Technology sucks (or my cheap company...)

[NaomiMcC]

So I'm a reporter at our local paper. We're using digital cameras and have slowly been making the transition to full digital. So...we have one office camera that is digital and two of us have had to share it. The sharing is not working so I was told I have to go buy one and the other guy (the sports reporter we hired who doesnt' even own a camera -- WTF??) can use the office one. Fine. Whatever I was going to buy one anyway.

So we bite the bullet and I buy my camera. The camera I've wanted for a year. The kicker? It's not compatible with our system at work (or at home but we're planning on upgrading anyways...) because the work system and our computers are so FREAKING ANTIQUATED.

But will the company buy the upgrades to allow us to be compatible? Nope. I'm told to go and return my camera for one that is. So they want to go digital but they don't want to spend any cash. So basically, trade my awesome camera in for a crappy one so they don't have to upgrade the system. :pissed:

Uh. Ya. No. My cash, my camera. You want me to have a crappy camera...you freakin' foot the bill. I already shelled out $400.:pissed:

Ugh. Drive me crazy.:evileye:

[Love My Cop]

Hmm, I would be upset too. Some companies seem to be gettiing cheaper, and cheaper these days, expecting employees to foot the bill for things needed at the workplace. IMHO I would not spend my money on work related items,unless it was stated clearly from the very beginining, that I had to provide it, and I agreed to it. Whats next, providing your own Paper Towels and TP at work too? :boggle:

[truepeacenik]

I know your pain.
Here's the good news: you have a camera that you MIGHT be able to take as a deduction on taxes (I can in the States)

Here is how you get around the tech: download at home on whatever you have, even freeware.
I would e-mail my pics close to final size, but at 200 dpi (the resolution the job printer needed) to a net-based e-mail account such as gmail or yahoo. this is slow, but I originally was burning a disk for each deadline which basically could suction-start a Harley.
an advantage is I would write the cutline and have that in teh e-mail.
DON'T clear the camera until you have retrieved said pix sucessfully.
Learn from my mistakes.

I have also bought card readers so I can download anywhere.


What systems are you using, including photo manipulation software?

I work on iMacs and ONE computer has the ability to run PhotoShop.
I have an XP at home, so I still e-mail a lot of photos even at the "new" paper (two years)

At one paper we were paid a stipend for using our own cameras. $30 US a month, I think.
It's only fair, just like paying milage: it's wear and tear on YOUR gear.

[NaomiMcC]

Thanks for the advice peacenik...when we upgrade to XP at home this summer I may be able to do that instead. (I'm working on windows 98 PC at home and G4 Macs at work...compatibility issues much? Oy!!!:whyme: ) The camera needs Mac OS 10.3 and we're only on OS9. You think they could update at least one computer in the whole freakin' office. But nope.:pissed:

Where can I find a card reader and how do they work?:confused:

P.s. suction start a harley:lafhard: :lafhard: :lafhard: *whew*

[trolleypup]

I second the card reader option. A card reader is a plastic dingus that has a slot for your camera's memory card on one end and a USB plug on the other end. You just pop the memory card out of your camera, stick it in the reader and plug the reader into the computer. The computer should automatically recognize it as a external (hard)drive. Then you can easily copy the images over for manipulation etc.

[NaomiMcC]

Sweet!!! I'm off to check that out tomorrow for sure! I had no idea that type of stuff existed!! Does it work on any computer?

[trolleypup]

Sweet!!! I'm off to check that out tomorrow for sure! I had no idea that type of stuff existed!! Does it work on any computer?

Should work with any computer that has a USB port, possibly old versions of Windows will need drivers, but I think that is W95 not W98.

Make sure you bring your memory card along, so you can make sure you get the right card reader.

[NaomiMcC]

Wow!! Thanks trolleypup! That totally makes things 150% easier!!! :)

[Lady Godiva]

Added points: do bring the drivers if you're not running XP, and even if you do bring them, they may not install well or at all in 98 and 95. Also, make sure that your card reader can read big cards! Some fairly new card readers can't read even 2 GB SD cards, so you may have to load the camera's software rather than relying just on card readers, if 98 or 95 can even install the software.

We're still in the Digital Dinosaur Age. :fish: