September 17, 2006 - 11 Night Southern Caribbean Part 2

[winotracy]

I'm not your Bob?

You're our Bob

 

[captaincrash]

Does anyone know if there is a way to disable viewing images? I seem to have a big problem at work with some of the animated gifs due to the other things running on my computer. Doubt I'll get the office to upgrade my machine I want to see the content, but just can't handle it with all the graphics.

The animated GIFs should not slow down your viewing a bit. The frames for MOST of the gifs are not huge in content and a lot more depends on 1) the speed of your connection; 2) the time of day with usage levels (of the entire network (local and regional)as well as the DIS network; 3) and the settings on your machine. In all likelihood IF your machine (or anyone elses') were exactly on the cusp of outer performance limit AND the loading of a few DOZEN frames for a LARGE GIF were slowing it down... that potential for THAT is extremely unlikely. It is far more likely related to the former infuences.

Of course... my explanation is more pedestrian then scientist oriented. So don't believe me... read this article on understanding internet transmission speeds by ADELPHIA/VERIZON and IBM:

http://www.helpwithpcs.com/internet/internet-connections.htm

http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/web/library/wa-httpcomp/

The Adelphia article summs it very simplisticly. And it cites how even a dial up connection has a maximum speed of 56K (rarely seen in my experience) and is cited as loading the average page (50KB) at 56K in only 7 seconds. By comparison ADSL or DSL (over a telephone line) is fa faster at REAL speeds of 256K/512K/1MB. AND a cable modem can be FAR FASTER... which is what I have. SO where a max performance dial up can take 7 seconds to load a 50K page, a DSL at 256K would take 1.56 seconds to load the same page. And 0.78 seconds at 512.. or about 1/3 a second to load at 1MB. The bottlenecks do onot occur as often at YOUR computer as opposed to the heavily bombarded servers dishing out the data. This make sense... if not then the IBM article is saying this in more words (in general).

Here's a partial unedited quotation from the article for those who don't want to click the link:

Speed Web delivery with HTTP compression
A look at the page-delivery effects of data compression in HTTP 1.1


Level: Intermediate

Radhakrishnan Srinivasan (radhakr@onebox.com), Senior Architect, eBusiness, TATA Consultancy


22 Jul 2003

HTTP compression, a recommendation of the HTTP 1.1 protocol specification for improved page download time, requires a compression feature implemented at the Web server and a decompression feature implemented at the browser. While popular browsers were able to receive the compressed data as early as three years ago, Web servers were not ready to deliver compressed content. The situation is changing, though, as server compression modules are introduced. Dr. S. Radhakrishnan dissects Web compression, examines the benefits of HTTP compression, offers several compression tools, and highlights the effectiveness of the technology in a case study.
More dW content related to: data speed delivers


Many Internet applications deliver data and content in the form of dynamically generated HTML; the HTML dynamic content is generated by a Web or application server using such technologies as Java Servlet, JavaServer Pages, Personal Home Pages (PHP), Perl scripts, or Active Server Pages (ASP). The speed with which these Web pages are available to the client browser on request mainly depends on two things:

The Web or application server's ability to generate the content. This is related to the general performance characteristics of the application and the servers.
The network bandwidth.

The performance of the Web application is determined by good design, tuning the application for performance, and if needed, by providing more hardware power for the servers. The network bandwidth available to the user, directly related to the page-download time, is normally taken for granted. But for the user, it is the speed of Web page delivery that indicates the performance level, not how fast the application is executed on the server.

Therefore, to ensure a good user experience, the performance of the network and its bandwidth is considered an important part of the overall performance of the application. This becomes even more important when network speed is low, network traffic is high, or the size of the Web pages is large.
THE article continues... click the link to see the whole thing.

Now - as I posted earlier - if I had the abiliity to upload a MPEG MOVE at 30 or 15 FPS (FRAMES PER SECOND) and they were relataively large at 640x480 then the data stream could truly tax the bandwidth. Of course... the average GIF has anywhere from UNDER a dozen frames up to perhaps a hundred plus frames for a really elegant long running one. Plus, the average GIF animation is a fraction of VGA resolution. SO a fraction of the frames at a fraction of the size makes for an image that loads on the slowest NON-DIAL-UP connection

Comparatively speaking... an MPEG movie one minute long at 15 FPS has 900 frames a minute. VGA frames can have a variable size based on the compression. SO - a 4 minute movie at VGA size and only 15 FPS would have 3,600 HUGE frames. I think you'll be able to view those like most anyone else - depending on the speed of your connection and network. I think you get the idea.

Oh yeah - it may be possible your hard drive has recently become overloaded. That might slow you system considerably. I typically maintain 1/3rd of capacity unallocated. At 75% loading I begin to notice a sharp decline in performance. Now THAT is localized to a machine problem with being over burdoned.



