Senior Contributing Editors:
Jesus Diaz
| AIM | Twitter
Mark Wilson, Reviews
| AIM | Twitter
Contributing Editors:
Matt Buchanan | AIM | Twitter
Adam Frucci | Twitter
Sean Fallon | Twitter
Jack Loftus | Twitter
John Herrman | Twitter
Dan Nosowitz
Chris Mascari
Danny Allen | Twitter
Rosa Golijan | Twitter
Chris Jacob
Sigh. None of those meet my requirements. Damn Dell and their pretty space saving design! Who has a normal PCI gfx card with half the normal card size that they want to sell to me?
@Pessimippopotamus: Normal PCI isn't going to give you enough bandwidth for gaming anyway, so I wouldn't really bother if you don't have a PCI-E slot handy.
@Necrotoxin: I had that thought, but I don't want to open that can of worms. I'll end up replacing every part of the computer while making sure each and every single bit is compatible. I'd rather save up for an i7 computer and milk my computer dry as dry as possible.
I've got two of the exact Sapphire HD 4850's pictured Crossfired in my system, and I can attest to their amazing performance for the price point. They also create enough heat to warm a decent-sized apartment, so bonus in the winter! (seriously, make sure your case is well-ventilated)
I recently installed a Radeon 4650. It's one of the relatively few GPUs available in a low-profile PCIe format. It more than doubled performance over my previous nVidia GPU, making the most recent games actually playable! It really is a great bang-for-the-buck GPU.
@whiteflea: Old DSLR, Old DSLR, Old DSLR, - For me, just the fact that a DSLR won't have the shutter lag apparent and extrememely frustrating in almost all PAS's
Thanks for the info on the differences! I am referring this page to some camera shoppers.
AS far as after having the camera...Before I start trolling forums and gather headaches: Which is Better for working with images (cropping, archiving, ...) Apple's Aperature or Adobe's Lightroom? Using a Canon 5D...shooting objects to make catalogs twice a year. Or just stick to photoshop?
Good job, John. Covered everything that a newbie needs to know in a simple yet concise manner. Me likes.
Just one complaint though. The part about CCDs and CMOSs is incorrect. As I mentioned in a comment below, DSLR makers have almost entirely moved to CMOS now. CMOS used to lag behind CCD when it comes to dynamic range, but with the current developments, they have bettered CCDs. The CMOS sensor in the D700 for instance is the class leader when it comes to dynamic range and high ISO performance.
I have a camera showdown between a 6MP DSLR, a 10 MP point 'n shoot, a 3.2MP camera phone and another 12.1MP cameraphone. That's right, one cameraphone in the test had twice as much megapixels as the DSLR!
This seems to focus mainly on takeoff and/or landing yet these are the points that most people don't really care about. Both the takeoff and landing portion constitute of maybe a maximum of 5-10 minutes each. I mean unless you're doing a short hop flight this isn't really going to be much of an issue. I'm flying from the UK to Japan in June and I don't think I'm going to care if for 20 minutes I can't use my iPod. I'll be annoyed if they don't let me use it the other 12+ hours though.
It's a pretty paltry issue, the real problem is when the flight attendants may attempt to stop you using gadgets mid flight. As for takeoff and landing though? Let them have their superstitions, all it's hurting is the whiny and impatient who can't be without headphones for a few minutes. Read a damn book until the plane is in the air.
"...and you guys will let me listen to my iPod after the flight attendants are in their seats and I'm making peace with my god."
Sounds like you find flight a little frightening, like many people I'm sure. Wouldn't flight be a LOT scarier if the industry wasn't operated in the ultra-conservative and highly regulated fashion that it is?
Look, we can split hairs over 15 minutes of gadget restrictions, or we can be glad they let us use them outside of that restriction window. The FAA has MUCH better initiatives to focus on, like modernizing air traffic control.
