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Question for PC users
Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 5:20 PM on 07.16.05 |
->> hi all.
I am a MAC user but FINALLY got the teeny tiny 2 pound PC for imaging a lot of photos while on the road in a hurry. (carrying a MAC all day was too heavy) Which program, if any, do you all use to tramsit? Some of the people I know don't use one at all while others do.
Also, I was in a Starbucks the other day and had a hard time picking up a signal. I was told the MAC airport cards are stronger than the WIFI in PC's, and was told to go get a wireless G or Pre N card. Does anyone know anything about these? Which is better?
Thanks
Debbie |
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Jim Comeau, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Los Angeles | CA | USA | Posted: 5:43 PM on 07.16.05 |
| ->> From what I've heard, almost all Starbucks use Linksys, so using one of their cards will often give you the best signal. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 5:58 PM on 07.16.05 |
| ->> is a Linksys card the same as the wireless g or pre n? |
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Delane B. Rouse, Photographer, Photo Editor
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Washington, DC & Seattle | WA | US | Posted: 6:29 PM on 07.16.05 |
->> linksys is a *brand* name
http://www.linksys.com/ |
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Scott Gardner, Photographer
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Albany | OH | USA | Posted: 6:31 PM on 07.16.05 |
->> Debra,
The wireless g cards will get you an access rate of 54 MB/sec and is readily compatible with most public systems. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 6:51 PM on 07.16.05 |
| ->> will one of these better my chances of picking up the wifi? |
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Paul Montague, Photographer
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Swisher | IA | USA | Posted: 7:08 PM on 07.16.05 |
->> "WiFi" is transmission based on the IEEE 802.11 standard.
Wireless B (802.11B) is a capable of transmitting at speeds up to 11 MB/sec. Wireless G (802.11G) is capable of transmitting at speeds up to 54 MB/sec.
Pre-N is an emerging technology for which a standard has not yet been established (probably where the "pre" comes from). Early releases claim 108 MB/sec with broader coverage than “G”. Manufacturers also claim “full compatibility” with 802.11G.
Linksys (and others) make “B” and “G” devices.
NetGear and Belkin make “B”, “G” and “Pre-N” devices.
Wireless G should get you where you want to go. Hope this helps.
Paul. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 7:14 PM on 07.16.05 |
| ->> THANKS Paul |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:55 PM on 07.16.05 |
| ->> oh...which transmit program do you PC people use? |
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Jim Colburn, Photographer
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Omaha | NE | USA | Posted: 4:43 AM on 07.17.05 |
->> "I am a MAC user but FINALLY got the teeny tiny 2 pound PC for imaging a lot of photos while on the road in a hurry."
You should have gotten the tiny Powerbook G4 12 inch.... |
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Louis Lopez, Photographer
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Fontana | CA | USA | Posted: 4:48 AM on 07.17.05 |
| ->> I use Filezilla, it's a free program and I have a Belkin Pre-N Notebook Network Card. Both work great for me, I get a great signal with the Pre-N Card, but I believe it has nore to do with the Signal the Router is transmitting, the Belkin Pre-N Router when used with the Belkin Pre-N Notebook card gives a wider coverage distance from the router. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 8:53 AM on 07.17.05 |
->> Jim,
the "tiny" powerbook G4 12 inch is close to 3 pounds heavier. That may not seem like a lot for you, but living in NYC where we carry our gear all day on our backs and not in a car, 3 pounds does make a difference. Walking up and down the subway steps, and some are as high as 5 flights, does take its toll.
Louis-thanks for the info |
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Mike Brice, Photographer
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Northwood | OH | USA | Posted: 9:10 AM on 07.17.05 |
| ->> I also use filezilla on my PC, and sometimes signal strength depends on where you are in the location. I usually walk around looking at the signal meter before I pick the place to sit. |
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Javier Gonzalez, Photographer
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Mayaguez | PR | Puerto Rico | Posted: 9:57 AM on 07.17.05 |
->> Debra:
I keep it simple. Just use Photoshop, Nikon view and use Explorer to transfer files via FTP. It's a good idea to have any kind of image rescue software installed just in case you need it and don't want ot wait to get back in home. Never had problems with WiFi signal when I'm in the hot spot or close to. |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 12:14 PM on 07.17.05 |
| ->> WS-FTP Pro if your looking for a file transfer program. It's the best I've found and I've tried probably a dozen. There used to be a trial/demo version. A quick google search should find it for you in several places. |
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Dirk Dewachter, Photographer
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Playa Del Rey | CA | USA | Posted: 12:42 PM on 07.17.05 |
| ->> Although I have some network shortcuts set up for some FTP sites via explorer, I've configured Photomechanic to transmit to a few re-occurring FTP sites. What I like about Photomechanic's program is that it shows the progress of your transmission in simple terms whereas if you do it via cut and paste through the explorer you don't always know where you are at during the transmission. |
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Margaret Bowles, Photographer
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Charlotte | NC | | Posted: 12:58 PM on 07.17.05 |
| ->> Debra, I have the Sony VAIO lightweight laptop. I use earthlink's Total Access aircard, and the only place in the country I have not been able to get a strong signal is in Alaska. I have wi-fi built into my laptop, but I didn't get consistency with finding strong signals until I got the aircard. It's worth every penny since I'm on the road all the time and have to power up in odd places. I also use WS-FTP Pro to transmit. |
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Craig Peterson, Photographer
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St. Petersburg | FL | US | Posted: 12:59 PM on 07.17.05 |
| ->> I'm with Alan.....Although I have not tried as many programs as Alan, I've been using FTP Pro for a year now and have never had any problems. Very dependable and easy to use.....Give the trial version a shot and see how you like it. http://www.ipswitch.com/Products/WS_FTP/ |
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Joe Nicola, Photographer
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Fort Worth | TX | USA | Posted: 8:00 PM on 07.17.05 |
->> Debra,
Pre-N is also called Super-G (108 mbs). I just bought a D-Link Super G wireless (WiFi) router and a Super-G card for my son's computer. Man, what a difference it makes with our DSL service! MUCH faster than 802.11g!
Just my two cents. |
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Ed Wolfstein, Photographer, Assistant
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Burlington | VT | USA | Posted: 9:50 PM on 07.17.05 |
->> Deb:
You can FTP direct from Photo Mechanic. You set your FTP parameters (as with any FTP software), and as easy as highlighting a batch of images and pull down File -> FTP Photos... and away you go! Also nice, you can batch rename and copy the files into another directory, and even batch apply your Stationery Pad - all with one click, as part of the upload.
If you are sending image files to many ftp sites, you can have a saved setting for each. And, I've discovered, that if you have an open FTP window using Internet Explorer, you can drag and drop highlighted thumbnails right into that open ftp window, and that will ftp the image files as well.
My only wishlist item on PM FTP is to have a running countdown timer to tell me how many minutes remain in the upload. (Nice to know if you have time for a coffee, a burger, or a book)... I've mentioned this to Kirk, and perhaps it'll show up in a future release.
Oh, and BTW, which little 2lb notebook did you end up getting? I remember you belabored this decision quite a while...
Hope it's working out well for you.
Take care.
- Ed. |
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David Lucas, Photographer
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Toronto | On | Canada | Posted: 9:58 PM on 07.17.05 |
->> You might want to look at a neat little app called Konfabulator. It is the same as the new widgets on a Mac. There is a nice litte widget that goes with konfabulator called MiniFTP. It's just a little icon that sits on your desktop that you can drag and drop files onto to FTP them where you want.
www.konfabulator.com
I also use CuteFTP for when i need to send to multiple sites.
Cheers
David Lucas
Staff Photographer
Toronto Sun
www.torontosun.com
www.davidlucasphotography.com |
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Jim Vavaroutsos, Photographer
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Drew Brashler, Student/Intern, Photographer
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Flagstaff | AZ | USA | Posted: 2:39 PM on 07.18.05 |
->> Just to clear some things up. My friend has a doctor in networking security. The things he told me is get a wireless G card and it will work with both wireless G and B. Those are the two main networks people use.
Next you don’t need to go get a pre-N card, because most places you connect at, you won’t get that type of super fast connection. The only reason you would really need a pre-N is if you were on a direct network at your work (not transmitting through the internet) and had to get stuff from your laptop to your work server.
That’s my few cents. Happy shooting!
Drew Brashler |
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Vern Verna, Photographer
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Greenville | SC | United States | Posted: 2:52 PM on 07.18.05 |
->> just for the record
12" imac 4.9
12" pb 4.6 lbs
15" pb 5.2 lbs
17" lbs 5.9lbs
just my 2 cents worth good thing virus dont weigh anything cause u get a lot more of them with the peecee.
to me it seems like the laptop weight is not a consideration. i am carrying give or take 50 lbs of gear all the time and the difference between a 2 lbs peecee and a 5.9 17" when i got a 17" screen to edit on is no comparision. and oh yeh i have no problem connecting to a wireless anywhere. they work great, dont crash and arent sick with viruses all the time or needing to get an update with virus software. |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 12:12 AM on 07.19.05 |
->> Vern, vern, Vern...
please come visit NYC for a day with your 50 pounds of gear and follow me around ALL day to see how you feel at the end of the day. Trust me, 3 plus pounds DOES make a difference when you are climbing up 5 flights of subway stairs in the heat we have been having. Also-it is hotter in NYC than elsewhere and I know this since I have lived in 5 states.
