Back up Complete

I have completed the new back up for my images.   It took a lot less time than I imagined and now appears to work very well.   It is, perhaps, not as sophisticated as commercial software but I am confident in what it is doing.   Also, it fits neatly into my workflow and so whenever I have finished creating finished TIFF files I will be able to back up my work immediately.  No commercial software would do that.

I have to say I am more and more impressed with the performance of the new computer.   I have just created a panorama out of four full sized RAW files from Lightroom into Photoshop.   This process used to take several minutes before.  Now, just over a minute from start to finish.  It was a marvel watching the blending and alignment take place before your eyes.

Perhaps it was worth the frustration when it arrived.

Welcome to a whole new year

Greylag Geese walking across Hyde Park - London

A happy new year to all.   And how have I been spending my first day of the new year?   Well sorting out my image back up.   I ran the back up last night as I mentioned before and I am not confident that this has copied what I want.   I know it has completed the process but I just am not confident that it has copied the files I want.  Why is this?  Well like most other back up processes the files are locked into a proprietary files system so I am not able to verify that all the files have indeed been backed up.  I am not saying that they haven't it just that I don't trust my set up so i would like to see the file on the back up disk - which I can't.

Given this problem I have decided to rewrite my old back up program.   This is going quite well but will take two or three days to complete and test.   So a few more headache in stall until this is completed.  Ah ho.

Frosty Morning

Cold and Frosty Jubilee Park

It was a bit cold this morning.  According to the radio it was around -2c - which is quite cold these days.   Anyway, I thought I would go out and capture the cold world as dawn broke.   I was hoping for some sun to help enliven the images but all I got was a frost mist.  Still this added to the atmosphere.

The new computer is slowly starting to bed in.   I am still building the software etc on the machine.   I am in the process of installing Acronis True Image as my back up program.  I am not sure why but I always have problems with back up programs - so much so I ended up writing my own.  It wasn't too sophisticated but it worked.  However, I have decided to take the plunge and use a commercial product - only time will tell if it is worth the money.

As for the new computer all I can say is wow.   The reason I bought this machine was to try and handle very large image files.   I have to say it is not disappointing me.  Lets hope this early enthusiasm is not misplaced.

And finally. may I wish any who is reading this a happy new year and may next be better this this one.

The start of something new

Burrough Hill Iron age Fort

I have spent most of the day setting up my new computer.  To date only one set of software won't work - Genuine Fractals 5.   According to the web site this software will not work with 64 bit OS - see support website for more information.  This is a bit of a blow but one I'll get over.

It has been quite tiring slowly building up the new computer - I still have to install the scanner and printer - but these can wait.   I have to say I am impressed with the performance of the new computer.   I am now able to move seamlessly from Lightroom 2.2 to Photoshop CS4 in a blink of an eye.

The new Photoshop is a bit different from CS3.  I am taking my time to get use to the changes but the most important thing is the performance of the software.  The Burrough Hill image at one time was over 300mb in size and the machine/software didn't break into a sweat.   The new zoom facility on Photoshop take a little getting used to - it is so quick and smooth.   Overall, it has been a very enjoyable day.  Lets hope this continues.

Update from the Computer front

Well this hard drive has lasted longer than the last one!  This is not much to crow about but it is something I suppose.  The Dell engineer that came and installed the new hard drive also sorted out the printer problem 64/32 bit network problems.  This was easily overcome by downloading the correct drivers from Brother - now why didn't windows think of that!

The engineer did forget to install my anti virus software.  This left with the problem of getting him back or sorting it out myself.  I chose the latter and after a 15 minute virtual chat with a very helpful McAfee person called Sandeep I was able to overcome this issue as well.

I am glad to say that the install of software appears to be going along reasonably well (Experience has taught me not to be too over optimistic)  Hopefully, I might be able to get this best to start to work on my images tomorrow. Hopefully.

The computer is fixed??!!??

Well, as I type this I am using my new computer.  it was the hard drive so lets hope this one lasts longer!

The hard drive is no more

Its official - the hard drive has gone bang.   Not bad going 6 hours of use but to be fair to Dell they appologised , well their Indian technician did, and an engineer will be visiting on Monday to install the new hard drive.   But it has taken some of the fun out of Christmas for me.   Also it has put into doubt my submission for the RPS print competition.   I hope this is not the case.   We will see.

Disaster Disaster Disaster

Well I really must have up set someone!  After only 6 hours the hard drive on my new computer appears to have failed!  Now this is not unheard of - I have two previous failures but after 6 hours!  Tomorrow I will be contacting Dell and I will no doubt find out if the premium warranty I bought is worth the money.   I guess its going to be one of those Christmases????!!!???

The only good thing is that my lap top is working - hence I am able to write this.   If anyone is reading this there is only one moral of this story - backup and backup often.

Lets see what tomorrow will bring.

Install Continues

The install of software, backup etc continues.   One or two problems have arisen due to the fact that the operating system is 64 bit and the printer is on the network running 32 bit.   I am sure I will be able to sort this out tomorrow.   I have just tried to install my ancient copy of Visual Basic and this has failed,  fortunately I am able to write software fixes to overcome this.  Again this is more irritating than anything else.   I just wonder how easy it would have been with an Apple - perhaps the 32/64 bit conflict may not have arisen although I am not so sure.  

I am currently rebuilding my Lightroom catalogue.   I decided to take this opportunity to rationalise my under lying structure.  This should help in the long term.

Starting the set up

Just started the set up of my new computer.  This is acting as a test to see if the blog works...which it should

Oops forgot the Dell has arrived.

Almost frgot my new computer has arrived this morning.  I will set this up over the next few days - I have a number of items to connect i.e. printers scanners Wacom tablets etc and there is no rush.   Still I feel a certain amount of trepidation about the whole process.   Wish me luck.

Thinking about setting up the new computer

National Gallery - London

Having to undertake some interesting think about how to set up the new computer.   This wasn't too much of a problem in the past as I hadn't developed a significant digital work flow.   This time it is different and it is causing my brain to hurt.   It revolves around three applications: Adobe's Photoshop, Lightroom and Dreamweaver.   How do I set up these packages up on the new machine?   Equally, do I spend a some cash and buy CS4 - after all I am a full time student and so could get the web premium package for a significant discount.   This is probably the best way forward in the long term but just at the moment it may cause complications when I have an essay to finish.  Problems problems problems.   I suspect I will have to bite the bullet and set things from new and take it from there.   Should be an interesting few weeks.

The audit has landed

Oh the joys of replacing your computer.  I am now about to embark on an audit that I should have done a while ago to identify all the hardware/software that will have to be installed on the new machine.    This might seem straight forward but this usually takes all morning and I have found that if you don't do it then you miss something - something that may be important and very difficult to recover once your computer has been recycled.  Let the fun begin!

Latest sickness update: Now a slightly snotty nose - think I might survive.

Platting Fog

GGARGGHH! This is turning into one of those days. If I were paranoid then I would think it was caused by me bad mouthing Apple computers (perhaps it is some form of virus that is spread by Jobites across the world). Anyway, after announcing to the world that I had bought myself a new computer I then fell foul of well meaning financial security constraints. Cutting a long story short I have just spent the past hour or so ring different companies to smooth the way for my purchaise. Finally, it has been sorted out and I have to say that the one person who should be praised in all this is the account manager at Dell Srilekha Bhattacharya. She was more helpful that you can imagine and well worth a mention (although how worth being mentioned here is is another question!)



Anyway, I now have the documentation to prove it. My new Dell should arrive just before Christmas and all is good in the world. The only thing is my head is so thick at the moment that I am having difficulty thinking straight - indeed everything does feel like I am platting fog....now where is that Lemsip???

Well I've gone and done it

City of London 

After sitting on my hands for weeks I have finally taken the leap and replaced my trusty desktop computer.   For some time I have been toying with the idea of moving over to Mac but unfortunately  technology has moved on and the latest Mac's don't appear to be using it at the moment.  (I am sure this will be addressed in the future but I am replacing my machine now.)

Two questions, what new technology and why now?  The first is the new intel chipsets Core i 7.   I am not going to claim I know the technical specs about this new chip apart from the old trusted PCPro gave the thumbs up and I have always found their reviews to be very reliable.   New technology comes along all the time why replace the desktop now?  