ANd if I am mistaken (very likely - given my pedestrian understanding) then please forgive me.

 

[BobandLee]

You're our Bob

 

[Hygiene99]

The animated GIFs should not slow down your viewing a bit. The frames for MOST of the gifs are not huge in content and a lot more depends on 1) the speed of your connection; 2) the time of day with usage levels (of the entire network (local and regional)as well as the DIS network; 3) and the settings on your machine. In all likelihood IF your machine (or anyone elses') were exactly on the cusp of outer performance limit AND the loading of a few DOZEN frames for a LARGE GIF were slowing it down... that potential for THAT is extremely unlikely. It is far more likely related to the former infuences.

Of course... my explanation is more pedestrian then scientist oriented. So don't believe me... read this article on understanding internet transmission speeds by ADELPHIA/VERIZON and IBM:

http://www.helpwithpcs.com/internet/internet-connections.htm

http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/web/library/wa-httpcomp/

The Adelphia article summs it very simplisticly. And it cites how even a dial up connection has a maximum speed of 56K (rarely seen in my experience) and is cited as loading the average page (50KB) at 56K in only 7 seconds. By comparison ADSL or DSL (over a telephone line) is fa faster at REAL speeds of 256K/512K/1MB. AND a cable modem can be FAR FASTER... which is what I have. SO where a max performance dial up can take 7 seconds to load a 50K page, a DSL at 256K would take 1.56 seconds to load the same page. And 0.78 seconds at 512.. or about 1/3 a second to load at 1MB. The bottlenecks do onot occur as often at YOUR computer as opposed to the heavily bombarded servers dishing out the data. This make sense... if not then the IBM article is saying this in more words (in general).

Here's a partial unedited quotation from the article for those who don't want to click the link:





Now - as I posted earlier - if I had the abiliity to upload a MPEG MOVE at 30 or 15 FPS (FRAMES PER SECOND) and they were relataively large at 640x480 then the data stream could truly tax the bandwidth. Of course... the average GIF has anywhere from UNDER a dozen frames up to perhaps a hundred plus frames for a really elegant long running one. Plus, the average GIF animation is a fraction of VGA resolution. SO a fraction of the frames at a fraction of the size makes for an image that loads on the slowest NON-DIAL-UP connection

Comparatively speaking... an MPEG movie one minute long at 15 FPS has 900 frames a minute. VGA frames can have a variable size based on the compression. SO - a 4 minute movie at VGA size and only 15 FPS would have 3,600 HUGE frames. I think you'll be able to view those like most anyone else - depending on the speed of your connection and network. I think you get the idea.

Oh yeah - it may be possible your hard drive has recently become overloaded. That might slow you system considerably. I typically maintain 1/3rd of capacity unallocated. At 75% loading I begin to notice a sharp decline in performance. Now THAT is localized to a machine problem with being over burdoned.



ANd if I am mistaken (very likely - given my pedestrian understanding) then please forgive me.

 

[BobandLee]

You're our Bob

can't I be Cheryl's too?

 

[winotracy]

can't I be Cheryl's too?

Yes you may.

 

[BobandLee]

 

[eeyorelvr10]

Hey everybody - need some help - it seems we'll be leaving for WDW on Wed 9/13. Don't know where to stay. Have a Sat confirmation at Animal Kingdom lodge but not sure where else to stay before and after. We have stayed at Disney Institute/Saratoga Springs now, Polynesian Lodge, Boardwalk , Wilderness Lodge, and off site. Any recommendations from any of my Dis family out there? I'm perfectly happy staying off site but DH said that since this is once in a lifetime (again! - little does he know ) at least for the adults only - we can splurge a little. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated - thanks!

 

[drumbumswife]

I guess it would depend on where you want to be/ages of your party. We really like staying at the Dolphin/Swan but if you have $ to spend the Beach&Yacht Club are right next door.
We like it there because you can walk to Epcot, MGM, and the Boardwalk, rent water craft, walk to mini golf, etc. The Food&Wine Fest will start 9/29 at Epcot!

ETA - I see just adult, is it you and dh? I would then suggest the Grand Floridian!

 

[captaincrash]

I need some advise please. My daughter recently bought herself a digital camera and I took mine (HP 5.0 MP) with me. My camera started making weird noises everytime I turned it on and the lens extended. Got home and my daughter immediately downloaded all our pictures on her PC. I went to my nephew's the other night to show him the pic and my SD card was blank. Now I'm scared to use my camera. I'm debating whether to buy a new digital camera for myself and whether to buy a video/camcorder thingy. I do have a Sony digital Hi-8 which is much larger than what is out there today and I can't find the battery charger.

So any advise (pros and cons) to digital vs. video and suggestions of what cameras are good, without costing a ton, would be greatly greatly appreciated.

