your views in Flight Simulator.
Don't stretch a program window across
multiple monitors. This may slow your
system.
Instead, put the main window in the
center monitor. Then, click Views>>New
View>>Cockpit>>Virtual Cockpit. Drag the
window to one of the side monitors. Move the
view until it appeals to you. Repeat the
process for the other side. You're good to
go!
Every day, Team Komando produces some of the
best content you'll find anywhere on the
Internet. Here is a sampling of what's new
on our site today!
Video of the Day:
Many of us are afraid of failure. But many
highly successful people have failed in the
past. See what I'm talking about.
Cool Site of the Day:
Google is famous for its plain white home
page. Too bland? Shake things up and create
your own Google home page.
Digital Minute, on
your radio: Are
high-tech spy gadgets just the stuff of
movies? Nope. And they're not just for
government agents, either!
Free Download of the
Day: Are you thinking of
taking a quick getaway? If so, plan
carefully. I have a program that will help!
Tip on the site:
If you own a web site, you may want to post
your videos on it. Before you do, read my
tip. It will keep you out of trouble.
Tomorrow's Tip, in your e-mail:
Sleep versus hibernate.
Kim :)
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Updating a
factory-installed GPS system
I
have a factory-installed GPS system in my
car. I would like to have it updated.
However, the dealer wants $500! Is there
another way to update this system?
I
assume you want to update the maps. You may
be able to save a little. But before I
address this, let's discuss
factory-installed GPS systems.
There certainly are advantages to
built-in GPS. The screens are generally
large and easy to read.
Also, there is better integration with
other car components. For example, you can
hear directions over your stereo. And your
position is often kept after losing sight of
GPS satellites.
But there are drawbacks to
factory-installed systems, too. First, they
are much more expensive. They can run
thousands of dollars. Basic portable units
start around $200. A fully loaded portable
unit can be had for less than $1,000.
Also, even in new cars, the maps could be
a couple years old. They should be updated
right away.
The manufacturer won't cover the cost of
the updates. That falls on you.
Updates are costly
And, as you learned, dealer-installed
updates are costly. Updates for a portable
unit may run $100 or $200. That's expensive.
But, dealers may charge 300-400 percent more
to update built-in units. Cha-ching!
Matters worsen as your car ages. After
several years, updated maps may simply be
unavailable for built-in units. That's
particularly true as manufacturers move from
CD- to DVD- to hard drive-based storage.
Now, on to your question! In your case,
it sounds like maps are available for your
car. So, you may be able to bypass the
dealer.
Many companies make GPS units. But only a
few make the maps. I'll bet Navteq makes the
maps for your system.
You can buy maps on DVD from Navteq. Its
online store will help you find the right
maps for your car.
You simply select your car's make, model
and year. You may also need information on
the GPS system installed. Check your manual
if you have questions.
Big saving possible
I didn't look at all the choices on
Navteq's site. But I did check on maps for
several popular cars. The prices were all
$200. So, that's a big savings over the
dealer's price.
If Navteq can't help you, bite the
bullet. Go to the dealer. Or, buy a portable
GPS unit.
Portable GPS units do have advantages.
For example, you can use them to geotag your
photos.
My column explains this.
Also, GPS technology is changing. It's
easier to upgrade a portable unit than a
built-in one. To learn what's in store for
GPS,
read my recent tip.
If you decide to buy a portable GPS unit,
read my buying guide. You'll also want
to learn to
protect it from thieves.
And, if you have teenagers, I have
another tip for you. It will help you
monitor your teen's driving with a GPS
unit.
Every day, Team Komando produces some of the
best content you'll find anywhere on the
Internet. Here is a sampling of what's new
on our site today!
Video of the Day:
Perhaps you've recorded a song. Maybe your
voice struggled to hit the notes. Who cares?
Today's program will correct it.
Cool Site of the Day:
We're halfway through summer vacation. I'll
bet your children are bored. Well, Waterford
Press will keep them occupied.
Digital Minute, on
your radio: If you have
a site, protect your domain registration. If
it expires, others will grab it. You'll have
to buy it back.
Free Download of the
Day: Windows' wallpaper
does grow old. So, here's a quick solution.
This site has all the wallpaper you could
want.
Tip on the site:
RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a mystery
to many people. It needn't be. It's an easy
way to stay up with sites you read.
