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General discussion

Reports of unstable Kodak software??

Aug 21, 2004 9:58PM PDT

I am in the market for the best 4 to 5 MPx camera available, and have been slewed from choosing Kodak because of widespread reports of unreliable and buggy software. After reading many reviews, I will probably opt for the Canon A80. Do you users have any comments on this choice? Oh, and this will be my first digital camera, so I would like to get it right first up!

Discussion is locked

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Re: Reports of unstable Kodak software??
Aug 21, 2004 11:05PM PDT

Just a comment. Any USB connected device will be labeled unreliable as many machines are not ready to use USB.

As to unavailable software, my dad's 3 plus year old Kodak doesn't have a CD for Windows XP. You have to fish around on the web site and there it is.

Bob

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Re: Reports of unstable Kodak software??
Aug 22, 2004 12:46AM PDT

Kodak has recently released a newer version of their software. You can download it for free at their website.

Canon just announced:
that the 4 meg A80 has been replaced with the 5 meg A90.
that the 3 meg A75 has been replaced with the 4 meg A85.

Regarding camera maker's software:

I have three digital cameras: Olympus, Canon, and Konica/Minolta. I do not use any of the software that came with the cameras.
There is better software available.

For downloading to the computer I bought a card reader. I just insert the memory card and see it as another disk drive on my computer. I use Windows Explorer to put the photos where I want them.

I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 2 for photo manipulation.
One very stable program for three different cameras.

....

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So one should await the Canon A90?
Aug 22, 2004 12:00PM PDT

Thank you for the information provided. It seems that I should hold off until the Canon A90 becomes available here in Australia. I assume that it will feature the swivelling LCD screen of the A80?

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My Mistake - It is A95
Aug 22, 2004 12:17PM PDT
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Joe, which SmartCard reader do you use: USB?
Aug 22, 2004 3:19PM PDT

.

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Re: Joe, which SmartCard reader do you use: USB?
Aug 23, 2004 12:16AM PDT

Most flash card readers are USB now.

They are inexpensive here in the USA.

I bought mine here:

http://www.compgeeks.com/products.asp?cat=CAM#Flash%20Card%20Readers

Scroll down to the "Flash Card Readers"

I find it more convenient than connecting a camera to the computer. If you are using Windows XP, you don't even have to load drivers. They come with drivers for Win98.

...

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I prefer using the camera's software.
Aug 22, 2004 4:12PM PDT

In my Nikon's case, it preserves the meta information attached to the picture. I'm also not sure that it doesn't do some post processing of the image. Once the image is transferred to the computer, then I work with it using third party software. I also eliminate the need to attach something else to the computer, and avoid wear and tear on the memory card.

Does a card reader preserve the meta data?

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(NT) (NT) ...Yes...
Aug 23, 2004 12:18AM PDT