Thanks alot.

Bev

Don't be scared to use your HP. Yes, it might be developing some physical problems because of the noise on start up and lens deployment but electronically it is probably sound. The erased SD card was probably wiped after down loading. On some OS there is an antomatic wipe option that is the DEFAULT after it downloads. AND, of course... your nephew did down load the images, right? So you do have photos.

NOise on start up might mean something or nothing affecting performance. Obviously something has changed. We just don't know how it is going to manifest against performance and normal function. I say you should TEST it out before you buy anything. If it shoots - zooms - focuses - and exposes properly - and holds a charge for a normal amount of time then you're OK - except for the grinding noise it begun to make. If it is failing - see if you can LIVE with whatever function is failing. If it is grinding on deployment it might be the zoom assembly. It might have been bumped or damaged. This could mean it will not zoom or it will not FOCUS (that would be fatal). Loss of zooming is tolerable. EXPOSURE failure is unlikely. Power failure would be linked to water damage or charging abuse or neglect.

Either way - you might want a new digi-cam anyway. But if the HP is working then a 2nd digicam is a waste of $. ALTERNATIVELY - if you want "insurance" then go to costco and buy a relatively inexpensive digicam and bring it along fully packed in original box. If the HP fails then break open the cheap replacement. I was just at Costco today and at a glance there were a couple under $200 I think. Certainly several under $300. AND if you keep your receipt then Costco will take almost anything that has not been abused back - and refund your cash no QUESTIONS ASKED - if in tolerable condition! I returned a beat up portable DVD player with LCD screen that was failing - and a 14 month old 60" HDTV that had been defective for 9 months! I hesitated to return it as I thought I had simply been burned with a leamon HDTV. Not the case and they took it back and gave me a full refund with the receipt! Costco is awesome on return customer service!

As for the video cameras. I have 2 ... and the best is a JVC ... it's the size of a paperback book medium thick - in it's time it was a TINY SEXY Hi-band model - today it is medium sized and obviously not a HDTV one. It can fit in my pants pocket though. AND... Last I recall there were only 3 or 4 models of consumer HDTV Camcorders on the market. SO... I have shot tons of tape and never ONCE have I gone back to look at any of the tape footage! Not ONCE!!!! While some people download movies to their computers and edit together beautiful presentations ... and view them. I am a digital camera enthusiast. So my opinions are obviously biased.

I think you can answer this question for yourself. DO you use movies? DO you view and share them? What about digital photos? Do you email albums to family and friends? DO you print anything? DO you enjoy looking at that rotating screen saver on your computer of all your cherished photos??? IE.. shoot what you use. ANd if you're technically agile - and already edit movies on the computer or would like to... then you'll need a good camera and very powerful AV oriented computer. IE... powerful video card, burner and well designed bandwidth and matched processor. PLUS sftware and probably classes to learn hoe to use it all!

Your final question - ".....suggestions of what cameras are good, without costing a ton..." is a loaded question. I think user skill and at least basic training on your digicam to reasonably utilize it's useful power is essential. I think ANY digicam you buy will not see it's full reasonable potential exploited. I can freely admit I do not fully exploit the potential of my current equipment - and it carried an original street price of about $3,500+. I shoot with a Canon 10D DSLR, a 70-300 Image stabilized zoom; a 28-135 Image stabilized zoom; a 20-35 f3.5 zoom; an old Canon 420EX flash head - and a hald dozen ni-cad sets/packs. Plus my major secondary acessories include an original $500 1gig IBM microdrive which is now worh maybe $35.... and an Epson P-1000 viewer/mass storage device. That's not counting the 57" Epson Multimedia HDTV I bought! It has an intergrated Dye-sublimation printer and CD-RW drive. It was conisded the worlds 1st multimedia convergence HDTV. I had to have one and it is "breezy cool" with an easy "Wow" influence with my photographer pals. And a decent HDTV too.

Anyway... if I were to recommend any digicams... I might begin at the TOP with a Canon 400XTi at $800 MSRP but likely to be $700 on the street. This was just introduced Aug 24th so it is not available in the stores in most cases. If you can GET one - it is scary powerful for the money - and a raging bargain for what it foes. I would buy it without a kit lense and buy a Sigma 18-125nat an average price of $245. You should get these two for just under $1000. Swap for a Canon 28-135 Image stabilized lense and the cost is just under $500 for the lense. ANd remeber - you'll need protective lense filter(s), spare batteries, memory if you don't have enough, a nice fitted camera bag and possibly a flash gun/head and tripod.... etc., etc., etc.. I recommend Canon DSLRs because Canon market share alone is some 60% of the global market which is more then all competitors COMBINED! They make the best bodies, sensors, and glass.

