SHOULD YOU PRINT YOUR DIGITAL PHOTOS AT HOME OR USE A PHOTO PRINTING SERVICE?Written by Valerie Goettsch
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The downside: you do pay a shipping charge, so you may want to wait and order a number of photos or photo products at one time to make it more economical. Print costs for 4x6 inch photos range from about 19 cents to 29 cents, depending on company. Wal-Mart.com's prints are inexpensive and bonus is you can upload your photos to their website and then pick them up at your local store and avoid shipping charges. Photo stores like RitzCamera.com or WolfCamera.com are also good options because you can either upload your photos to their website and pick them up at a local store in as little as an hour, or you can drop off your memory card at store and pick up your prints later. PRINT YOUR PHOTOS AT THE DRUGSTORE Digital printing is now available at drugstore chains such as Walgreens and Longs. You can bring in your memory stick and use their photo kiosk to crop and edit your images and then print them. The cost is about same as an online printing service, but you have to stand there at kiosk and edit/upload your photos. Not something I really want to do, nor do I want to wait in line while someone else finishes their photo order. The good news is these drugstores also offer online photo services so you can upload your photos to their website and you can pick up your prints at their store usually next day. The other option is you can drop off your memory card or CD at drugstore's photo department and pick up your prints anywhere from an hour later to a day later, depending on service selected, just like "old days" of 35mm film. The print cost is about same as full service online photo finishers (less shipping fee). There are frequent sales, so per-print cost can be relatively low if you hit a sale, but you don't have option of cropping or enhancing your images unless you edit your photos then burn them to a CD first. My suggestion is to experiment with several methods and find best one that works for you. Whatever you do, don't just let all those digital photos pile up in your memory card or on your computer, get them printed so you can show them off. Of course you can also share them online with family and friends, but that's another article….
Valerie Goettsch publishes the digital photography website http://www.digitalphotos101.com featuring reviews of photo editing and album software and digital photo printing services.
| | Connecting On The RoadWritten by Gregg
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Where will you be going and how close to “civilization” will you be? How much traveling will you be doing each year to offset cost of equipment? TIME If you’re someone who just wants to check your email, and do a minimal amount (less than 1 hour per day) of surfing, your best bet is to use PC offered at many RV parks, or those that allow you to hook up your laptop to their phone line. Both of these may be free or just involve a small fee. On flip side, if you want/need to spend several hours per day checking email or surfing web (because you’re running a business, for example), you have a few options to consider: Cell Phone. This can either be via a cord that connects from your PC to your cell phone and which your cell phone provider should offer. The connection is going to cost you by minute – just as your cell phone calls do, and you must purchase cord and software. Upside: Low cost to get started. Pitfall: Slow connection speed, charged by minute, and possibility of having to upgrade your cell phone frequently to keep up with technology. Air Card. This card – which is about size of a credit card - is inserted into slot on your laptop (or PC, if available). The connection speed is going to depend on both your signal strength and type of PC you’re using. This is generally going to be about speed of dialup – maybe a little faster. Typical costs are a few hundred dollars for card and close to $100 per month for unlimited dialup access. Upside: Easy-to-use. Pitfalls: Most cards only work with a laptop, not a desktop PC, and connection speed is slow. Plus, monthly fee is quite high. Satellite. Satellite internet uses a satellite dish for connection. Upload and download speeds vary, but most are much faster than what is offered with either cell phone dialup or an air card. There are a few satellite contenders, all of whom require an initial equipment purchase and then a monthly fee: DirectWAY (www.directway.com), Starband (www.starband.com), and DataStorm (www.datastorm.com). Upside: Fast download speed, good upload speed. Pitfalls: Cost which is a minimum of a few hundred to a few thousand dollars just for equipment. DSL/Broadband at Campgrounds. Many RV parks are now offering services such as LinkSpot (www.linkspot.com). To make a connection to a parks Wi-Fi (as it’s called) depends on (a) how close you are to antenna and (b) whether you have wireless internet available on your laptop or desktop. For antenna proximity, most parks will let you know when making a reservation if there are certain spots that will not be able to make a connection. For equipment, newer laptops now feature a wireless connection already built-in so you can literally pull in, park, login, buy some internet time, and begin using your computer. Other parks occasionally offer necessary wireless equipment for rental and it’s simply a matter of plugging it in, logging in and buying some minutes. Upside: Gives you high-speed of DSL/Broadband at a low cost. Pitfalls: While numbers are growing, less than 30% of all RVs parks in US offer this service. Therefore, some advanced planning as to where you will stay is required. Most of above options are going to depend on your location in US. The farther away from large cities and such, more limited your choices become. Your cell phone or air card must be able to find a tower, your satellite must have a clear view of sky, and DSL/Broadband must be available to an “off-the-beaten-path” RV park. The best way to find out what will work effectively is to talk with others ahead of time – especially park owner where you plan to stay. Cost is a factor when it comes to mobile internet. You can spend from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. If money is no object, then go all out and buy a satellite system. However, if money does have to be considered, start small – maybe using your cell phone – and work up from there. You can always upgrade if need and expense are justified. The best thing to say about today’s technology is that it offers consumers a wide array of choices to select a solution that works best for their individual needs. Thus, when deciding on how to connect while on road, know your usage requirements and budget!
Jeff Anderson knows RV’s. He knows what to look for and what pitfalls to avoid. Let him guide you to a successful life on the road. Contact him today at Jeff@rvcruiser.com or visit the blog at his site RVCruiser.com
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