I was a "surburban shooter" until 6 years ago and things are easier on the body when you have the luxury of traveling everywhere by car, and not by foot, subway or bicycle. The NYC shooters have to bring EVERYTHING with them for the day and sometimes that includes a change of clothes.
Debbie |
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Craig Peterson, Photographer
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St. Petersburg | FL | US | Posted: 10:58 AM on 07.19.05 |
->> Vern, your post is irrelevant to the question. This is not an Apple/PC debate.
Why would you even read or comment on this thread if you are not a PC user? |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 11:46 AM on 07.19.05 |
->> thanks for that Craig,
I don't know why it seems every time I ask a question, too many people respond to everything else other than the question. People need to read more carefully before wasting time responding to something off the topic at hand
Debbie |
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Robert E. Hudson Jr, Photographer, Assistant
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Orange County | CA | USA | Posted: 3:58 PM on 07.19.05 |
->> I would get the G card (just for wide compatibility), but the speed difference for what you're looking for is irrelevant. You're limited to the size of the Internet connection that the hotspot has. Most of them are DSL or Cable which generally means 2-3Mbps (megabits per second). So, that super blazing fast 54Mbps (or higher) doesn't buy you any realized speed - you're outbound transmission is going to be around the 2-3Mbps.
Just don't get all excited by claims of 54Mbps, 100Mpbs, etc that these cards support until the networks you're connecting to have that kind of speed.
Now, that said - if you connect at your publication's office wirelessly - they may support those speeds on the local network. But for connecting at Starbucks, Diedrich's (shameless plug), or Moe's - the card's speed doesn't really matter. |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 4:52 PM on 07.19.05 |
| ->> Another vote for photomechanic. By far the best way to caption and transmit. |
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Vern Verna, Photographer
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Greenville | SC | United States | Posted: 11:11 PM on 07.19.05 |
->> the revelancy of my statement was from the fact she said that a mac is not as strong as a pc card. i have found this true from experience with my mac and other shooters pc. the mac aluminum will pick up a signal better than a pc.
let me get more relevant if i can
by the way this is max speed which means a good signal. the worse the signal the slower it goes.
a b network transmits at 11mbs. oldest wireless technology.
g network works at 54mbs. or 5 times as fast. a g router can be set to allow only users with g cards to access it which allows it to communicate at 54mbs. if the network router is set up to allow b and g cards to access it it goes at 11mbs no matter what card u use. b cards are going out and soon a lot of people will make their g router only reachable by g cards and b's wont work on them.
n cards are trying to set a standard at 108mbs (they r sometimes called super g also). they are backwards compatible on g and b routers but again if the router will pick up a b card it is only going at 11mbs.
u can get a g on sale at comp usa or the like for like 14.99 or 9.99 on a given week after rebate and that now is the best option unless u have a dedicated n router that u want to use an n card on a lot of the time.
as robert said u are limited by the size of the internet connection which usually makes ur 11mb as fast as can be used anyway. now if u r transfering data from one machine to another the 54 really comes in handy but if u do a lot of that u need to plug in a get the 100 mb or gigbit that ur computer can give u with an ethernet wire plugged in rate.
by the way standards were approved last summer for firewire (ieee 1394 for our pc friends) wifi by the ieee. the theory is that it will go a 400mbs and make our current 801 technology obsolete.
if u have problems connecting their are several usb external antenna that will work well. but alas and part of my argument, add a few ounces for a wifi card, an a few for an ext antenna and u r adding weight.
by the way i have been to nyc and yes it is very hard to get around. i remember carrying an old vers i 400 at 15+ lbs on the pga tour and now i carry a 400is at 12+ or a 600is at 12.8lbs. doing this a month ago at a very hot us open in 95+ degree temps (not to mention the humidity.) and yes i love having 3 less pounds. but if you have problems is it worth it. a 2lb pc is stripped down (ie the wifi card aint in it) with a smaller screen. the mac ibook are similar (albeit heavier) they have stripped out features that are on a pb and thus you cant do as much with them. i wasnt trying to make it a pc/mac debate, i just posted the macs weight (not knowing what u had) and my main question was when u r lugging 50 lbs. (by the way i highly suggest a rolling case for camera and laptop) is 2 lbs a big difference?