FOr the medium end mid sized digicam that compromises between a tiny pocket camera and the DSLR I would suggest a Canon S3. It is about $370 at COstco.com and boasts an OPTICAL IMAGE STABILIZED 12x zoom lens. It shoots 6 MP I think and has a small 2" LCD screen that flips out and rotates like most camcorders. AGAINST it are the bulk and otherwise medium power limits. Clearly it is more powerful in producing clean images in lower light and under tougher conditions with the 12x image stabilized zoom lens.

And for a tiny pocket digicam I would encourage you to go with the Canon SD700. It has image stabilization but only a 4x optical zoom and lower maximum power with modest ISO sensitivity limiits. It does do something no other Canon digicam can do - and that is it is smaller then you husbands' wallet physically and can be slipped into a pocket and feel like you're not carrying ANYTHING!

I hope this helps. More specific questions - please PM me or post here if you want a public reply. I am also available to chat onthe phone if that helps... PM me!

 

[captaincrash]

Well now...


what a coincidence....

 

[captaincrash]

Is no one looking?

 

[captaincrash]

Did I get it?​

Hello folks!

 

[sandym]

Hey everybody - need some help - it seems we'll be leaving for WDW on Wed 9/13. Don't know where to stay. Have a Sat confirmation at Animal Kingdom lodge but not sure where else to stay before and after. We have stayed at Disney Institute/Saratoga Springs now, Polynesian Lodge, Boardwalk , Wilderness Lodge, and off site. Any recommendations from any of my Dis family out there? I'm perfectly happy staying off site but DH said that since this is once in a lifetime (again! - little does he know ) at least for the adults only - we can splurge a little. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated - thanks!

I vote for the Yacht Club. I love it there. I will be staying at the POP Century tomorrow, Beach Club Thursday and Friday, and POFQ on Saturday. Then home to pack. We are staying at AKL on Saturday 9/16. Have a great time wherever you choose.

 

[PrettyInTink]

Hey Ya'll! We are back out on the road currently out in the Podunks of Alabama. I can't keep internet service going to well out here.
I did remember our Birth Certificates, Thanks for the reminder!
Captain Crash- You lucked out on the passport thing. I would've been freaking out.

We just left the house a couple of hours ago and as Kev was locking up the house and arming the alarm I was in the truck waiting for him and decided to stick my hand in my shower bag to make sure I remembered my shampoo. BIG MISTAKE! I cut myself on the middle finger or my right hand (on my razor that fell out of the case). I'm talking all the way tho the white meat people! With all the blood you would've thought I had been shot. To make matters worse, I'm a big baby with no tolerance for pain of any kind (which is why I will NEVER experience childbirth) and I also pass out when I get shots. Seeing my own blood has the same effect. But I hung in there this time! I did my deep breathing thing and looked away as Kevin doctored me up with peroxide. It hurts really really bad and I can barely type But atleast I didn't have my usual panic attack. My mom is a nurse and when I called her to tell her she laughed at me! She never even flinches at the sight of blood. She reminded me of the time I went to have blood drawn and the lab I was at called her at work to tell her I had passed out! She actually had to come get me! Maybe I need therapy....
Bob-I like that song. I definitely "ain't as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was" I passed the "I love this Bar and Grill" at the brickyard in OKCity the other day. I want to go there.

 

[captaincrash]

Bev you probably need a new camera. The video camera can not give you the quality of photos that you are used to. The blank SD card could be from where your daughter erased it after downloading the pictures. My .02 cents

Papa...

On the cruise you're gonna HAVE to sit me down and explain to me how you come up with these 3 sentence responses - compared to my 3 volume replies!

 

[captaincrash]

Hey Ya'll! We are back out on the road currently out in the Podunks of Alabama. I can't keep internet service going to well out here.
I did remember our Birth Certificates, Thanks for the reminder!
Captain Crash- You lucked out on the passport thing. I would've been freaking out.

Who said I never freaked out?!?!?!

 

[gouodux]

We LOVE the Beach Club! Can't beat the pool there.

 

[Scott H]

Animal Kingdom Lodge is a great place, if you are already staying there, I would just try to extend my stay, then you will not have to move.
Lynn

 

[eeyorelvr10]

Well...

I know of at least one cruising DIS family that drove past us to get at the local "Premium" outlet mall in Camarillo. We just stayed close to home and sort of vegged out! It's nice to do that every now and then, ya kno!

Captn Crash - would that be me?

Not fair as I didn't really get a whole day of shopping! Am actually considering going to Lake Elsinore on Friday for some last minute gifts - still hunting down my dis gift. And nope - haven't even entertained the idea of packing yet as I still haven't unpacked my shopping bags. GOSH -- I'm so behind! What's a gal to do? Hey - think I can pay someone to pack my bags?