*squeak* *squeak* (what sort of noises do lemmings make, anyway?)

Congrats on the new MacBook, Margo (typing at you from my white MacBook) ;)

Masaki

Masaki...the look of the little white book is so neat! Even the keys feel different...OK, I'm in love! LOL

I've been called many things...but a lemming? That's a new one!

You are going to love it more and more, Margo.

Ray, come into the light!!!

R....just set up my 20" video display and wireless mouse and keyboard...amazing - I can roll my chair back from the screen, place keyboard in lap and enjoy! Perfect for people my "age"! LOL

The display is so bright - but at one point I hit the dashboard key and when the screen changed I grabbed it - looked like it was taking off! ;)

OMG, this thread is great for me to read. In Mexico, I hated my SIL's Mac, only because I didn't know what I was doing! She had to load up all of my photos. She bought it because she is a serious amateur photographer (and a good one) and apparently Mac's are the end all be all for this? She worked with John on MUSH, and bought it, never having owned one. I am too impatient with the learning curve.

So, if there is debate here, can anyone recommend a non-Mac that is both slim and light, and gives great picture resolution from the camera? Really, that's all I need it for other than internet.

Olivia...yes, it's frustrating at first - it's like suddenly becoming left handed after living right handed your whole life....the screens close on the left, the file menus are different - you feel lost.

I just decided to relax and be patient - not a quality I cultivate. But today I've made some progress. I know I'll still be frustrated, but I think it will be great in the end.

Olivia,

While the MAC enthusiasts were first with the use of the photo software and were known to dominate the arts world, there virtually is no longer a difference in the capabilities of Photoshop for MAC or PC and that is the industry standard. The program is identical.

I was in on John's lesson with Robin (and Masaki too)and I agree that to do great photography you really do need to be versed in Photoshop CS3 - but Mac or PC are identical! No MAC required.

There is a new version of Photoshop (CS3) that's been released in Beta testing and the photographers are going crazy over it as well as a new program called Lightroom 1.0.

Even in the photography workshops, which were formerly dominated by MAC users, they are now populated by more PC users than MAC users. That was a real surprise to me, since I was thinking that maybe I would switch my photo work to my Mac Laptop - I have been using a PC for my photography.

PC's are actually less money initially, have more software available for a variety of applications. That being said, I am not recommending that people buy the new VISTA operating software yet, because like anything new, it's been released before it's ready. Even the dual platform MAC's have a few issues that Apple has not addressed, but, it's not widely publicised and hard to find the info about it even from Apple.

There really isn't much of a learning curve for the Basics. It's when yiu get into the more complex issues that I think the learning curve may be a bit more. But as I am learning, I am realizing that the Mac really is more intuitive than WIndows. People like to throw the term User Friendly around. I am learning that the Mac is more User Friendly than windows machines.

Most people are putting Windows on their new Macs. I haven't done so, and I doubt I will. I've found Mac versions of almost everything I use. Just found NeoOffice, which is a free Microsoft Office clone - does all the basic stuff (But I did have to go onto my windows machine to print envelopes - couldn't figure that one out in NeoOffice). there is one program that is not available on the Mac that I do miss - PICASA. Picasa states they are working on it,but are not making promises.

Cathy - how was the Santa Fe workshop?

Update: I am pleased to announce that my techie husband found a way for Windows Vista to support BOTH my old (3 years) multi-function HP printer and our Palm Pilot/Palm Desktop. I have no idea how he did it, but he obviously cheated the system because the other day, these were not an option when trying to hook them together. There is light at the end of the Vista Tunnel!!! You don't have to buy all new peripherals!!!! HA HA Bill Gates!

Kristin,

That was great to hear. I will need a new desktop at the office in a few months and I am loathing the idea of converting to Vista unlike it was aiting in line to be the first to upgrade to XP (which did cause me to have to buy a new desktop - but, that is another long story).

Gil,

The Santa Fe workshop was good in that in spite of a problem with the teacher, we had a great class and we forced ourselves to learn studio lighting on location without much of a lesson plan from him. We were at so many different levels and he was only prepared to teach an advanced class when most were beginners when it came to studio lighting.

And it was COLD for this California Girl - 18 degrees is the coldest I want to remember! Brad and Leslie and dinner with the was the frosting on the cake!

olivia in terms of color there is no comparison. I didn't believe it until I saw Gils screen. whites are so much brighter.