Burn digital pics to CD at park?

[MHopkins2]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
So, new laptop owner, what did you get? Details, details.

I got an HP ze4560 - DVD/CDRW, wireless card, 40gig hard drive, 256RAM, AMD 2500 processor. I did the same thing I did with my digital camera - went to Circuit City and said, "Here's what I want to do with it - tell me what to buy." They work on commission but are very good about recommending what you actually need and not the most expensive option. Compared to my 4+ years old desktop, this baby moves at lightning speed! Got my DSL configured last night and everything - thankfully, unlike my crusty desktop, it didn't require taking the whole thing apart to install a new card.

Side note - the first one I brought home was a dud. No monitor display at all, and some weirdness with the power source. I called CC all ready to pitch a total fit, and the manager's response was, "I'm sorry, that really sucks. Bring it back and I'll have the replacement waiting for you." You've gotta love that hassle-free exchange procedure!

I think I'm going to take it with me to Florida, and bring it on the plane. Everyone is right - I would be VERY torqued if it "mysteriously disappeared" from my luggage. Glad to hear it won't be an issue at security.

18 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ktglads]

Check the prices on the 256 cards. I got mine for about $20 more than a 128 card. For double the space, it is totally worth it. I also bought it from Amazon, where I found the cheapest price on my type of cards.

One thing you have to remember is extra batteries! Even if you have rechargable ones, remember to carry at least one spare set with you to the parks. You don't want to get to the end of the day and have no camera to take pictures with because your battery is dead or have to pay a lot of money to buy a replacement in the parks.

 

[MHopkins2]

Originally posted by ktglads
One thing you have to remember is extra batteries! Even if you have rechargable ones, remember to carry at least one spare set with you to the parks. You don't want to get to the end of the day and have no camera to take pictures with because your battery is dead or have to pay a lot of money to buy a replacement in the parks.

Definitely in the plan! And the charger is on my packing list.

 

[capnho]

Originally posted by MHopkins2
Definitely in the plan! And the charger is on my packing list.

Does anyone find you have to pack way too many chargers these days? On my trip last month I packed chargers for my iBook laptop, digital camera, walkie-talkies and cell phone. I was able to get away without the charger for my iPod, but I still had to tote along a Firewire cable to charge it through the iBook.

Anyone else think this is getting a little out of hand?

 

[MHopkins2]

Originally posted by capnho
Does anyone find you have to pack way too many chargers these days? On my trip last month I packed chargers for my iBook laptop, digital camera, walkie-talkies and cell phone. I was able to get away without the charger for my iPod, but I still had to tote along a Firewire cable to charge it through the iBook.

Anyone else think this is getting a little out of hand?

LOL - yes! In fact, I was just thinking I was going to need a separate suitcase for all the electronics. (Particularly after I shell out for the AC adaptor for my camera - I'm afraid downloading a whole day's worth of pictures will take all darn night, and the batteries won't hold up.)

 

[ktglads]

I thought it was just me with the carryon full of electronics and cords! Even on a short trip with no laptop, I had my camera dock, my battery charger, and my cellphone plugged in. Add in the laptop and those cords, headphones, extra jacks to turn the port for the laptop so that 2 people can listen on headphones on the plane, my carryon is almost as heavy as my checked bags!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by MHopkins2
I got an HP ze4560 - DVD/CDRW, wireless card, 40gig hard drive, 256RAM, AMD 2500 processor. I did the same thing I did with my digital camera - went to Circuit City and said, "Here's what I want to do with it - tell me what to buy." They work on commission but are very good about recommending what you actually need and not the most expensive option. Compared to my 4+ years old desktop, this baby moves at lightning speed! Got my DSL configured last night and everything - thankfully, unlike my crusty desktop, it didn't require taking the whole thing apart to install a new card.

Side note - the first one I brought home was a dud. No monitor display at all, and some weirdness with the power source. I called CC all ready to pitch a total fit, and the manager's response was, "I'm sorry, that really sucks. Bring it back and I'll have the replacement waiting for you." You've gotta love that hassle-free exchange procedure!

I think I'm going to take it with me to Florida, and bring it on the plane. Everyone is right - I would be VERY torqued if it "mysteriously disappeared" from my luggage. Glad to hear it won't be an issue at security.

18 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, we are going to be there at the same time!!!!!

BTW, you will need a cable to transfer your pictures from the memory stick to the computer. I buy all my memory media and accessories from this place, they are great. http://www.sterlingtek.com/sonmemstic.html

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by capnho
Does anyone find you have to pack way too many chargers these days? On my trip last month I packed chargers for my iBook laptop, digital camera, walkie-talkies and cell phone. I was able to get away without the charger for my iPod, but I still had to tote along a Firewire cable to charge it through the iBook.

Anyone else think this is getting a little out of hand?

LOL, does seem like we carry a lot too. Cell phone, batteries (for both cameras), the laptop plugs into the wall, but, then we have the cable thingie to transfer the pictures from the memory card to the computer.
I don't go online on vacation. So, I eliminate one thing anyway.

