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12-4-03
I trust everyone had a great
Thanksgiving (and gained 10 pounds) ;)
A little something different
this week, which is our first Father/Son issue with the final installment of The
Stubs Report from Robert Heite USMC and the lead article, a hardware review by
Robert’s father and new 84 Online Team member Rich Heite. We also feature part 8 of Ed Engelking’s
ongoing series “Is Linux Ready for the Desktop”, I have a combination Windows
tip and download feature on emergency preparedness and Matt Dattilo answers this
week’s email question.
Next week, your tax dollars
at work… OK, wipe that look of shock and surprise off your face and go eat
another turkey sandwich ;)
Show note: There won’t be a radio show this Sunday
(12-7) due to a U of L basketball game.
We’ll return to our regular time next Sunday
(12-14).
Kevin Mefford,
Editor
In 2001, we purchased our
first digital camera, an Olympus model that had a whopping 1.1 megapixel
resolution. The Olympus was easy to use. In fact, we have migrated from using
our 35 mm Canon Elan to almost exclusively using the Olympus, except when
enlargements would be needed. The image from a 1.1 megapixel camera looses too
much quality when printed larger than a 4x6.
We had evaluated various
digital cameras on the market. We’ve used Canon 35mm equipment since 1980 (AE-1,
A-1, T-70 and the Elan). This fall Canon introduced the 300D Digital Rebel for
$900. The 300D has many of the same features as the higher priced 10D
professional camera including the all-important CMOS sensor – at a whopping 6.3
megapixels!
The Digital
Rebel is a light and compact camera. The body is plastic, but it feels solid.
The controls are easy to locate, simple, well marked and easy to understand.
The rubberized handgrip
makes the camera feel very secure in your hand, making it easy to grip. The
camera comes with a newly
developed 18- to 55-mm lens—made specifically for the Digital Rebel.
There are two LCD panels on
the back of the camera, one for status and the other for viewing the camera
programming as well as the images. You can review or edit any image and print
the image directly from the camera.
The Digital Rebel uses
Canon's BP-511 or BP-512 Lithium-Ion battery pack. The battery costs around $70 and takes
about two hours to fully charge. The camera comes with one battery and charger.
I recommend purchasing a second battery when you buy the
camera.
The Digital Rebel is
compatible with either Type I or Type II Compact Flash cards, supports the IBM
Microdrive and the FAT32 file system, which means you can use cards over 2 GB in
capacity. You will want to invest in good quality, high-speed cards if you are
going to be taking multi-shot action series pictures. We purchased the Sandisk
high-speed cards – 256 MB, which will hold just over 70 pictures in the highest
resolution, highest quality (fine) mode, or 130 pictures in the highest
resolution, normal quality mode.
The connections for moving
pictures out of the camera are located on the left side of the camera and are
protected by a rubber cover that fits flush to the camera body. The connections
are, from top to bottom: USB (1.1), Video Out and remote terminal. The Digital
Rebel supports PictBridge direct camera to printer (via USB)
printing.
The built-in pop-up flash
unit uses Canon's E-TTL system to control the flash output. Like any of the
Canon cameras that utilize the E-TTL system, the Digital Rebel does this by
firing a low power pre-flash just milliseconds before the main flash. The
built-in flash can sync up to 1/200s. The flash pop-up is electronically
released automatically as needed in both the Basic and Image Zone modes. The
flash is not very strong and I would recommend investing in a digital flash. We
purchased a Promaster 5550DX Digital made specifically for digital
camera.
The Rebel Digital has many
of the same exposure control modes as the 35 mm Elan. The Digital Rebel controls
are all found on the right side within reach of your index finger and
thumb.
There are three basic groups
of exposure modes on the Digital Rebel: Basic, Image Zone and Creative zone
exposure modes.
The Basic and Image Zones
take most of the guesswork out of getting the right exposure. There are the full
auto and the six scene exposure modes ('Image zone'). In both of these modes
everything is automatic. In the Basic Zone the camera will indicate that blur
may occur because of slow shutter speeds by blinking the shutter speed on the
LCD panel and viewfinder status bar.
The Creative Zone exposure
modes allow you to set a fully programmed auto-exposure mode, a shutter priority
mode (you pick the f-stop it sets the shutter speed), a shutter speed priority
mode (you set the speed, it picks the f-stop), a fully manual mode and an
auto-depth of field mode. You can
set the “ISO” or speed of the digital exposure – from 100 up to 1600. We took
some great natural light pictures using the 1600 ISO speed setting without flash
to avoid reflections on the case glass surrounding the exhibits in a museum.
There was very little noise in the images shot at 1600
ISO.
The EOS 300D provides for
seven different image size / quality combinations, which determine the size of
the JPEG image file. You can choose from image sizes of 3072 x 2048 (Large),
2048 x 1360 (Medium) or 1536 x 1024 (Small) in combination with either Fine JPEG
or Normal JPEG quality settings. In addition there is the RAW image format,
which is a 'dump' of the data directly from the sensor (12-bits per pixel). A
RAW file cannot be viewed natively and but must first be converted. Most people
consider the RAW format to be the 'digital negative' because there are no
corrections applied to the image.