by a g in a name brand (linksys or dlink are good) and u will be fine.
by the way go to dealmac.com and they will tell u the best price on a g card and yes they have pc deals also. (the cards will work on both a pc and a mac) |
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Pablo Galvez, Photographer
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Calgary | AB | CANADA | Posted: 12:31 AM on 07.20.05 |
->> Debra,
If you recently purchased this PC laptop, it probably has a built-in wireless g card in it. The signal strength may have something to do with where you are in relation to the transmitter (in the coffee shop or wherever).
Installing a wireless g card in your PCMCIA slot on your laptop may increase signal strength as it will most likely have an external antenna.
Check your laptop manual to see if you actually need to buy one or just pick a new favorite spot at the coffee shop.
-Pablo |
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Debra L Rothenberg, Photographer
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New York | NY | USA | Posted: 1:35 AM on 07.20.05 |
->> Hi Pablo,
thanks for that info. My main question(s) were what people were using to transmit using a PC and how to get more power when using it wirelessly. The Libretto has built in wifi and bluetooth and I will check the manual before I buy anything else. At over $2300, I spent enough on this little thing. The Starbucks I was in couldn't get me online but the other people there were able to. That is when I was told to get the other card, but others also said it could have been where I was sitting. I found that odd since I was close to a window but I was informed that it depends where in the Starbucks the transmitter is.
I got a little better today using the PC but I am still a lot slower than my Mac, but when I first got a computer 5 years ago I was as slow as the tortoise. A fellow photographer/PC user was looking over my shoulder as I was opening images and he was amazed at how fast they opened, and they are blazing fast compared to my MAC. Believe me, I WISH Mac had a 2 pound machine but weight won out. After 5 jobs today ALL OVER Manhattan, anything heavier would have killed me. I needed 2 bodies today and 4 lenses plus my flash, battery pack, LOTS of water, a "turtle stool" (part of a NYC shooters compat-it's a stool that folds flat and it fits in the back of the bag).
Debbie |
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Vern Verna, Photographer
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Greenville | SC | United States | Posted: 1:51 AM on 07.20.05 |
->> according to toshiba website this is what it has.
Atheros® wireless-LAN (802.11b/g) supporting Atheros SuperG™ technology
that is basically a g card supporting the pre n card or as a commented earlier sometimes called super g. so it should be capable of going at 108mbs |
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Andrew Malana, Photographer
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Tokyo | JP | Japan | Posted: 2:29 AM on 07.20.05 |
->> Just to add...AFAIK, Starbuck, Borders, et. al that has T-Mobile as the WiFi provider provides 802.11b access....Real world speed I have experienced in Japan/US using T-Mobile in USA and NTT HotSpot in Japan was around less than 1mb speed.
Also, rechecking T-Mobile's site, they offer T-1, which is 1.5mb up and down...but again real world speed vs. theoretical/advertised is much different.
So Debra, your 'little' notebook will do well for you. Just when you need to transmit/check email depends on where you sit and how many are on the public access network.
If you were build a WiFi for home, then as the others mentioned above, build your home WiFi or upgrade to the 'g' standard. You will have more speed available for you to have, but it all depends on how fast your home ISP can deliver your internet. If you have 'g' hardware but your ISP can only push 1mb, then that is all you will get.
Here in Japan, I have access to an 8mb cable internet. The WiFi access point I bought is 'g'. So I have theoretical 54mb speed. But, since the ISP is pushing (sending) 8mb internet access speeds, it averages around 2-6mb daily.
Also, note the farther away you are from the access point, the less you will be able to maintain access speed. So probably you will sitting at the fringe of the capability of your notebook's ability to receive the WiFi signal, hence not very fast compared to the others... |
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David Harpe, Photographer
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Louisville | KY | USA | Posted: 7:34 AM on 07.20.05 |
->> To be honest, the most reliable cards I've found have been the good ol' 802.11b cards (the oldest technology). I generally don't need more than 11MB/sec...particularly since the Internet connections I use are far less than that.
What I've found with the newer cards is that the autonegotiation step sometimes can cause problems when connecting to the access point. You can turn it off and force it to the slower speed, but sometimes it's a hassle to do that depending on the software you're using. The 802.11b cards are also cheap. Linksys tends to work best in my experience. |
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