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08-17-2001, 01:25 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 162
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Mac Users - Heeeeellp!!!
Now, don't get me wrong, guys, I love my Mac to pieces (and wouldn't use any other kind of compter), but now that I'm taking the plunge into posting images, I need alot of advice!  Please bear with my dozen or so questions, LOL!!!
First off, my computer is an iMac, one of the newer ones from this past January. If you have one, you know they don't have a floppy disk drive - just a CD drive, which is fine. I haven't missed the disk drive in the least, but now that I'll be posting images, it's become slightly trickier since most digital cameras operate with a disk.
So, here are my questions:
1. I know a scanner would be alot cheaper, but even so, the really cheap ones that are still high quality are PC only. From surfing around on electronic sites, there's a sore shortage of quality scanners for Macintosh that are as inexpensive as the bigger selections. Can anyone recommend a good quality, decently-priced scanner for a Macintosh? Also, what kind of pixel (is that the word I'm looking for, as in sharpness?) range should I look for?
2. Digital Cameras - any advice on a decently-priced one that can be hooked up to an iMac? What additional equipment would I need to hook it up? I know there's something about a memory card - what is that? And the same question applies as above - what kind of pixel range should I hunt for?
I have a passable general knowledge about computers (  ), but I know zero about this kind of stuff (ugh!). I'm trying to decide if I should just bite the bullet and get a digital camera, or use a Polaroid (which the one I saw is around $70) and a scanner (Mac accessible, cheapest I saw was around $150. PC compatible scanners start at $50! I was so ticked off!  !) I know the digital camera is the way to go, really, but price is a very big factor with me right now.
Thanks very much for bearing with me! 
Lisa
Last edited by BlossomArt : 08-17-2001 at 01:30 PM.
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08-17-2001, 02:24 PM
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A WC! Legend
Calgary, Canada
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,985
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Re: Mac Users - Heeeeellp!!!
HA! Figures out the quote thing!
Quote:
Originally posted by BlossomArt
Now, don't get me wrong, guys, I love my Mac to pieces (and wouldn't use any other kind of compter), but now that I'm taking the plunge into posting images, I need alot of advice! Please bear with my dozen or so questions, LOL!!!
First off, my computer is an iMac, one of the newer ones from this past January. If you have one, you know they don't have a floppy disk drive - just a CD drive, which is fine. I haven't missed the disk drive in the least, but now that I'll be posting images, it's become slightly trickier since most digital cameras operate with a disk.
So, here are my questions:
1. I know a scanner would be alot cheaper, but even so, the really cheap ones that are still high quality are PC only. From surfing around on electronic sites, there's a sore shortage of quality scanners for Macintosh that are as inexpensive as the bigger selections. Can anyone recommend a good quality, decently-priced scanner for a Macintosh? Also, what kind of pixel (is that the word I'm looking for, as in sharpness?) range should I look for?
2. Digital Cameras - any advice on a decently-priced one that can be hooked up to an iMac? What additional equipment would I need to hook it up? I know there's something about a memory card - what is that? And the same question applies as above - what kind of pixel range should I hunt for?
I have a passable general knowledge about computers (), but I know zero about this kind of stuff (ugh!). I'm trying to decide if I should just bite the bullet and get a digital camera, or use a Polaroid (which the one I saw is around $70) and a scanner (Mac accessible, cheapest I saw was around $150. PC compatible scanners start at $50! I was so ticked off!!) I know the digital camera is the way to go, really, but price is a very big factor with me right now.
Thanks very much for bearing with me!
Lisa
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Okay, so let's get started with your questions! I use a mac ibook and have come up against these questions.
1. Scanners should be pretty easy to come by. I have seen half decent cross platform ones for about $100 CAN up here. Some of the office superstores should be able to do something in a similar range for you. Try Microwarehouse on line, sometimes they can beat out anyone.
I have a scanner, but prefer to use my digital camera as it works better for the graphite work that I do.
