Dennis Peek

<p>Check http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/jsp/ProductCategory.do?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=-16223</p>

<p>the V500, V600, V700, and V750 scanners are all on the Epson store website.</p>

<p>It's not just NX but the plug-ins used in Apple's Aperture and Adobe's Photoshop and Lightroom. As Google tries to squeeze others for market share or profits or sector dominance, the plug-ins for these other software items may suffer. We saw what happened after MicroSoft acquired digital asset management software iView Multimedia - it was bled to death and killed. As a Mac user, we were cut out of the picture quickly. And Nik software is so easy to use.</p>

<p>I find it the other way around. I have found Apple to be timely in releasing updates. Apple will release an update to the system and Nikon and Adobe software is weeks or months later. Nikon is especially slow. </p>

<p>A lesson I learned buying high-end Dell laptops like the M4500 series: These machines are the CAD and computer heavyweights of the Dell portables. In specs, they are almost identical to the MacBook Pro 15.4". In cost, the Dells run about $300 more. For that, you can buy copies of Parallels and Windows 7 and have a powerful Windows machine (64-bit) on your Mac if needed or desired.</p>

<p>Most people do not compare machines of like ability when they criticize Apple computers. If you are comparison shopping hardware, remember to look at equivalent specs. Dell and others make very inexpensive machines for a market sector that Apple does not pursue. It is like comparing a Yugo to a Camry. Monitors as well. Check the specs and reviews.</p>

<p>Service and support are also critical. Just look at Consumer Reports on Apple and the PC manufacturers. I concur with CR - based on my experience, Apple is excellent, Dell and HP poor. The only exception to Dell is good support on there enterprise servers.</p>

<p>My 2 cents .....</p>

<p>MetaData shows the info.</p>

<p>Snapseed is a NIK software app the let's you edit RAW images (at least NEF).</p>

<p>As far as performance, check out CNETs review of the newest iMac.</p>

<p>http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/apple-imac-27-inch/4505-3118_7-34662591.html</p>

<p>Bottom line - 3.1 GHz i7 quad-core processor, 27-inch screen, AMD Radeon HD 6970M graphics processor with 1GB of GDDR5 memory. It can be configured to a 3.4 i7 and upped to 2 GB video RAM. 4GB standard RAM, can be upped to 8 or 16 GB. These specs surpass what I have been buying for CAD workstations to also do 3D graphics and at 2/3 the price. Worth a look.</p>

<p>Regardless of what you end up with, tech support and service is important. I have been down the road of local shop custom-built PC machines in business and shy far away from them. Home-built or custom machines are great - if you have the skill and patience to do your own troubleshooting and tech support. If your livelihood depends on your computer, you need a place to get upper level tech support. Home and custom built are great for the hobbiest but are a high risk in a functional business.</p>

<p>To correct one poster, Macs have NOT been getting viruses. I have used macs since '84 and have not seen a virus on one since going to the OS X platform. There are some MALWARE or TROJAN installs out there but they require you to use an Administrator level password to install the software. So user actions cause the problem.<br>

<br /> I have used both MacBook Pros and iMacs for photog work using OS X. I also run WIN 7 64-bit under parallels on a MacBook Pro for 3 programs that are Windows only. Highly recommend the Mac OS X for photography work. I use Nikons (D200, D300) and prefer Aperture for image work over Lightroom. Used to use Photoshop but switched several years ago. Aperture and the Nikon software (Capture NX) are good and well supported. My wife uses a 4-year old iMac and loves it. The Apple machines can easily handle 8 GB RAM which is usually more than adequate for photographic work.<br>

<br /> My experience on reliability (personal and company) has been good for Apple products. I recommend the extended warranty (3 years of coverage). AppleCare service is outstanding when you do have a problem. In a similar vein, I have about 45 Dells (servers, laptops, workstations) in business. Reliability is mediocre at best; customer service and support are atrocious. If you do use Windows, suggest WIn 7 64-bit professional - more stable and reliable than any previous Windows versions. Much better than XP. But still not in the user friendly league of OS X.<br>

<br /> Look first at what software you need. Then pick your platform. I have found everything I need on Macs (Aperture, Capture NX, Graphic Converter, and more). And, a major advantage, is that the Apple stuff works. The devices (Mac, iPhone, iPad) sync beautifully - they play well together - calendars, contacts, applications, etc.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I use the Dawn di-GPS Pro with my D200 and D300s. Works great.<br>

http://www.dawntech.hk/di-GPS/pro_1.htm<br>

They have a model that supports the D90 http://www.dawntech.hk/di-GPS/purchase_USD.htm that runs about 118USD plus shipping.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Under preferences, General. Where it says "Connecting camera opens:" pop up menu and select</p>

