Re: PCs Always Cost More, Deal With It

In news:C11FFDDE.5E866%SNIT@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
Snit <SNIT@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> typed:
"ed" <news_test@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> stated in post
OyxKg.14985$%j7.9797@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on 9/3/06 2:49 AM:

In news:C11FE6D4.5E82A%SNIT@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx,
Snit <SNIT@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> typed:
"ed" <news_test@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> stated in post
bgwKg.5109$tU.28@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx on 9/3/06 1:21 AM:
<snip>
<snip>
Some of the things that Apple brings to the table that the Dell
does
not:

* The camera - of no value to you and maybe even a detriment. OK.
* The iLife suite and other software - seems of no value to you.
OK.
* The ability to run OS X as well as XP - again, does not seem to
be of value to you.
* Industry leading customer service ratings - but Dell comes with
a better default service package... and I doubt you would use
much of either. If you live near an Apple store, though, the
free tech support might still be of value... kinda cool.

I would suggest more RAM on either system... but that is just me.
It is true 512 would be OK, but I prefer a full gig.

Out of curiosity, why do you prefer Picasa?

primarily the import functions and viewing options- the options
available to import subsets of files, specify watch folders, etc,
and the labeling are super spiffy and easy.

The watch folder are pretty cool. I have never had a problem with
importing and, personally, do not like the labeling any more than
the
albums in iPhoto. There are some minor quirks to the labeling in
Picasa - drag some files to a label. Look at the number listed
for the label. Then drag the same files again... it does not add
the pictures
twice but the number goes up. Not a big deal in most cases...

it fixes itself you you click back on it- a little bug (what
*doesn't* have bugs), but i can't see it being a big deal in *any*
case. ;D

It does confuse users.... but even most relatively new users can
"deal".

i just updated right now- turns out bug's fixed.

the timeline view rocks,

For some libraries I can see that.

it's fun for going through the pictures you've taken quickly- quick
overview of the parts of your life that you've photographed. ;D

I do that by just scanning up and down...

not nearly as nice...

but I can see the charm in
the timeline. No argument ehre

and i much prefer the slideshow viewing and exporting in picasa.

what about them?

the export will export to an executable slideshow, without compiling
it into a movie for example (so individual files are still
available...)

The slide show only works on Windows, though.

yup, but the photos are individually available. that's a plus over a
quicktime movie.

the web page export is nice too, although i haven't used the newest
version of iphoto w/ iweb.

So far iWeb is not too impressive when it comes to making decent
code.

I now use both, and teach people how to use Picasa... and find
that
it has some pretty big downfalls... though admittedly they are the
type that is likely to be more of a detriment to a non-techie
user.

what downfalls (other than below)?

The ones below are the biggies. Some others:

* The collage feature is a joke... when would *anyone* use
"multi-exposure"? [Ok, there are rare times... but come on...!]

a 'downfall' is that you don't see a use for one of the features?
c'mon!

Tossing in useless features is a downfall... yes.

useless to you, does not useless make. i would never use *any* of the .mac
features in ilife for example, but i wouldn't call them useless in general.

in that case, there's *tons* of downfalls to ilife! ;D in anycase,
the collage (picture pile) feature is nice for a quick and dirty
thumbnail to label an album.

The picture pile is OK... though it does not give you much control.
Can you think of a use for the "multi-exposure"?

um, if you want to simulate actually taking multi-exposure photos? here's
one of an eclipse (a real multi-exposure photo):
http://www.wavelengthphotography.com.au/Images/wavelength_2002SolarEclipse.jpg


* The library, I believe, goes by different names in the program
(would have to double check that one)

never noticed that.

I think they call it the light board in some places and the library in
others.

can't find it anywhere, and don't remember ever seeing such a reference.

* By default it looks for images throughout your entire computer

i believe it asks you whether you want it to search for your photos
when you first install it... and i don't think this is a downfall
either...

It gives you two options... the default being to look for images
everywhere... even ones most users have no need for such as the
images that
are in application folders. Useless.

so select the other option...

* Star rating... one or none. No levels... just odd.

um, maybe 'cause it's not really a rating? it's like gmail- stars
are basically simple tags. you're labeling things as 'downfalls'
simply because they don't work like iphoto, or you won't / don't use
it.

It is a rating... you are rating it as a favorite. Granted, it can be
used
in other ways, but that is what it is designed for.

<http://picasa.google.com/features/index.html>
<snip>

i think the tech writer wrote that wasn't familiar with the function and
history (from gmail)- here's gmail's explanation of stars:
"Starred
Important messages or conversations.
Assign stars to special conversations or messages, or use them as a visual
reminder that you need to follow-up on a message or conversation later. "
extrapolate for photos. ;D

* Red eye warns you that it may not work on rotated images... though
it really does not work on many images... not well anyway
* EXIF display / Histogram is small... not a huge deal, but should
be better Heck, you cannot even alter the levels from the
histogram

those kind of nits don't really compare with some of the issues
iphoto have / had; stuff like not importing movies

There is a reason they call it "iPhoto". :)

then why can it NOW import movies? :P

, adding new labels are a pain in the ***,

Not hard - just poorly located. There should be a little plus sign or
"action" symbol next to the labels. No doubt.

it's relative- still a pain in the *** compared to picasa. captioning
sucks compared to picasa too.

the disconnect from the filesystem
(even if you want to organize that way)

that is a *huge* plus for many users...

you can work *either* way in picasa.

<snip>
I general the UI of picasa is just not laid out as well... and the
selection system is non-standard. Those, however, I doubt slow
you
down too much.

i like the gui very much- except for the vertical slider. i think
you may dislike the ui because you're primary platform is a mac-
the
right click menus (you can do without it, but the ui is awesome if
you make use of right click) do exactly what you want from what you
clicked on.

I have no problem with the right-click menus... on Mac or Windows.
Heck, I have an 8 button mouse, it is not as though I am
multiple-button phobic. :)

I am more in reference to the buttons on the top and bottom of the
screen being split in a non-intuitive way,

the buttons on the top are available when a folder and/or photos are
selected. the bottom buttons are only available ONLY when you have
a photo or photos selected. how did you miss that if you use /
teach it!?

Still makes no sense that there are two ways to make CDs - one at the
top and one at the bottom.

not in newer versions there isn't...

the non-standard selection process,

eh? click, ctrl-click, shift-click, etc all work as i expect...
what do
you mean?

The holding area... hold... clear...

it's a non-standard, optional feature- how would you want them to implement
a non-standard feature in a standard way? by default, the 'holding area'
only holds your current selection (with standard click, ctrl-click,
shift-click); you have the option of overriding that and keeping other
selections (if you wish)

Oh, and by default it changes your web search engine. I am
disappointed Google did that.

i didn't notice that, but i'll forgive that before i forgive the
relative slowness of iphoto. ;D

The newest iPhoto is downright snappy... but it has been slow in the
past.

yeah, maybe it finally caught up to picasa on my 5 year old laptop! :P


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