Get the most pixels for your money. More pixels mean a better resolution.
2. Digital cameras. I use an older Olympus and I love it. There is a great thread on digital cameras here somewhere. That should help you a great deal.
Also, If money is a factor, try looking for a discontinued model as there are piles of new models coming out right now. You may be able to get a better camera than you thought if you look at the discontinued stuff. The pictures can be stored in a number of ways. My camera uses Smartcards and then I use a card reader to transfer them to my ibook. Here again, more pixels, is better resolution.
If I was going to spend money, I would go for a camera, because it suits what I do best, but it depends on what you need in the rest of your life, so to speak.
Good luck with this, and remember to add those extensions when posting your art (I always forget ).
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08-17-2001, 02:36 PM
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A Local Legend
Planet Earth
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 6,692
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I am ignorant on Mac's. But doesn't it have a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port? If so, that could be used to get images into your machine.
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08-17-2001, 02:42 PM
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A WC! Legend
Calgary, Canada
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,985
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Actually one of the big problems would be finding a driver for whatever the technology is. Most USB stuff is now crossplatform, so it is certainly getting easier for those of us with macs.
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08-17-2001, 04:02 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 162
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I just got back from my lunch break and popped into an electronics store (one of those ones that are a dime a dozen in NYC). Now, some previous advice I got was that for posting artwork online (I'll be posting mostly acrylic paintings and some of my photography - all within the 8"X10" to 9"X12" range) was that I'd need at least 2.1 megapixels for a digital camera. The guy in the store tried to sell me on a Fuji (good brand), with the software, image card, and cable to connect to an iMac. They were selling it for $350 - does that sound about right? There's so many kinds, I can't really tell for certain.
Christie, you're right about Microwarehouse - I completely forgot to check them out! They have it all, I know. And of course, the electronic superstores and the office superstores for the camera vs. scanner, respectively. I need to shop around and decide which is best, although $350 doesn't sound horribly painful. And these electronic store guys never have THE best prices - generally places like The Wiz or Circuit City can beat them.
(Heh heh...if anything, I feel MORE confused now, because I was pretty much set on just getting a scanner to save money - now I have some real decision making, LOL!!!)
Thanks, you guys!
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08-17-2001, 04:27 PM
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A WC! Legend
Calgary, Canada
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,985
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Hey no problem! 2.1 Megapixels would be a good start. My camera is 1.3 and things look okay to me (but I am nearsighted!).
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08-19-2001, 08:12 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 162
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An update on my camera vs. scanner situation....
Later on this morning, I'll be ordering a digital camera, Mac compatible, 2.1 megapixels, the whole deal! The price was more than reasonable - it wound up being the same price I would have paid for a Polaroid and a scanner, and it's a decent brand for a starter! NOW I can finally learn to use it and get my work posted once it arrives and I learn to use it! For anyone else in my situation, here's my one piece of advice - be diligent on Yahoo! Shopping! With the bargains I was hearing about from other people, I knew it had to be a matter of just not giving up!  Yaaay!!!
Forgot to add: Interestingly enough, the camera is the same Fuji the guy at the electronics store tried to sell me the other day - and it's alot less online!!!
Last edited by BlossomArt : 08-19-2001 at 08:14 AM.
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08-19-2001, 10:23 AM
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New Member
Chautauqua Lake, western New York
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 35
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Macs & stuff
I have a Mac G-3 blue and white. I use a umax astra 1220s scanner (flatbed) and a Nikon 35mm film scanner (LS-1000).(haven't gone digital yet) Anyway. my scanner was around $100.00 but you can probably get one for less. For other than high end..going to print kind of stuff this scanner is more than equal to the task. And rock solid dependable. Nikon scanner as well. I do TONS of scanning and store reference images by burning unto CDs.
Once you get set up you should find that you've got a wonderful system. Don't know about imputing digital images from camera to computer..probably can be done with USB connection or something. (Can't keep my connections straight)
A good friend (and fellow Mac-a-manic) is an Apple service rep so if you get into some type of a jam I can get her to email you sound advice.