Tomorrow's Tip, in your e-mail:
Expand Flight Simulator's view.
Kim :)
Monday, July 14, 2008
Recovering a Windows
profile
Yesterday,
my wife logged on to the computer. Her
entire profile was lost. Her photos, Word
documents and Outlook e-mail are all gone.
It's like she never existed. There are four
other accounts on our computer, which runs
XP. The other profiles are all fine. Can you
help?
It
must be worrying to turn on the computer and
find everything gone. This is why I always
stress
data backups.
In your case, though, things aren't as
bad as they appear. Your wife's account or
profile was somehow damaged. She may lose
some of her settings. However, her data
should still be there.
Before we start, let's clarify accounts
and profiles. The account is what you use to
log on to the computer. An account will have
a profile associated with it. The profile
contains a user's preferences and settings.
So, let's fix this problem! Log on to the
computer with an administrator accountother
than your wife's. Once you're logged on, you
can find your wife's data.
List of folders
Open Windows Explorer and navigate to
C:\Documents and Settings. You'll see a list
of folders that correspond to the computer
accounts.
Find your wife's account folder.
Double-click to open the folder. Among the
subfolders, her Documents folder is probably
most important. So, you'll want to copy the
entire contents of it. You can use an
external hard drive or removable media.
Now, there will also be data hidden in
other locations. For example, you'll need to
dig up her Outlook PST file. This should be
located in the Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\Outlook folder. Again, copy
the file to removable media.
After you back up the data, you can try
to recover the profile.
The first thing to try is System Restore.
This returns the system to an earlier point
in time. It only affects programs and
settingsnot user data.
Changes could be lost
There's a pretty good chance that System
Restore will recover the account. But
remember, running System Restore will affect
all accounts on the machine. Recent changes
made to other accounts could be lost.
To run System Restore, click Start>>All
Programs>>Accessories>>System Tools>>System
Restore. Click Next. Then, select a restore
point. Use the last one created before the
profile was damaged. Click Next. Click Next
again.
System Restore may take several minutes.
When it finishes, the system will restart.
Your wife should try to log on to her
account. Hopefully, her settings will all be
restored.
If it doesn't work, there are other
things to try. But first, undo the System
Restore. Open System Restore again. On the
opening screen, you should see an option to
undo the last restoration. Select it, click
Next and follow the instructions.
The next option is to create a new user
account. You can then try to copy the
profile information to it.
Create an administrator account
In an administrator account, click
Start>>Control Panel. Double-click User
Accounts and click Create A New Account.
Name the account and click Next. Make sure
the name is different from her original
account. Opt to create an administrator
account and click Create Account.
Close any open windows. Click Start>>Log
Off. Click Log Off in the dialog box that
opens.
On the Welcome Screen, select the name of
the account you just created. When you log
on, Windows will create a profile for the
account. When you get into Windows, log off
again.
Log in to Windows with the original
administrator account again. Click Start and
then right-click My Computer and select
Properties. Open the advanced tab. Click the
Settings button under User Profiles.
In the User Profiles dialog box, find the
profile from your wife's original account.
Select it and click Copy To. In the box that
opens, click Browse. Navigate to the folder
for the new account. It's located in the
C:\Documents and Settings folder.
After you select the account folder,
click OK. Click Yes to confirm you want to
copy the profile. Close the open windows and
log off the computer. Log on to the new
account. Hopefully this will recover the
profile.
For more on Windows user accounts, visit
my site:
Every day, Team Komando produces some of the
best content you'll find anywhere on the
Internet. Here is a sampling of what's new
on our site today!
Video of the Day:
See that old lady with the broken arm?
Better watch out. The situation is not as it
appears. She's one of the pranksters!
Cool Site of the Day:
One of the banes of our lives is acronyms.
They really are an issue with computers.
Check today's site; it explains them.
Digital Minute, on
your radio: You should
check your credit report once a year. But
don't forget to check your online
reputation!
Free Download of the
Day: If you run a
business, you need accounting software. Try
today's program. It rivals the big names,
and it's free.
Tip on the Site:
Holly runs her school newsletter. She wants
to switch to HTML. She needs an editing
program. No problem; there are many.
