Original bmp file .. appx 20mb jpg compression 2: 217kb jpg compression 15: 79kb jpg compression 30: 51kb ..reccommended jpg comression 50: 36kb ..reccommended jpg compression 150: 20kb.

Even 20kb version was adequate for pictures say up to 5 by 3 inches on an 800 by 600 pixel screen resolution. 30 to 60kb seems a good trade off between file size and quality, but file size you get relates to picture composition. This would seem a good range for 'average' sized jpg web pictures without noticably losing quality.

----------------------------- 4. jpg versus gif gifs are good for icons and small pics - these can be in 16 colours which makes very small files.

jpeg is a compression facility and does not do so well with 16 colour or small pics, unless compression number is increased. jpeg is really for compressing big pictures, lots of data, 24 bit colour.

With gif you do not get options for palette selection and compression levels that jpeg gives.

I use gifs for icons and small pics, jpeg for rest. ------------------------------

5.Black and white. For texts, scan textual material in B&W even if there are colour pics on page. Separately scan colour pics, in colour. Black and white is 1 bit not 8 bit - file sizes are much smaller than equivalent in colour.

I have received text scans in colour - usually black is grey rather than black. If 'ocr' software won't scan them because resolution is too low (and it usually is!), I do next best thing and convert pic to B&W. The process usually involves darkening colour image as much as possible, to increase blackness of characters.

Then convert to black and white using 'threshhold' control. This threshhold is just point at which analyser decides it is a 'black' pixel square, not 'white'.

The threshhold range is 0 t0 255, in range from 127 to 220 does trick, dependent on colour original, and allowable extra black 'dots' you get if value is set too high.

File sizes can reduce a text page from 100kb jpg to 20kb gif, just by going to b&w. Somehow I prefer gifs for black and white - I feel gifs are better suited to simpler jobs than jpeg.

Paul Hailey, hailey@clara.net and site http://www.hailey,clara.net

5) Shared Memory - As a cost cutting measure, some systems are designed for video card to share memory with system itself and not to have its own dedicated memory. Therefore a system with 64 MB RAM advertised with a 4 MB card has only 60 MB of free RAM after video card’s requirements. On budget systems, this is common but you should be told about it. You could end up buying a computer that has 64 MB of RAM and then find that you only really have 58 MB -- and you can't run a program that needs 64MB.

6) What You See Isn’t What You Get - As components that go into a machine are numerous and constantly changing, you may find that machine you receive is rarely exact machine you ordered. These differences are caused by frequent non-availability of various components. Additionally, some big name mail order firms’ sales reps get into habit of "forgetting" what price they gave you for equipment you asked for – and, as a result, you get sent a system that’s missing parts that you wanted.

Now, before you go running to first “reputable” computer store thinking it’s your safest bet, you have to know that those big players also have a slew of deceptive practices up their sleeves. Furthermore, they go to great lengths to hire professional salespeople. Quite frankly, unless you’re one of small percentage of people who possess computer-buying savvy, you are putty in hands of trained computer salespeople. They know exactly how to manipulate you, entice you, allay your fears and, most importantly, close deal. How about you – are you a trained computer buyer?

Do you know for instance….

…what day of week it’s best to buy a computer to get best prices?

…the closely-guarded tactic to saving at least $500 on your next computer purchase?

…what advertised feature you should never pay a single dime for when buying a computer?

…when it’s OK to buy "clones" or generic brands?

…why you should beware of advertisements that scream “Free Printer”, “Free Scanner” and “Free Software”?

My friend, Mark Joyner, and I reveal those secrets for free in another article located here:

http://www.roibot.com k_cbsr.cgi?cbsrfreecontent

I don’t want you thinking there are no happy endings in world of computer buying. It's absolutely mind-blowing what astronomical margins some firms make on PCs, and how incredibly simple it is for buyers to get huge discounts on those prices - if they know how.

Epilogue: I have a recent success story of my own to tell. I just bought myself a new laptop -- a beautiful IBM Thinkpad T20 with all bells and whistles at about $1400 below listed price!

All I can say is, beating computer bullies at their own game is best revenge.