I think they should go to the companies and give them the dangerous frequency ranges and the companies could use those numbers to make "FAA Approved" devices. If your item has the FAA approved tag then your free to use it. I could imagine that apple, nokia, dell, hp, and all those other companies will soon do it to maxamize sales and cosumer satisfaction.
@PN - gooapplesoft: Could you imagine the workload for the flight attendants to keep checking passenger's devices for approval stickers each time someone pulls it out of their bag or pocket during a flight?
"But every time a flight attendant perpetuates the lie that these harmless gadgets are somehow a threat to safety, it erodes the faith that they should be cultivating with their customers."
This is really the heart of the matter. Treat me like a responsible adult, and I will act like one, and that includes helping you out when you need it (as I have done in the past when assisting a flight attendant with a belligerent drunk). Treat me like a retarded child and I will act like a sheep.
@Canoehead: I'm a flight attendant and you know what the problem with letting you keep your gadget on, as knowledgeable as I am about most gadgets their are too many for me to keep track as to what is a cellphone, what is in airplane mode and what isn't AND its my da#$ job. I hate to say this but I don't make the rules and if an FAA inspector is on my plane(and it happens more often then the public knows) you know who pays the fine, ME and I may loose my job. So please don't tell me to take it easy on you, take it easy on me cause I have to do this. Why not just shut your phone off, your laptop off, don't just close it or put it away cause we aren't all electronic illiterate. If you had secret shoppers at your job that could fine your in the thousands of dollars(look it up) you would enforce the rules too.
To be fair I don't like the rule either but I don't get a say while I'm working.
@Evan Jacob: Um, because the book that I carry is a Kindle, and anyone familiar with NY knows you can be stuck in ground taxi for an hour. With nothing to read. And my problem is not with you, it is with the FAA/FCC, or whoever makes these rules, and the airlines who are too gutless or stupid to try to get the rules changed to something more reasonable.
You might also remember that I am what is called a "paying customer". I am not a cow or sheep on the way to market. It would be nice if the airlines remembered it.
And moreover, you are attempting to enforce a rule you can't enforce anyway - you don't know if I have an entire ham radio station broadcasting from my bag in the overhead bin - instead this is all about the APPEARANCE of compliance, but I guess that is good enough for government work.
@Canoehead: You choose the Kindle I didn't make you bring it you knew the rule before you got on the plane. I live in Ny have most of my life, I fly out of JFK LGA and EWR more in a month then most will in a life time. If you have no problem with me then why say " Treat me like a responsible adult, and I will act like one, and that includes helping you out when you need it (as I have done in the past when assisting a flight attendant with a belligerent drunk). " so I am to treat you differently then I am required to?
Also because you are a paying customer I should forget the rules I once again did not make?
And once again the rule isn't mine and I'm routinely being watched I can not and will not make an exception for you my job and money on the line. I agree the rule should be different but until it is expect me to do my job, and I will expect you to ignore me.
@Evan Jacob: Wow - really is all about you isn't it? I think my last comment made it pretty clear this is not about individual flight attendants, but it is true that you and your colleagues are the visible face of the airline industry. You also appear to have completely internalized their attitude towards customers.
I really don't want to make this personal, which was the point of my last comment, but I know that if my business has rules which continually piss off my clients, then it is part of my job to try to work through the hierarchy to try to get the rules changed, whereas you appear to like the fact that the myriad of aviation rules allows you to be a petty dictator. I wonder if this has anything to do with the serial bankruptcies of the various airlines?
@RainyDayInterns: interesting but wrong... Actually they do that to see if some retarded passenger is going to the bathroom or stretching their legs while the plane is taking off. Also if anyone has an emergency they would see it quickly and could take care of it. Have you ever wondered why your evidence isn't consistent? the flight attendants sitting in the back are always facing the front....
@PN - gooapplesoft: because if the attendants sitting the back were to also face the back...then everyone would think that attendant did something "bad" and was being punished...