Conclusion
- Pros
Excellent
resolution.
Good color, good
contrast.
The seven-point auto focus
system is fast, good in low light and reliable.
Pop-up flash – although not
very powerful.
Very clever 'smart
buffering' means you can almost always take the next
shot.
Good
metering.
RAW mode provides the
'digital negative'.
Despite the plastic body the
camera still feels solid.
Easy to use controls and
displays.
Photo playback magnification
up to 10x in the LCD panel, which is perfect for checking focus.
Orientation sensor for
automatic image rotation – this is a big time saver when
editing.
Higher resolution and bright
LCD monitor.
Compatible with other Canon
EF lens.
Good battery life,
lightweight and small batteries.
Excellent supplied software
suite – comes with Adobe Photo Elements 2.
Adjustable automatic
power-down to save battery life.
Conclusion
- Cons
Opening the CF compartment door shuts camera down, losing any buffered images if they haven’t transferred from the cameras memory. Be careful.
No flash exposure
compensation.
No control over ISO settings
in Basic and Image Zone modes
No control of auto focus
points like was available in the Elan 35 mm camera.
ISO sensitivity not
displayed on viewfinder status bar while being changed – must look at camera
status panel.
Slow RAW conversion (with
supplied FileViewer Utility).
Pop up flash – buy a
supplemental flash from Promaster.
Delay in power-up when
camera comes on after automatic power down.
All this said we absolutely
love this camera. It has met and surpassed all our expectations. Most
importantly, it allowed us to capture some very important memories, in stunning
detail, that we will cherish in our family for years to
come.
For professional reviews of
this camera, I suggest you visit the following:
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canoneos300d/
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/EDR/EDRA.HTM
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/300d.html
http://www.digitalcamera-hq.com/canon-rebel-300d-reviews.html
Richard
Heite
In previous newsletters,
I've mentioned that there are many different programs available for Linux that
are equivalents and/or replacements of Windows software. Recently, I've come across a great Web
site that shows many examples of these equivalents and
replacements.
The table
of equivalents / replacements / analogs of Windows software in
Linux.
http://linuxshop.ru/linuxbegin/win-lin-soft-en/
You might be amazed at the
sheer number of programs that you can find for Linux that have the same
functionality of software found in Windows. This list will help give you a better
idea of what these programs are and what they do. Currently, you can find software in the
following categories:
·
Networking
·
File
Management
·
Desktop/System
Software
·
Multimedia
·
Office/Business
Applications
·
Games
·
Programming and
Development
·
Server
Applications
·
Scientific and Specialized
Programs
·
Emulation
So, if you're debating on
making the jump to Linux but aren't sure if the software you need is available,
check out this list first. Odds are
that you'll be able to find a compatible equivalent or replacement
software.
Ed
Engelking
This
article was written on OpenOffice Writer, a free word processing program for
Windows, Mac and Linux that is completely compatible with Microsoft Office. Try it today at http://www.openoffice.org/.
The
Stubs Report
To the listeners and
volunteers of the 84Online Team,
Finally, for once in the
past 3 months, I write to you from my own personal computer, sitting in my own
personal room, in my own personal chair, listening to my own personal music. God
how it is good to be home.
I see that there are about 2
letters missing in the order of things, hopefully those will be added along with
this final letter. I have passed
the test and completed my journey.
As of 10:00 a.m. on 14 Nov 2003 I, Robert Kendall Heite, proud son of
Richard S. and Rose A. Heite, left my boyhood behind and became a man as I
joined a family that just turned 228 years old (10 Nov 1775). My title in this family has been secured
for a lifetime. From this point on, I shall forever be known as a United States
Marine, and I’ve never felt better.
The past 3 months have been
a change for me. Even though we’ve been separated by over 600 miles I have never
been this close to my family, especially my father. They are as proud as parents could ever
be. I have done what I told them 4 weeks into training…I CANT DO THIS MOM AND
DAD I WANT TO COME HOME! But with
their help, that of my friends and my “lil uns” at church, along with all of
your prayers and support, I made it through. There isn’t a thing in the world that I
cannot do from here on out. Whatever trials and tribulations life throws my way
I know that I have the ability to get through it. Nothing is impossible. All one needs is
the drive and the determination to succeed in whatever it is that your goals
are. Never let them out of your sight. Find your motivation and continuously
think about it. For me Family, Friends, God and a certain young woman back home
kept me going.
I want to thank all of you
for your support. Being separate from all you know, thrown into an alien
environment and expected to perform at your max…not fun. It was always good to hear from home and
just to know that people supported what you were doing and thanked you. That was the best part. To have people
thank you for just doing what you feel is right. I believe ALL should have to serve a
certain period of time. People take their liberties for granted; forget where
that right to protest the war comes from. It comes from the men and woman who
worry about dieing daily half way across the world in someone else’s
country. Whether you agree with why
they are there, you must realize that there is no draft. It is a volunteer
service. Everyone in has made that decision on their own. “Ours is not to ask why, ours is but to
do or die,” We swore an oath to do what our chain of command tells us to. We trust that chain of command and will
do all that we are ordered to do to defend this nation, her people and the
Liberties that have made her the greatest country on
Earth.