Kim :)
Friday July 11, 2008
Giving AOL the ax
I've
been using AOL for nine years. Now that it's
raising its rates, I'm going to switch to a
free account. How do I go about doing this?
Also, I would like to transfer some data out
of AOL. For example, I would like to keep my
mail and my husband's stock portfolio.
Please help!
AOL
recently announced that it would raise
monthly rates from $10 to $12. The increase
will offset the cost of technical support
via phone.
Dropping your pay account is not
difficult. Just visit the Change Plan page.
Find the Free AOL/Cancel My Bill section.
Click the Continue button.
Sign in to your account and submit your
request. AOL says it will process the
request within 72 hours. You shouldn't see a
disruption in service.
You can continue using your dialup
service until the end of your billing cycle.
User name, password unchanged
Your AOL user name and password will stay
the same.
Of course, you also need to think about
your data. It is stored in your Personal
Filing Cabinet. You should be able to access
this data if you keep the AOL software on
your computer.
You want to remove your mail and the
stock porfolio. Unfortunately, that isn't
easy to do.
You can do it manually. Forward your
e-mail to a new account. Open your bookmarks
in a new browser and save them in it.
Doesn't sound appealing, does it?
In that case, you should try
ePreserver ($25). It will convert your
data so you can use it in other programs. I
haven't used ePreserver. But it has a 30-day
money-back guarantee.
Stock portfolio
Downloading the stock portfolio is much
easier. You can convert it for use in Excel,
Quicken or MetaStock.
Go to the My Portfolios main page. Select
the portfolio to download. On the portfolio
display page, click Download.
You'll need to choose a download format.
To use the data in Excel, select
Tab-delimited ASCII text. You can also
download in comma-delimited ASCII text. This
is better suited for databases.
You can also select Quicken or MetaStock.
After you've chosen your format, click OK.
Then follow the prompts to download the file
to your computer.
After canceling your dialup service, you
can still use AOL software. But you must
connect to the Internet via another service
provider. If possible, go with broadband.
You'll really appreciate the speed.
Of course, if you live in the boondocks,
broadband may not be available. In that
case, I have
a tip that will offer you some
solutions.
Old rate is still available
AOL customers who want to stay can keep
their current rate. The change in price is
automatic. But customers can switch back to
their current plan on AOL's site.
Customers should visit its
Change Plan page. There, they can select
a Limited Support Plan.
They'll no longer have telephone support.
Instead, they'll need to use AOL's online
help.
If you get broadband, you can share your
Internet connection. Using a router and
access point, you can network your
computers. They can all access the Internet
via your modem.
If you decide to network your computers,
check these tips:
Every day, Team Komando produces some of the
best content you'll find anywhere on the
Internet. Here is a sampling of what's new
on our site today!
Video of the Day:
Subway passengers in this video are shocked.
Yes, they're seeing mirror-image humans.
Improv Everywhere strikes again!
Cool Site of the Day:
Perhaps you've spotted an item you really
want. Well, name your price. Today's site
will let you know when it's available.
Digital Minute, on
your radio: The housing
market in most cities is grinding lower.
I'll discuss sites that help you monitor
your homes value.
Free Download of the
Day: Teachers will love
this program. Moodle is a course management
tool. It can be used by one teacher, or a
university.
Tip on the Site:
Some buyers don't want Windows Vista on
their new computers. But they may not have a
choice. The answer: XP, virtually.
Monday's Tip, in your e-mail:
Recovering a Windows profile.
Kim :)
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Protect your new computer
I just bought my first computer, with Windows. The clerk told me I needed security software, too. He wanted to sell me antivirus software and other programs. All told, it was $150. I wasn't sure what to do, so I said no. Do I need these programs? If so, how much should I pay?
Unfortunately, the Internet can be a rough and tumble place. The threats there are very serious. You could end up ceding control of your machine to criminals. They could be next door, or in Eastern Europe.
The e-mail system today is drenched in spam. Most of this spam comes from computers owned by individuals, like you. Their machines have been compromised because they lacked security software.
These machines are called zombies. In addition to sending spam, they can be herded into botnets. The botnets can include hundreds or even thousands of zombies.
Botnets flood business sites with requests for service. This flood of requests overwhelms the sites' servers. Businesses pay up rather than lose access to their customers.
