Digital Hardware

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• Digital Hardware

Essex Photo Club April 25, 2007
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Topic To Be Covered

• 1) PC CPU, memory, hard drive
• 2) Connections - Parallel, Serial, USB (1.0 and
  2.0), Firewire, and Bluetooth
• 3) Camera memory memory types, how to transfer
• 4) Saving data CDs, DVDs, and External Hard
  drives
• 5) Portable Storage
• 6) Other hardware Monitors, Thumb Drives, Wacom
• 7) Web Site Links

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PC CPU, memory, hard drive

• A) CPU (central processing unit ), The Brains of
  the computer
• Two main Brands
• Intel AMD
• Intel
• Centrino (Mobile)
• Pentium
• Celeron (Lower end)
• AMD
• Athlon
• Turion (Modile)
• Sempron (Lower end)
• Single-Core vs. Dual-Core
• A processor core executes the instructions that
  enable your PC to operate at a given speed.
  Single-core processors provide adequate power for
  activities like emailing and working with
  spreadsheets. Additional cores give you more
  capacity, working together to move operations
  along at a quicker pace. Dual-core processors
  place two cores on a single die, giving you more
  power to multitask for example, you can run
  virus protection, burn MP3s and play
  graphic-intensive 3D games simultaneously at
  super-fast speeds.

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PC CPU, memory, hard drive (cont.)

• B) Memory
• Common types of memory technology today include
• a) DDR2 (double data rate, second generation)
• b) SDRAM and DDR (double data rate, first
  generation)
• c) SDR (single data rate)
• Memory is in pairs.
• So if you wanted to add 1 gig of memory to your
  computer you would need two 512 chips.
• Most modern computers will go up to 4 gigs max
• (Dell price 512 mb standard (359) 1 GB 60, 2
  GB 190, 4 GB 460)
• (You can get the memory cheaper else where. 4GB
  at NewEgg.com for 359).

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PC CPU, memory, hard drive (cont.)

• C) Hard drive
• Sizes vary from 40 gigs up to one TB (1000 gigs)
• Dells computer for 359 included a 160 GB hard
  drive.
• (Upgrades 250 GB 40, 320 GB 90, 500 GB
  180) (Try and get as large of a hard drive as you
  can afford.
• You can have more than one hard drive.
• D) PC Recommendations
• Fast CPU (Intel Pentium 4, Intel Centrino,
  Intel Xeon, or Intel Core Duo ) (This will add
  anywhere from 400 to 1000 to the total cost.)
• Plenty of RAM at least 1 GB minimum (You can add
  more later)
• Large and fast hard drive (Minimum 160 GB at 7200
  RPM)
• The Dell PC for 359 is for the Sempron CPU.
  This is a low end CPU.

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PC Recommendations

• Photoshop CS3 requirements
• Windows
• Intel Pentium 4, Intel Centrino, Intel Xeon,
  or Intel Core Duo (or compatible) processor
• Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or
  Windows Vista Home Premium, Business, Ultimate,
  or Enterprise (certified for 32-bit editions)
• 512MB of RAM ( You need much more that 512. I
  would look at 2 GB or better)
• 64MB of video RAM
• 1GB of available hard-disk space (additional free
  space required during installation)
• 1,024x768 monitor resolution with 16-bit video
  card
• Macintosh
• PowerPC G4 or G5 or multicore Intel processor
• Mac OS X v.10.4.8
• 512MB of RAM ( You need much more that 512. I
  would look at 2 GB or better)
• 64MB of video RAM
• 2GB of available hard-disk space (additional free
  space required during installation)
• 1,024x768 monitor resolution with 16-bit video
  card

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Basic PC information

• How do you check how much space is on your hard
  drive?
• My Computer Left Click on C Right Click
  Click on Properties
• How do you check how much memory is in your
  computer?
• Start Settings Control Panel Systems
• Basic Hard Disk support
• Disk Clean Up
• My Computer Left Click on C Right Click
  Click on Properties Disk Clean Up
• Disk Defrag
• My Computer Left Click on C Right Click
  Click on Properties Tools

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2) Connections - Parallel, Serial, USB, Firewire,
and Bluetooth