 

[MHopkins2]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
Hey, we are going to be there at the same time!!!!!

Holy potatoes! I might run into the (In)Famous Gail? Woo!

[Er, that was supposed to sound sincere and not sarcastic / snotty. Hope I succeeded!!]

 

[MHopkins2]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
BTW, you will need a cable to transfer your pictures from the memory stick to the computer. I buy all my memory media and accessories from this place, they are great. http://www.sterlingtek.com/sonmemstic.html

The USB cable came with the camera. (Nice of them to include stuff you need for once, vs. making you shell out more bucks later!)

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by MHopkins2
Holy potatoes! I might run into the (In)Famous Gail? Woo!

[Er, that was supposed to sound sincere and not sarcastic / snotty. Hope I succeeded!!]

LOL, you made me chuckle, mainly cause I was thinking the same as you!!!! I might run into the (in)Famous MHopkins2. You have seen my picture, see if you can find me. Hide and Seek, you are it!!! LOL

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by MHopkins2
The USB cable came with the camera. (Nice of them to include stuff you need for once, vs. making you shell out more bucks later!)

The USB cable is a nice feature, BUT, it wear the batteries down on the camera. This cable allows you to plug into the USB port and reads the media without using the camera.

 

[MHopkins2]

Ooooo - that does sound good! Is it faster than the (ridiculously slow IMO) USB cable too?

Re picture - is this one of those times when I need to turn on sigs to know what someone is talking about?

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by MHopkins2
Ooooo - that does sound good! Is it faster than the (ridiculously slow IMO) USB cable too?

Re picture - is this one of those times when I need to turn on sigs to know what someone is talking about?

Yes, it is somewhat faster, the transfer rate is directly linked to the speed of your computer and the size of the image. The slower the computer and the bigger the image, the slower the transfer.

Nope, I removed my photo from my sig. But, I have posted a link to it in "other" places.

 

[NotUrsula]

I'm in a panic over my upcoming trip overseas to visit family. We are flying BA over the water for the first time, and the carryon limit is *one* 13 lb. bag. Because they all want to see lots of photos, the whole electronics array has got to go along. So, I've got all the chargers, connectors, converters, *and* plug adapters to schlep, along with the camera and the laptop, plus the PDA.

I'll be lucky if I can squeeze my Rx meds & a toothbrush into my bag after all that! If they lose the luggage we will be totally screwed for clothing, other than a change of underwear.

 

[MHopkins2]

NotUrsula - you said "we" - does the other person have extra room in his/her carryon?

 

[NotUrsula]

Yes, there will be 3 of us, but you have to remember that the effective weight limit is closer to 9 lbs., esp. with rolling carryons; the weight of the bag itself counts, too. DS will need some entertainment on the flight, so there are toys and books that have to come. The last carryon will have some clothing in it, but the laptop weighs nearly 5 lbs, so we won't be able to put that much in with it, especially as the power converters are very heavy. Winter where we are going is cold, so appropriate clothing will be too bulky to easily fit within the size limits, even w/ compression bags.

Unlike US carriers, they don't give that "personal item" allowance, so my handbag (which normally weighs nearly 5 lbs. by itself, especially with 3 sets of coinage in it) has to fit inside a carryon. We also carry a few water bottles and snacks, because the FA's are never around to give you enough water on international flights, and you never know when you'll get stuck behind the passport control barrier with a hungry child. Then there's the duty-free to consider; I get lots of requests to bring liquor.

I am actually saving some weight with my PDA, as it has an MP3 player which will eliminate the CD's and player, and it will also carry all the addresses and directions, and a lot of maps. I even put games on it so that DS can use it as entertainment on the plane.

BTW, about the digital photos, I wanted to add that it is really not a good idea to only carry one media card; because if it goes bad your camera won't work. I use pricegrabber.com to find the best price on media, as purchasing it online is almost always cheaper than at an actual store.

 

[ktglads]

If you know that you will not be needing some of those converters between your home and your hotel, you can pack some in your checked luggage to save yourself some space. Weight limits are usually higher on international flights than on US domestic flights, so that may give you some leeway and some more space for clothes. Do you know if they actually weigh your carryon bags? I have never had mine weighed, but I have only done one international flight and I was allowed 2 pieces of carryon luggage for South African Air.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yes, BA does weigh carryon bags. They are very picky about it and IME, if it is overweight you WILL have to take something out; no paying an overweight charge for carryons. I was behind a man at Heathrow once whose briefcase was badly overweight, and they said he would have to buy another seat on the plane before they would let him carry it on. (He did, so whatever it was must have been REALLY valuable.) Also, the connecting flight after that is on Ryanair, who also weigh, and are even tighter about enforcement, if that's possible.

I hesitate to put the laptop's converter (the only one that is really heavy) in checked luggage because US computer cables are very difficult to replace in Europe. I don't trust plug-in converters with computers. Actually, I don't really trust them with anything when the voltage is increasing, but I won't risk it with a computer.