All of this could be avoided if people would protect their machines. So, yes, the clerk was right. You definitely need protection. But you don't have to pay for it. My Web site includes everything you need, free.
So, let's start with antivirus programs. On my site, you'll find AVG, avast! and PC Tools. They're all free. Any of them will do.
Install only one antivirus program. Multiple programs will conflict. When you install your program, set it to update automatically. Updates are essential. Malware is constantly changing.
You should also use anti-spyware programs. Spyware won't usually damage your data. But it can still be dangerous. For instance, a program could install a keylogger on your computer. These programs record every keystroke you make. They are used to steal passwords and other confidential information.
Tailor-made advertising
Most spyware and adware is used to record your interests. It does that by looking at the sites you surf. That information is used to feed ads to you. I consider that unacceptably intrusive.
You'll find a number of anti-spyware programs on my site. I like Ad-Aware, Windows Defender, Spybot Search & Destroy and SpywareBlaster.
Like antivirus software, these programs need regular updates. Where possible, make that automatic.
A firewall also is important. These cloak your machine in cyberspace, so it is invisible. There are many, many attack programs circulating there. If they can't see you, they are unlikely to cause you trouble.
You also need to block outbound programs. If a program infects your computer, it will report to home base. It could download a variety of programs, none good. A good firewall will block that outbound traffic. Only if you approve can it get through.
Deactivate Windows firewall
Windows includes a firewall which hides your computer. But it is nearly impossible to set up to block outbound transmissions. So, I would deactivate the Windows firewall, if it is running.
Instead, use a free, third-party firewall. I like ZoneAlarm. You could also try Outpost or GhostWall.
I have much more security information on my site. I've even written a book about computer security. You should make the effort to learn about security. None of this is rocket science. And it's really important.
Check my security center for more information and programs. I have a more extensive tutorial from 2005. It is still good.
Finally, you would find my security book on CD helpful. Kim Komando's Guide to Security & Privacy is $19.95 from my e-store.
Every day, Team Komando produces some of the best content you'll find anywhere on the Internet. Here is a sampling of what's new on our site today!
Video of the Day: "It's been a tough day, Tabby. I woke up twice." Could this be the conversation in today's video? See if you can tell.
Cool Site of the Day: That hairdo might look good on you. On the other hand, it might be terrible. Check today's site before deciding.
Digital Minute, on your radio: Keeping an eye on your kids is hard enough at home. But its more difficult on vacation. I have some help!
Download of the Day: If you're security-wise, you have multiple passwords. They can be hard to remember. So, try today's download.
Tip on the site: I'll bet your kids love games. There's nothing wrong with that. But watch for signs of addiction. Treatment may be needed.
Kim :)
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Converting negatives to
digital
I'm
reluctantly moving from 35mm photography
into the digital age. How do I transfer my
35mm negatives to digital files? I no longer
have access to a darkroom.
It
sounds like you're not happy about switching
to digital. Hopefully, that will change once
you start working in digital.
Digital photography requires some
compromises. But it also has plenty of
benefits. For example, taking a photograph
costs nothing. Savings quickly add up for
avid photographers.
Of course, film photography is declining.
More and more photographers will be forced
to switch.
The switch should be relatively easy. In
fact, many old SLR lenses will work on
digital bodies.
Read my tip to learn more.
It isn't so easy converting your archives
to digital. You have the right idea, though.
Don't scan your photos. It is better to
start with the negatives. You'll get much
better results. For example, the tonal range
will be better.
There are two ways to go about converting
negatives to digital. First, you could pay
someone to do it. Your local photography
store could probably handle the project.
The costs could add up quickly, depending
on how many negatives you have. You may also
be hesitant to hand over your entire
archive. That is certainly understandable.
The alternative is to buy a scanner. You
can't just stick your film in a scanner. You
need a dedicated film scanner. Or, you can
buy a regular scanner with an attachment for
film.
Lucky for you, 35mm film is a popular
format. So, you won't have difficulty
finding a compatible scanner.
You'll see a wide range of prices when
shopping. You'll find some models for about
$200. Other models exceed $2,000.
Negatives are small, and you'll want to
enlarge them. So, you need a scanner with a
high resolution. I would aim for 2,600 dpi
(dots per inch) or higher.
Make sure that this is optical
resolution. The scanner will record exactly
what is in the negative.