• Parallel use to be used for printers and
  scanners. Not used very much anymore.
• Serial use to be used for all kinds of
  equipment, modems, external drives, etc. Not used
  very much anymore.
• USB 1.0 - Short for Universal Serial Bus,
  Supports data transfer rates of 12 Mbps (megabits
  per second)
• USB 2.0 - supports data rates up to 480Mbps
• Bluetooth Short-range radio, transfer rates are
  slow (between 17 - 25Kbps (kilobits per second)
• Firewire aka - IEEE 1394 transfer rates up to
  800 Mbps, can support up to 63 external devices.
  This is the ideal device for transferring high
  levels of data.

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3) Camera memory Memory types, how to transfer

• There are many different types of memory. (See
  url below)
• http//reviews.cnet.com/Digital_cameras/4520-7603_
  7-5023995-4.html?tagtnav
• CompactFlash is among the most common.
• Memory Speeds
• They use the same rating system used by the
  CD-ROM industry, where data transfer rate of 1X
  equals 150 kilobytes (KB) per second. The higher
  the speed rating, the faster your camera will be
  able to write images to the memory card

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3) Camera memory Memory types, how to transfer
(cont.)

• There are two main brands
• Lexar and Scandisk
• Lexar has three versions
• CompactFlash Card is 4X
• Platinum Card is 40X 6,000 KB or 6 MB per
  second
• Professional CompactFlash is 80X 12,000 KG or
  12 MB per second
• Sandisk has three version
• CompactFlash
• UltraII (9 MB)
• Extreeme (20MB/sec)
• Popular Photography, April 2005,
• Editorial Card Sharks
• http//www.popphoto.com/article.asp?section_id3a
  rticle_id1351page_number1

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3) Camera memory Memory types, how to transfer
(cont.)

• How to transfer the photos from the memory card
  to the computer
• 1) Use the camera cable and camera software.
  (This is the slowest way)
• 2) Use a card reader. This is an
  additional hardware unit that is external or
  internal.
• External is a USB connection and cost under 20.
  
• Internal is like a floppy drive.
• Using the camera for 2 gigs could take up to an
  hour.
• Using the External Card Reader would take 15
  minutes

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3) Camera memory Memory types, how to transfer
(cont.)

• Memory Card Readers
• Caution When looking at an external card
  reader, make sure you get the correct reader for
  your memory. They sell card readers for
  CompactFlash, Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard,
  SmartMedia, and Memory Stick
• Note Dont forget to format the memory card
  after each use.
• Recovery software
• Image Rescue Software
• http//store.lexar.com/?category25subcategory4
  6productidIR-704-DWN

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4) Saving data CDs, DVDs and External Hard
drives

• CDs- Hold between 640mb to 700mb, they cost about
  15 per pack of 30 to 50 cents per CD. A CD
  could hold about 320, 2 MB photos
• DVD (Single layer) Holds 4.7 GB, they cost
  about 32 per pack of 50 to 64 cents per DVD. A
  DVD could hold over 2,300- 2 MB photos, or over 7
  CDs
• DVD (Dual Layer) Holds between 8.5 to 10 GB,
  they cost around 16 per 10 pack or 1.60 per
  DVD. A DL DVD could hold over 5,000 2 MB
  photos or over 14 CDs
• (This is still new and many DVDs may not be able
  to read the Dual layer DVDs)

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4) Saving data CDs, DVDs and External Hard
drives (cont.)

• CD or DVD can be internal units, external or
  portable
• Internal are mounted in your computer, cost any
  where from 40 to 150
• Samsung 18X Double-Layer (DVD/CD) 49 (Best Buy)
• External use the USB or Firewire, cost anywhere
  from under 70 to 150
• Samsung 18X Double-Layer (DVD/CD) 79 (Best Buy)

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4) Saving data CDs, DVDs and External Hard
drives (cont.)

• Notes about CD/DVD
• Dont write on them with ballpoint pens. Use
  markers for CD/DVD
• Dont put labels on CD/DVD
• Buy good brand CD/DVD. (See PDF file)
• Try to keep CD/DVDs out of extreme temperatures.
  (Dont keep them in your car.)
• Protect the non label side of the CD/DVDs
• There are debates as to how long the data will
  last

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4) Saving data CDs, DVDs and Hard drives
(cont.)