<p>I have been very happy with my di-GPS Pro L (w/ built-in data logger) on my D200 and D300s. I design military training ranges and have to do preliminary investigations and layouts prior to performing actual surveys (LIDAR and ground). I also have to photograph existing facilities prior to modification. GPS on the camera allows me to accurately position my photo location when I import the photos into Aperture on a MacBook Pro. Using the "Places" feature in Aperture and selecting "Satellite" image puts a pin right on the photo. I find this highlly accurate for my needs - within 20-30 feet at worse case.<br /> If you have an iPhone, it also records the location for use in Aperture or in iPhoto. The downside is that I only have lat and long, no azimuth. I am trying out a new iPhone App called "Tactical NAV" that can take a photo and provide lat, long, azimuth, and altitude. It is on the iTunes App store. I find that lat, long and azimuth are accurate but altitude is only approximate.<br /> I have gotten so used to the GPS as used in Aperture that I leave the di-GPS Pro L on my camera all the time.</p>

<p>Old saying - you can never have enough hard drive storage. As you upgrade cameras to higher resolution models, the digital image files get significantly larger. 1TB drives have been common for quite a while. 2TB drives are becoming more common and 3TB drives are already on the market. You can buy multiple external self contained drives or buy a drive housing that accepts removable trays (search for SansDigital or IcyDock or G-Technologies - there are others as well). Newegg is a good source but others such as B&H carry them as well. The trays are handy as you can copy the files from your cards or main computer (laptop?) to several different drives. </p>

<p>Keep in mind that bodies and lenses will continue to change and evolve over time, regardless of which system you select. One of the most expensive investments you will make is the glass. Quality lenses are where the money is. Bodies will be updated every few years but the lenses should continue to be usable over several body changes.</p>

<p>I used Canon years ago in the days of film before auto-focus. They have twice changed their lens mount so that older lenses will not work on newer bodies. When that happened, the value of their used lenses dropped through the floor. Nikon has remained fairly consistent in allowing older glass to be used on newer bodies. Some features such as autofocus and metering may not be possible with older lenses. To me, that shows consideration in the end user's investment and better engineering design by maintaining usability. For that reason, I switched to Nikon.</p>

<p>I use full frame Nikon glass on a D200 (reduced frame) with excellent results. Focal length is, of course, different but the quality lenses are still usable. When I upgrade to a full frame Nikon digital body, that glass will still be usable or at least have value.</p>

<p>The choice is yours but consider the long term investment costs and customer support.</p>

<p>Nikon USA Website says (08/29/2009 10:26 PM):</p>

<p>"Nikon generally announces compatibility information for new OS versions within 30 days of the OS release and until compatibility is announced we suggest not upgrading critical systems as we cannot guarantee operation.<br>

Initial testing of Nikon software with Apple's new "Snow Leopard" Mac OS 10.6 indicates that there are incompatibilites with Nikon Capture NX 2, Nikon View NX and Nikon Scan, users of these applications should <strong>not</strong> upgrade their OS at this time. When more compatibility information is available it will be posted on the Nikon web site."</p>

 

<p>Beautiful photos. Very moving. I have been to the AWC in Normandy near Colleville and it was very emotional. Thanks for sharing these.<br>

These soldiers gave their lives so that others may be free from tyranny and oppression.</p>

<p>"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance." </p>

 

<p>I am a long-time Mac user and have tried several. I have used Tri-Backup (http://www.tri-edre.com/english/tribackup.html) for years. Excellent program that offers flexibility as to how you backup. At work, I even use it to back-up key files on a Dell Windows 2003 server with a RAID setup over a network via an iMac to external hard drives after repeat tape drive failures gave me no sense of security. </p>

I have used both Macs and Windows machines for 15 years. I travel a lot. Oversee IT in an

engineering company. In the past 12 months, I have used both system laptops - Dell

Latitude (work) and MacBook Pro (personal). Dumped the Dell work machine finally 2

months ago for another MBP with a Windows boot setup so I can run the 3 unique

Windows business programs I need. Everything else is Mac OSX software - Aperture,

Photoshop, Vuescan, Capture NX on OSX. WOW!

 

What is unique?

 

Short answer - the operating system. OS X is smooth and just works. Windows XP is doable

but very high maintenance for any user. MBP comes with much free software (good stuff,

not watered down junk). iLife is included - no similar product in Windows that actually

works smoothly. iWork is good ($99) for all but business power users for Word and Excel

type work. Keynote much netter than PowerPoint. Latter are Office products and are $400

plus.