From here I go to Camp
Lejeune, N.C. Inside of LeJune is
Camp Geiger, Aka Camp Devil Dog.
Here is where the School of Infantry is located. If you are 03 field, Infantry, you go to
the ITB (Infantry Training Battalion). If you are anything else it’s off to MCT
(Marine Combat Training Battalion), which is where I will be going. There I will spend 22 days receiving the
combat training to fulfill the mission of “Every Marine is a Rifleman
1st and foremost”. Throw
grenades; fire off the M203, the SAW, and pretty much all the big toys in the
Marine Corps Arsenal. Land
Navigation, Communications, all that good trash. It should be fun. Some more hiking, but we were told they
were “at a ridiculously slow pace”.
I want to leave you with a
few quotes I have found, something to show off the bravado of the Marine Corps.
Again, I thank all of you for your support and prayers. May God bless you and
your families, and may He bless this great nation of
ours.
PVT. Robert Kendall
Heite
United States Marine
Corps
Pvt. Heite, Robert
K0733
Fox
Company
MCT Battalion SOI
MCB
PSC Box
20166
Camp Lejeune, NC
28542
“Civilians cannot and will
not understand us because they are not one of us. The Corps - we love it, live
it and shall die for it. If you have never been in it, you shall never
understand it. Semper Fidelis!"
--GySgt Brad
Lemke
We're surrounded. That
simplifies the problem! -(CHESTY PULLER, USMC)
So they've got us
surrounded, good! Now we can fire in any direction, those bastards won't get
away this time! -(CHESTY PULLER, USMC)
It's a funny thing, but, as
years go by, I think you appreciate more and more what a great thing it was to
be a United States Marine... People will tell me what a shame it was I had to go
back into the service a second time, but I'm kinda glad I did.. Besides, I am a
U.S. Marine and I'll be one till I die. -(Ted Williams, legendary Baseball Hall
of Famer.)
My experience as a Marine
was a very positive thing. As an enlisted man, I learned real self-
discipline... It has been immensely important to me in my business career. -(J.
Richard Munro, Chairman, Time Warner Inc.)
We
signed up knowing the risk. Those innocent people in New York didn't go to work
thinking there was any kind of risk.
Pvt. Mike
Armendariz-Clark, USMC; Afghanastan, 20 September 2001
As reported on page 1
of the New York Times
The
Marines I have seen around the world have the cleanest bodies, the filthiest
minds, the highest morale, and the lowest morals of any group of animals I have
ever seen. Thank God for the United States Marine Corps!
Eleanor Roosevelt, First
Lady of the United States, 1945
Some
people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the
world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.
Ronald Reagan, President
of the United States; 1985
Have
only two men out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need
support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by
machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and
only a few on my right. I will hold.
1stLt. Clifton B. Cates,
USMC
in Belleau Wood, 19 July 1918
We often suggest http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_content.php
as a great site to help determine what kind of garbage you can prevent from
starting with Windows, but it is slow to load on dial-up connections. After all, the database contained on
this site is HUGE!
Luckily you can download the
entire database in HTML format as a zipped file. Grab http://www.pacs-portal.co.uk/startup_pages/startups_all.zip
to get the latest updates, make a new folder on your hard drive called Startup
Content or something and unzip the file inside it. Viola, now you can browse the entire
list offline.
You can also burn that
folder to a CD to allow you to help out friends with problems. As a matter of fact, you could use it
along with other handy tools like zip utilities (www.rarlab.com/rar/wrar320.exe),
registry editors, disk images like hard drive diagnostics or the ever handy
KillDisk from www.microdome.net/84killdisk.exe,
spyware scanners (http://users.belgacom.net/bn657515/spybotsd12.exe),
virus removal tools etc. and you can create an extremely useful software toolkit
that could save your bacon in case of problems with your system. You could even become the “Computer
Guru” at work or in your neighborhood.
Get the tools you’re
familiar with, download all of them into a single folder and burn that to a CD,
then go to work ;)
Q: I don't recall seeing this question
covered in the Newsletter. My question is this: If I want to capture analog
video from my camcorder to disk for burning to a CD or DVD, is a Video PCI card
faster or slower than
a USB 2.0 capture device?
Two in particular that have
been low cost after rebates have been Avermedia EZ DVD Capture (free after
rebate at OfficeMax this week) and Pinnacle TV Rave ($10) after rebate at
CompUSA over Thanksgiving. I have acquired both but wonder if they are worth
keeping. Any information your experts can give would be helpful. Thank you and
your group for
their continued great service to the WHAS 84 Online
listeners.
A: First, thank you for the kinds
words. They mean a great deal to
us.
Others on the team may feel
differently but I would go with the PCI option. USB 2.0 is lightning-fast
on paper but I have yet to see it perform up to specifications (although it is
still faster than the older USB 1.1). However, since you mentioned that
you have both products already, I would use both of them for a few days and see
which one you prefer.
Hope this helps and thanks
for listening.
Matthew
Dattilo
If you have
tech support questions or ideas and/or submissions for our newsletter please
email them to bob@iglou.com.
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Information
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