@RainyDayInterns: Is that the same myth that the reason the you put the hands over the back of your head and bend down is that if there is a fire that sweeps over the main cabin and you're all charred up you are still able to be recognized by your dental records? (i've heard that)
02:58 PM
03:14 PM
[www.newegg.com]
I have had good luck with Nvidia 9500s for lowend systems.
03:43 PM
03:59 PM
@HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H.: But how will I play 4 year old games?!
04:20 PM
04:33 PM
02:31 PM
02:27 PM
02:20 PM
02:20 PM
12/10/09
I'm wondering: if I'm on a budget of say $150, would it be better to get a new point-and-shoot or an old DSLR?
12/10/09
12/10/09
12/10/09
AS far as after having the camera...Before I start trolling forums and gather headaches: Which is Better for working with images (cropping, archiving, ...) Apple's Aperature or Adobe's Lightroom? Using a Canon 5D...shooting objects to make catalogs twice a year. Or just stick to photoshop?
12/09/09
12/09/09
Just one complaint though. The part about CCDs and CMOSs is incorrect. As I mentioned in a comment below, DSLR makers have almost entirely moved to CMOS now. CMOS used to lag behind CCD when it comes to dynamic range, but with the current developments, they have bettered CCDs. The CMOS sensor in the D700 for instance is the class leader when it comes to dynamic range and high ISO performance.
I have a camera showdown between a 6MP DSLR, a 10 MP point 'n shoot, a 3.2MP camera phone and another 12.1MP cameraphone. That's right, one cameraphone in the test had twice as much megapixels as the DSLR!
[sandeepmurali.shutterfly.com]
Would make an interesting read for those who wonder about optics vs Megapixels and just how much each of them matter.
12/09/09
12/08/09
It's a pretty paltry issue, the real problem is when the flight attendants may attempt to stop you using gadgets mid flight. As for takeoff and landing though? Let them have their superstitions, all it's hurting is the whiny and impatient who can't be without headphones for a few minutes. Read a damn book until the plane is in the air.
12/07/09
Sounds like you find flight a little frightening, like many people I'm sure. Wouldn't flight be a LOT scarier if the industry wasn't operated in the ultra-conservative and highly regulated fashion that it is?
Look, we can split hairs over 15 minutes of gadget restrictions, or we can be glad they let us use them outside of that restriction window. The FAA has MUCH better initiatives to focus on, like modernizing air traffic control.
12/07/09
12/07/09
12/07/09
12/07/09
12/07/09
This is really the heart of the matter. Treat me like a responsible adult, and I will act like one, and that includes helping you out when you need it (as I have done in the past when assisting a flight attendant with a belligerent drunk). Treat me like a retarded child and I will act like a sheep.
12/07/09
12/07/09
To be fair I don't like the rule either but I don't get a say while I'm working.
12/07/09
You might also remember that I am what is called a "paying customer". I am not a cow or sheep on the way to market. It would be nice if the airlines remembered it.
And moreover, you are attempting to enforce a rule you can't enforce anyway - you don't know if I have an entire ham radio station broadcasting from my bag in the overhead bin - instead this is all about the APPEARANCE of compliance, but I guess that is good enough for government work.
12/07/09
Also because you are a paying customer I should forget the rules I once again did not make?
And once again the rule isn't mine and I'm routinely being watched I can not and will not make an exception for you my job and money on the line. I agree the rule should be different but until it is expect me to do my job, and I will expect you to ignore me.
12/07/09
I really don't want to make this personal, which was the point of my last comment, but I know that if my business has rules which continually piss off my clients, then it is part of my job to try to work through the hierarchy to try to get the rules changed, whereas you appear to like the fact that the myriad of aviation rules allows you to be a petty dictator. I wonder if this has anything to do with the serial bankruptcies of the various airlines?
12/07/09
Ever wonder why the flight attendants seats are facing the back of the plane? It is so they would more likely survive the impact.
12/07/09
12/07/09
12/07/09
So I guess it would be better to face the front :-)
12/07/09
12/07/09