• Additional hard drives
• They can be internal or external
• Internal
• You can add an internal hard drive to most
  computers (Could be complicated)
• A 60 GB drive would cost around 88, a 750 GB
  would cost around 385

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4) Saving data CDs, DVDs and Hard drives
(cont.)

• Additional hard drives
• External
• External use the USB or Firewire, cost anywhere
  from 60 to 800
• Western Digital Passport 120GB External USB 2.0
  Portable Hard Drive 129
• http//www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId7955
  224stWesternDigitalPassporttypeproductid1
  152837300414
• Maxtor OneTouch III Turbo Edition 1TB External
  FireWire and USB 2.0 Hard Drive 800
• http//www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId7714
  128typeproductproductCategoryIdpcmcat107700050
  005id1138086674211

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5) Portable Storage

• There are Two types of portable storage devices
• CD/DVD burner
• Portable Hard Drive
• CD/DVD burners
• Portable units that have slots for the memory
  card and let you transfer from the memory to a CD
  or DVD.
• http//www.disqworks.com/en/digimagicportable.ht
  ml
• They are small, light, cheep, but they are
  slow and some dont have a way to tell if your
  images were transferred.

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5) Portable Storage (cont.)

• Portable Hard Drives
• Portable units that have slots for the memory
  card and let you transfer from the memory to a
  hard drive.
• Small, light and most have screens to view the
  photos, but they are costly and the screens are
  not good
• iPod 80 GB (400)
• http//www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId8046
  072typeproductproductCategoryIdpcmcat633000500
  28id1158104003252
• Epson p-500 80 GB (700)
• http//www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDe
  tail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookieyesoid63061068

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Portable Storage (cont.)

• Pros and Cons
• iPod
• Pro
• Small, cheap and very popular
• Con
• Need adaptors, Transfer of files are slow, file
  transfers are a major drain on the battery, the
  iPod only supports Jpeg for viewing.
• Epson P-5000
• Pro
• Easy to use, supports all file types, nice
  screen, supports SD and CF
• Con
• Adaptors needed for other memory cards, the
  unit does not come with a protective case. A
  little weak as a multimedia player.

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Other Equipment

• Wacom
• Pen tablets and interactive pen displays
• http//www.wacom.com/productinfo/
• USB Flash Drives or Thumb drives
• Small portable memory cards use to carry or
  transfer computer data
• Monitors
• Monitor Buying Guide
• http//reviews.cnet.com/4520-3173_7-6384019-1.html
  ?tagdir
• Color Calibration
• Color calibration will improve your photo output.
  This is the only way you can be sure the color
  you see is the color you get on your prints.
• http//www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?ci
  1sbpspn1sqdescInitialSearchyesOproductl
  ist.jspAsearchQbhstshscolorvisionimage.
  x0image.y0

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Links

• Small Portable http//focuscamera.com/prods/964598
  423.asp
• SmartDisk http//www.smartdisk.com/eWeb/smartdisku
  s/www/
• SimpleTech http//simpletech.com/commercial/index.
  php
• Seagate http//www.seagate.com/www/en-us/products
  /portable/
• Nikon http//nikonusa.com/template.php?goingtodtc
  _optionscat1grp2productNr25305

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Links (cont.)

• USB Hard drives http//reviews.cnet.com/4502-3186_
  7-0.html?tagsrchqt500433id10770orderby-7eRa
  ting
• Fire Wire Hard Drives http//reviews.cnet.com/450
  2-3186_7-0.html?tagsrchqt500433id11744orderb
  y-7eRating
• Portable photo storage devices http//reviews.cnet
  .com/4520-6501_7-5145238.html
• Creative Zen Micro Photo vs. Apple iPod Photo
• http//reviews.cnet.com/4520-3000_7-5622007.html
• Reviews
• http//reviews.search.com/search?qphotoipodtag
  srchx0y0
• Memory
• http//www.crucial.com/crucial/pvtcontent/memoryt
  ype.asp?modelmemtypeCHOOSE