Some scanners offer interpolated or
digital resolution. Disregard this; it is
digital trickery. The scanner will look at
surrounding pixels. It uses these to
calculate the colors for missing pixels.
You should also pay attention to color
depth. True color is 24-bit color depth. So,
don't go any lower than this. You'll see
scanners with higher color depths. But you
may not notice a difference.
Most, if not all, scanners will scan in
JPEG format. This is a compressed format. I
would avoid the JPEG format. This is
especially true if you plan on doing heavy
editing. To learn why,
read my tip.
I recommend purchasing a scanner that
scans in RAW format. This gives you greater
control over your images than other photo
formats. It is almost like working in a
darkroomminus the hazardous chemicals.
You'll want to
read my tip that explains all the
benefits of the RAW format. It was written
with cameras in mind. However, most of it
also applies to scanners.
You'll need special software like
Lightroom or Aperture to work with RAW
images. New versions of Photoshop can handle
RAW images. However, its RAW developing
tools are limited.
You should keep workflow in mind when
choosing a scanner. A scanner with a
dedicated slot may be the fastest way to
scan negatives. You don't need to mess
around fitting negatives in a special
holder. Many scanners will also accept
slides.
If you haven't purchased a digital camera
yet, check out my buying guides:
Every day, Team Komando produces some of the
best content you'll find anywhere on the
Internet. Here is a sampling of what's new
on our site today!
Video of the Day:
First dances sure are changing. Remember the
Brubakers? Now we have Brian and Katie, and
the Evolution of Dance.
Cool Site of the Day:
Editing your photos can be rewarding. But
those programs can be hard. Not Picreflect.
It gives you an image in reflection.
Digital Minute, on
your radio: Are you
still "watching television?" If so, it's
time to update your lingo. Tune in to find
out why.
Download of the Day:
You know how good Google's programs are.
Well, one of my favorites is Picasa. It's a
great photo organizer.
Tip on the Site:
There are many Web hosts around. Perhaps
you're in the market for one. Well, consider
more than bandwidth and storage.
Tomorrow's Tip, in your e-mail:
Building a commercial Web site.
Kim :)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Building a commercial Web site
I have an idea for a commercial Web site. I want to get things right. So I plan on hiring a professional to create it. However, I'm not sure how to get started. Can you give me some pointers for working with Web developers?
Creating a commercial Web site is a lot of work. You have the right idea by hiring a professional.
Unfortunately, finding a truly competent professional is difficult. Check references very closely. Too many people talk a good game, but cannot deliver. You'll have to put some work into finding good people. Picking somebody out of the Yellow Pages is chancy.
You also need to develop the Web site's plan. Don't depend on an outsider to do it. Developers don't know your business. They don't know your customers, and they don't know your preferences.
You may find this tedious work. But I guarantee you this: If you leave the details to the developer, you will be unhappy.
Start by listing the features you want. You also need a thorough idea of how the features will work.
If there are sites that are similar to your idea, study them. See what you like, and what you don't.
Don't forget to examine all the details. Look at everything from navigation menus to forms. Will you be sending out any mailings? If so, take that into consideration, too.
Of course, I'm not suggesting you copy your competitors. For success, you will need to differentiate your site from theirs.
Next, think about how you want the site to look. Your home page will create visitors' first impressions. What impresses you about other sites? What leaves you cold? The design should be snazzy, but not overwhelming.
Building a Web site isn't a mystery! Click here to learn more!
Every day, Team Komando produces some of the best content you'll find anywhere on the Internet. Here is a sampling of what's new on our site today!
Video of the Day: Been in an airliner lately, shoehorned in like a can of tuna? Then you'll like these two videos. Real life is only slightly worse!
Cool Site of the Day: Perhaps you'd like an e-mail that self-destructs. That's really hard to do. But this site can crumple e-mail after it's read.
Digital Minute, on your radio: Technology is ubiquitous today. So, the need for IT professionals is growing. Can colleges meet the demand?
Download of the Day: Imagine a land where people speak 10 different languages. Instant messaging is that land. But today's download helps.
Tip on the site: Let's say you have three computers on a network. You want to view your bookmarks from each. That sounds hard, but it isn't.
Tomorrow's Tip, in your e-mail: Tracking online bill payments.
Kim :)
