| You made some important decisions. You | | | | or ebay there are many points to |
| picked out the computer that will do | | | | consider. |
| everything you want it to do. The basic | | | | What level of experience do you have. |
| minimum is usually the computer, | | | | What pictures do you plan to take. |
| monitor, speakers that were included, | | | | How often will you use the camera. |
| and the all-in-one printer/scanner/fax. | | | | Will you use all the complex settings. |
| The keyboard and mouse are connected. | | | | What brand will function with your |
| The speakers are connected. After you | | | | computer. |
| explore the system and all it has to | | | | How much money do you want to spend. |
| offer, you are likely to want a digital | | | | If you have never taken many pictures |
| camera. | | | | and plan to take them on holidays or |
| Depending on what online activities you | | | | vacations only you'll choose differently |
| enjoy there are other accessories. | | | | than the computer geek who can't wait to |
| Headphones with built-in-microphone to | | | | get his hands on all the bells and |
| call friends and chat hands-free. | | | | whistles of that new D-SLR. It has all |
| Perhaps a web cam if you have distant | | | | the features and accessories used by |
| relatives you'll never see any other | | | | professional photographers. Needless to |
| way. But the one thing that allows you | | | | say, the high price tag also. |
| to reach out to all of them at once is a | | | | At the other end of the spectrum is the |
| digital camera. With it you can put | | | | economy model that you might consider a |
| pictures of your life online, make a | | | | good starter camera. You might imagine |
| list of all the people you want to send | | | | yourself learning to use it then |
| them to and with one click you send an | | | | upgrading when you have more experience. |
| email with pictures attached to the | | | | If you go this route it is like tossing |
| entire group. Then by saving the email | | | | $50 or so out the car window. You put |
| list you simply send new pictures to the | | | | batteries in and thats all it tells you |
| same group again and again. You can stay | | | | how to do. There may be no instructions, |
| in touch without spending a great deal | | | | no manual to describe the features and |
| of time. | | | | no helpline or chatline to use when you |
| The online Photo Album can serve the | | | | are stumped. Among the other bad |
| same purpose. Creating one is easy. You | | | | features, the viewing screen will be too |
| can then send the URL to all your | | | | small. |
| friends and relatives. If this is | | | | Your journey from noobie to expert |
| something you will enjoy - the next step | | | | photographer is likely to be more |
| is to buy a digital camera. There are | | | | successful using a model that falls |
| enough choices to make your head spin. | | | | somewhere between the two extremes. If |
| It can be tempting to choose one with | | | | you have an upcoming event and need a |
| all the settings that you won't know how | | | | camera for it, why not buy one of the |
| to use. It'll seem practical to buy the | | | | disposable ones. Then give yourself |
| cheapest model as a learning tool. | | | | adequate time to research cameras. That |
| Either of these choices may be wrong for | | | | way you make an informed choice based on |
| you. | | | | the criteria listed above. |
| Before you rush off to the camera store | | | | |