[olug] OT: Netbook options

[Obi-Wan]

> On Sun, Jan 3, 2010 at 8:49 AM,  <webtrekker at cox.net> wrote:
>> I'm looking help on what my options are for a netbook.  The situation is I am heading to Ethiopia in 12 days to adopt our newest family member and don't want to lug my laptop due to weight and size, but would like have a way to transfer pics from my camera memory card to a secondary device (netbook hd or external hd).
> 
> Do you need to actually access the pictures during the trip?  If not,
> $100 will buy quite a bit of storage space in memory cards these days.

Regardless, when taking a hard-to-repeat trip, it's wise to backup
your photos to a second medium as quickly as possible.  On my family
vacations, I copy my photos to my laptop every evening, but don't
delete them from the flash cards until after I get home & backup
the laptop to a second spindle.

You could invest in a portable photo backup device.  This is an old
link, but it gives you an idea of what I'm talking about:

http://photodoto.com/portable-photo-storage-buyers-guide/

My brother, a semi-pro photographer, bought one before his honeymoon
to Hawaii.  I never did ask him how it worked out, though...

>  Depending on what your camera takes, I've seen 8GB SD cards for
> around $20-$25 at numerous places, even local stores (Best Buy,
> MegaMart, etc).

Just be sure to use name brand cards.  I've had off brand cards go
south on me, resulting in corrupted or inaccessible photos.  All
of my cards are now Sandisk.  50,000 photos & never had any problems.

Also, don't use cards which are too big.  Eggs & baskets, you know.
If you're worried about theft, store the full cards away from the
rest of your electronic gear.

> That'll give you 64GB+, which will hold a lot of
> pictures (unless you're using a digital SLR and shooting in RAW, in
> which case you'll be hard pressed to find a flash-based option).

I've got a 10 MP DSLR and I shoot RAW+JPEG.  I average about 475
photos on an 8GB card.  I've got nearly 40GB worth of CF cards,
and I've never filled them all at once.  I think the most I've shot
in a week-long family vacation is about 1500 photos, or three 8GB
cards.  I'd certainly want more if I was spending 12 days in Africa.
Heck, I can fill an 8GB card in one good afternoon of shooting.

Oh, and if you shoot that kind of volume, be sure you take extra
batteries & a second charger of the correct plug type.  You never
know how much access you'll have to power outlets.  In warm weather,
I get about 2500 shots on four batteries.  At 5F, it drops to about 400.

As an aside, If you're curious about my camera work, check out:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/obi-wan-yj/
http://www.jedi.com/obiwan/photo/

-- 
Ben "Obi-Wan" Hollingsworth                             obiwan at jedi.com
   The stuff of earth competes for the allegiance I owe only to the
     Giver of all good things, so if I stand, let me stand on the
       promise that You will pull me through.  -- Rich Mullins