Ya know how hovering the cursor over the subject-line link of a new thread allows one to preview the first post in that thread?

Can that also be done for hovering the cursor over the last-post icon in a thread?

We have about 4000-5000 of mostly Junior and some of the cats (in 12 weeks). For a while I was taking RAW + something, but that's something like 30 MB per pic and I have to reduce them before I can upload them to anything. Now I'm just taking "Fine". Still requires reduction. I suppose I'll go back to RAW at some point.

The camera has a second card now, 64 GB. All the helmet cams have 32 GB cards because I keep forgetting to erase a ride or two (I had 8 GB in them and they come with a pretty much useless 2 GB).

I don't think there are 4000 pictures of me on film film. Digital picture stuff is crazy.

Just bought a Droid Razr Maxx. It'll be here Wednesday. I'm excited. Ridiculous power, ridiculous battery (3300mAh).

Well, I got some of the first swimming action shots up (I did it as a fundraiser for the swim team -- $1000 raised):

http://waterrockets.smugmug.com/Spor...IMG3022-XL.jpg

http://waterrockets.smugmug.com/Spor...IMG2699-XL.jpg

http://waterrockets.smugmug.com/Spor...IMG3037-XL.jpg

http://waterrockets.smugmug.com/Spor...IMG2613-XL.jpg

Those are some awesome shots, WR. Nicely captured the intensity of the effort and concentration.

If you develop/test (unmanaged) apps for a living, App Verifier can yield a lot of bugs: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l.../bb457063.aspx

Have fun!! I know I am.

Oh fark that. XP? Gah.

In other news, I'm struggling with how to spend $1000. I'm debating an upgrade to a Canon 7D or an old beat to hell Canon 1D3. Sounds like the buffer clearing speed will be the kicker for me to make the 7D the right choice (canon loyalty program would put it at $1100 refurb).

Tough call.

This money is a thank-you from my MIL for all the work I do around her house to keep it up. My wife got one too, as she does all the organizational and financial stuff. I thought and thought and thought about getting bike stuff. I really don't need anything right now, and can budget for whatever comes up. I don't care for wheels or newer PMs (that would blow the budget anyway).

The docs are somewhat outdated - it also works on win2k, win2k3, win7, win8, etc.

I would like to make a suggestion - you can use it to buy me a powermeter that way the missus doesn't get upset at you making another camera purchase.

What do you have right now? I might be interested in the body!

rkwaki... no...

Right now I have a plan to carry two bodies to sporting events ;)

I have a T2i. My plan is to have it around my neck with the 17-55 f/2.8 mounted. The 7D or 1D3 on a monopod with longer glass (70-200 f/2.8L right now -- but eventually a 300mm, hopefully f/2.8 L IS, but that's like $4K used).

As plays move up the field, I can drop the monopod in the grass and pull up the T2i for closer shooting.

Also, my kids are starting to show an interest, and a Rebel would be a great starter camera for a middle-schooler.

Ah yeah.

I have an xsi. Still up in the air if I want to get a t2i or t3i for the video capabilities.

Go look at Magic Lantern firmware and see how fast you pull down a T2i or T3i...

Hookers and blow.

/oops wrong forum

Spent an hour tinkering with a few things to set up a good laptop. I wanted it to be under 800. Sticking with dell I think.

Are backlit keyboards ($40) and a soundblaster driver update ($20) worth it?

Wants:
-i5
-1gb dedicated graphics
-7200rpm drive (500gb okay)-
-6gb ddr3 ram
-14 or 15 inch screen (14 preferred)

Have two options I like:
14 inch inspiron for 774 meets all criteria but the 7200 drive speed (can't change), but it's an i7 instead of 5. 750gb 5400rpm drive.

15 inch xps for 800. Taking off backlit keyboard, audio update, and bigger battery ($40. 9vs6 cell) drops price to 700. 500gb 7200rpm drive. Has an i5.

I guess the xps systems are better than the inspirons, but it comes down to screen size, processor, and HD. Would the i7 compensate for the slower HD?

Not sure which route to go. Halp?

It's all tradeoffs. All the fast stuff will look slow in a couple years. I never buy top-of-the line performance for myself, as the value isn't there with its depreciation.

i7 will not compensate for a slow HD, but deciding which to upgrade depends on your use. What's holding you back on your current system? You need to figure out your bottlenecks.

backlit kb isn't worth much to me (I have one, and still need to tip the screen to find rarely used keys in the dark (F9, etc.).

Note that screen size is not as important as resolution. There are a lot of laptops with huge screens and no better res than the small ones. With low resolution, all you gain with a large display is usable viewing distance -- you don't get any more info on your screen. Following apple's model, a retina display is going to be the same pixel density regardless of form factor, so clearly the MacBooks are going to have higher resolution than the iPads.

A faster CPU cannot make up for slow I/O. Dedicated graphics (a real GPU), faster disk, with a slightly less capable CPU will give you a better end user experience than a better CPU with mediocre graphics and slow disk.

Laptops with bigger displays often (not always) include better graphics units. A wider laptop will also have a better keyboard with keys + num pad. If you look for one with a disk expansion bay you can add an SSD at a reasonable price to be used as the boot disk + core applications.

RTC are you looking for a laptop to take to Ethiopia with you? If so I'd look for durability, battery life, and weight as primary considerations over speed. Shoot for a processor / graphics combo that meets 90% of your needs. Also don't forget universal power adapters. I don't know if you are going to be in an urban area or heading out to very remote places, but a small solar charger may be of benefit. And if you're really heading out in the sticks for long periods of time get a sat phone or even better, a ham radio. :D

KK4JXO --> new dork station license.

Yeah, an SSD would also be a consideration for durability, beyond just the blazing speed.

I don't currently own a laptop at all. So I need a new one.
My desktop is more than adequate for my use, but I can't take it abroad with me. I'm going to give it to my dad and probably split the cost with him.

I'm looking at the smaller screens for portability issues and better battery life. I guess the cons of the i7 are more battery draw and the same applies to the 7200 drive.

I do some image editing, music production, and gaming on the laptop, but the gaming is minimal. No real video editing or anything.

And yeah, I'm not looking for the newest bestest thing. I just want something that I can carry around and use around town without it being too big to be portable, which is why the 14 inch screen is appealing. Just trying to weigh the costs.

Putting a 9 cell on the 14 inch would probably add a ton of juice/time.

I am going to be using it when I travel for work and it's going to be my main pc for a bit. I guess the bigger screen would be helpful for the latter.

Thanks for the advice on the backlit keys. I don't think it's worth the 40 bucks. Or the 'sound upgrade' whatever.


Yeah, I really like my dell xps desktop.
I think I'll swing for the 15 inch with the bigger battery. It has a dedicated 1gb graphics card, the i5 is fine and has less power draw than the i7 (which is a lot more $$$). Should end up in the mid 700's. Reasonable!

Would you ever buy a refurbished laptop?

They have one that I want in the outlet store in a scratch and dent or such and are giving me 20% off it. Just chatted with someone online that did. Comes to 631 with everything. Woah.

Only if it was a good level up from what I wanted and budgeted for in the first place. Probably not to get the same or similar level cheaper.

My budget was about 800. I can get what I originally wanted for far less or move up a level on the processor and still be under what I originally wanted to spend.

Going to figure that out. There's a lens in there otherwise.

You'll notice a lens a lot more than a processor tier change.