Over the past few months I have started to work a lot of the time with very large digital image files (3oomb +).  This is because I have started to experiment with HDR panoramic images.  Needless to say when you work with files this size then it very quickly consumes resources and my trusted desktop was starting to run out of puff.  I have increased the size of the RAM to the max for 32 bit windows processing and this helped but nonetheless it was becoming apparent that I needed to boast the machine and the most cost effective way was to upgrade my machine.

When I came to compare any comparable Apple with Dell I found that the Apple machines just didn't have the latest technology.   This, of course, is not the only reason why I didn't go with an Apple and I have explained this in the past.  I am also sure that when Apple does implement this technology, some time next year by their usual model release cycle, then no doubt it will be well integrated into their system.  The bottom line is that the amount of processing power comparable with the model I have bought would have been almost twice as expensive.  Lets just hope that the results are worth the expenditure.

Entering the Lions den - should I convert to a MAC?

This really is one of those areas that you tread with trepidation - the Mac's v PC battle.   Both sides have powerful arguments to convince a customer to buy their product.  This of course is a misnomer as there no such thing as a PC side in the same way as there is a Mac side.  Only Apple makes Macs whilst virtually anyone can make a PC.   These are both the strengths and weakness of each product.   Because the Mac is essentially a closed system, i.e. only Apple built products running Apple operating system they tend to be far better coordinated and far less liable to vagaries of the PC world's wonderful driver set up.   To an extent this is now becoming less of a problem but it is still there.   This being said the Macs are more expensive to buy and the software tends to be more restricted and at times slightly more expensive.

So both sides have their pros and cons which leads me to why I am writing this.   I am in the process of replacing my PC.   It is starting to show its age and I am now demanding more and more of it as I deal with larger and larger digital images.  I have put some fixes in to help prolong my system but it is no longer cost effective to carry on this piecemeal  approach.   I am going to replace my PC.   So the question is do I replace my PC with another PC or a Mac.  I asked a colleague from the course his views about using Mac's and I think it is safe to say he is a very keen Mac user.  For him a Mac ticks all the boxes and this certainly gave me some food for thought.   However, having reflected on what was said and then my position I cannot see any sense moving to a Mac.   This does not mean that PC's are better than Macs but rather given my circumstances it is not a cost effective way forward.   The arguments behind this are twofold:

Hardware Costs:  Put simply the cost of a Mac is not competitive with a similar PC (You can say this this now even more so as the many parts within a Mac are the same as a PC.   I know that this is not the totally equation as to why Mac's are more expensive but it is a good place to start.)

Opportunity Costs:  (By this I mean the amount of time I would save and therefore give me the opportunity to do something else than tinker with a computer)  are greater with a Mac than PC.   Let me expand on this a little.   I have been using a DOS based operating system for over 20 years.   I therefore have a significant knowledge base of how PCs work.   This means I understand their little ways a lot better than I do a Mac.  I will give you one small example.   Right Click.   Now this has been a feature with PCs for years and has only more recently become a feature with the Mac.   This means that Mac users tend to use the keyboard and mouse together compared to the PC users, i.e. me.   This is but one example of how the small things make a whole lot of difference.   To a Mac user this is not an issue. To me it is.   This is the problem.  I would have to learn new skills.   These are only small points compared to the system integration that I would have to undertake.   I have written several bespoke programs for myself.  they are vital to the way I work and the thought of having to rewrite these is not worth contemplating.

So having given the matter some thought I cannot see the financial advantage of using a Mac compared to a PC.  This doesn't mean that Macs are bad and PCs are good it just means that for me the cost of moving to a Mac is just too high.

Let the sky fall in on my head.

On final thought.   The browser I use most of the time is Safari.  I think it looks great and most of time works fine.   However, there are times when a web site doesn't work with Safari.  When this happens guess which browser I use.   Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE).   It is perhaps not as beautiful as Safari but always works.   The reason for this is really quite simple.  When you are developing a web site you have to optimize them for different browsers and guess which one is the default - IE.  This doesn't mean I like this it is just a fact of life and I am not that bothered about computers to do anything about it.

Few that felt better!

One final final thought.  I love the ways Mac look, I think they are beautifully designed - almost a work of art.