Hope this helps.
Pat
__________________
Pat Turcotte
www.patturcotte.com
Equestrian Portraiture & Illustration
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08-19-2001, 11:12 AM
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A WC! Legend
Calgary, Canada
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,985
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Congratulations! You will have a great deal of fun with the system, I am sure.
I also work for a mac VAR, so there is help every where for you!
Cannot wait to see what you post.
Christie
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08-24-2001, 04:03 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 162
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A little bit of a frustrating update!
Well, I found a wonderful 2.1 megapixel camera online for a great price and ordered it this past Sunday morning. It shipped out right away and I was figuring I'd have it by now. The online camera place shipped via Fed Ex, and I made the big mistake of having it shipped to my home as opposed to my office. Weeeeell, I work during the day and figured that my neigbor or my super could sign for it - I mean, that's how UPS works, but not Fed Ex! It seems that the camera shop put a rider on it that only I and no one else could receive the package. I left a note giving permission, I called Fed Ex and complained - zip! Fed Ex said I had to contact the camera shop and have the restriction removed. (I'm on a roll here with my venting! Just gimme a sec, I'm nearly done, I promise!) I called the camera place and THEY also said they couldn't remove the restriction "because of the price of their merchandise, that it was very valuable". Gang, lemme tell ya...if it was overly expensive, I wouldn't have ordered it, trust me on this one - I was giving permission to leave it with people I know and trust. Anyway, the upshot of it, if you can guess by this time, is that both the camera shop AND Fed Ex said I have to be present to sign and receive the camera. Obviously, I can't take the day off, and I work about an hour from home, so there's no scooting out on my lunch break to wait around for it. They also wouldn't re-route it and have it delivered to my office, for whatever cryptic reason (I'm sure they could tell me, but then they'd have to kill me, LOL!!!). And of course, I don't live near the Fed Ex office where they're holding it "hostage"! So, my last resort was this - I've called Fed Ex again and told them to return the camera to the shop, and that I've refused to accept the package. I'll get it taken off of my credit card, and just go shopping for one this weekend - I saw the same one for an additional $35 at Circuit City, so if they're in stock, I should hopefully be able to post my stuff by Sunday! ("AUUUUUGGGH!!!!", at the risk of souding like a Peanuts' character!)
Anyway thanks for listening to my rant, LOL!!!! It'll all be fine, I just needed to get it off my chest!
Last edited by BlossomArt : 08-24-2001 at 04:08 PM.
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08-24-2001, 10:59 PM
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A WC! Legend
Calgary, Canada
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,985
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How frustrating! I hope you manage to get something soon. I have had problems with Fed Ex as well and prefer to use ANYONE else. They are great for international shipments though.
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08-25-2001, 10:03 AM
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New Member
North York, Ontario, Canada
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 44
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Quote:
Originally posted by Christie
How frustrating! I hope you manage to get something soon. I have had problems with Fed Ex as well and prefer to use ANYONE else. They are great for international shipments though.
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...and UPS from the U.S. to Canada is a disaster. (I have a story about them that covers about 3 days of weird excuses and bureaucratic idiocy.) I don't know if there's a right answer.
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08-25-2001, 11:38 AM
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A WC! Legend
Calgary, Canada
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,985
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My solution is Fed Ex internationally and Loomis or Purolator in Canada, but I have stories about all of them. 
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08-25-2001, 12:54 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 162
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Well, I'm in NY, but my boyfriend lives in Toronto. The first couple of times I sent a present or something to him, I spent a fortune on Express International mail, which they said would take three days - he got it roughly two weeks later! Now, we just send each other stuff through regular mail and it gets here in half the time - go figure!
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08-25-2001, 02:51 PM
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A WC! Legend
Calgary, Canada
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Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,985
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For my personal stuff, I use Canada Post, but I also used to ship dangerous goods and things for work and THAT was always interesting!
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