 

Windows XP - Plan on system rebuilds (wipe HD clean, fresh install everything) at least

annually. Lots of tinkering involved. Frequent problems. Add-on software (Office?) is

expensive. And MS still says they are killing XP in June on new machines and you must go

to Vista. Business users are not happy and that may change.

 

Hardware - MBP is 2/3 the thickness and almost 2 pounds lighter then Dell Latitude

(typical). Power supply on MBP is 1/4 the size and weight. Important for lugging through

airports! MBP has FW800 - significantly faster than USB. I use 2.5" bus-powered (FW800)

external HD for backup on the road (fits-in-your-pocket size) with no external power

supply. I have never been able to get USB powered drives to work consistently.

 

MBP screen has to be seen next to others to appreciate - brighter (LED backlight), better

color.

 

MBP battery life about 50-100% longer on a charge than the Dell, based on my usage. I

get 3.5-4.5 hours on MBP, never got over 2.25 hours on Dell.

 

Disadvantage of the MBP - no docking station (like the $150 or so for a Dell) but not a major issue. I use a 23" Cinema HD when at the desk. MBP has 4 cables to plug-in: video,

FW, USB, power. The monitor has USB and FW hubs built-in. I use wireless keyboard and

mouse.

 

Service - Apple service is great, if needed. Especially if you can drop it off at a store. Had

a screen cable go bad in a MBP and had it back in 48 hours. Bad power supply in a 2 1/2

year old iMac and the turnaround was 24 hours. Stopped in an Apple dealer in London with

a tech question and they were friendly and helpful, solved problem, no charge. Dell and HP

service are a challenge, at best.

 

Contacting Dell tech support is a test of your patience and language interpretation skills. I

have simply bought the parts to repair Dell laptops because of the 2-4 hours of phone hell required to get "Next Day Business Service". Defective battery? Up to 1 hour wait on phone,

30 minutes of diagnostics and they tell you to reinstall Windows! That is a nice 4-8 hour

job.

 

Check Consumer Reports for their survey results on service and support. As someone else

said, you get what you pay for. Recommend try before you buy.

Do what Josh said - get a FW cable. Simplest way.

 

Next, buy an external drive. If you have a new machine with Leopard, consider running Time

Machine (part of Leopard) to back up your files. You will have to have an external HD as the

Time Machine disk.

The D200 is the same. The manual states in the table on number of images "Figures assume

RAW Compression is set to NEF (RAW). Selecting Comp. NEF (RAW) decreases file size of NEF

(RAW) images by approximately forty to fifty percent; although camera displays do not

change, number of images that can be recorded increases." I get about 2x as many images as

the camera says I should because I shoot RAW Compression on.

 

Your D300 manual probably says the same thing.

OS 10.5.2 update is reported to contain the RAW conversion for D300 and D3. Should be released soon.

I live in a Windows XP and Mac world. I keep the drives in Mac format. There is software, MacDrive, by MediaFour, that allows Windows machines to read and write to Mac Drives. Nominal cost, works great.

I use Aperture for workflow and most minor edits and store the image files as referenced files

(outside the program's library). I use Tri-Backup to copy the image files to external HDs. Other

backup programs will also work. I then use the Aperture vault function to create duplicate

vaults of the editing information and thumbnails.

 

I have iView Media Pro - used it for years. I do not have high expectations for the "new"

product's stability, reliability, and usability anymore. We were offered free updates to the new

MS Expression Media. Google or check some of the discussion boards. The upgrade was a

disaster for many.

 

I have moved away from iView Media Pro.

Installed NX 1.3 on MBP 15.4 2.33 C2D,running OS 10.5.1 and no problems.

You have to be kidding! You are willing to take valuable (I assume) originals and ship them

half way around the world to a foreign country (no slight towards India per se)? When I think

of the lost and delayed shipments I have encountered over the years and the difficulty

dealing with shipping operations and compounding that with a foreign operation, I shudder.

 

 

Good luck!

I have not put it through its paces but it does install and launch and editing functions appear

to work as before. Saving and printing functions also work OK.

I've used it with a MacBook Pro since February 07 and love it. Sharp, good balance, a pleasure

to use. Also have a Dell 20" wide and it is not in the same league as the Apple Cinema

Display. I do my photo work with Aperture and Capture NX. I did get the 3-year warranty

that covers the MBP and monitor.

Not far off the beaten path is Salinas - home of the John Steinbeck Center if you are interested.