Photo Editing Software Query

[SteveTheTech]

So I have a two month old Toshiba Laptop, and I am looking to update some software. I have looked around at the numerous options of photo editing and exporting software and was wondering what some other Nico members use and what your thoughts on it are. I am not looking for anything professional grade until I learn how to do it correctly, but I wanted to know if anyone has had any ideas that may or may not include Photoshop, I do not mind buying the pricey software but I just wanted to throw it out there.

Thanks guys.

[szh]

Do a google search for "gimp" and check it out. Quite an impressive - and free - editing tool.

Z

[phlebmaster]

So I have a two month old Toshiba Laptop, and I am looking to update some software. I have looked around at the numerous options of photo editing and exporting software and was wondering what some other Nico members use and what your thoughts on it are. I am not looking for anything professional grade until I learn how to do it correctly, but I wanted to know if anyone has had any ideas that may or may not include Photoshop, I do not mind buying the pricey software but I just wanted to throw it out there.

Thanks guys.

Steve,

I sent you an email...check your junk mail too since my email has a ".org" at the end.

[phlebmaster]

Do a google search for "gimp" and check it out. Quite an impressive - and free - editing tool.

Z

Nice program! I just DL and installed it and WoW! I think I like it better than Photoshop. Thanks for the info.

[SteveTheTech]

Thank you guys for your input, I actually downloaded Gimp right after Z posted that and got distracted and I finally installed and I so far I really like it.

Thanks

[Beancooker]

Sent ya an email Steve.

[SteveTheTech]

I have a random tech question...

Say I want to add an external storage device into my network. What is the best way to go about this I have been reading on NAS type systems and having something like and FTP server would be pretty cool for music and image storage(which is its primary use). I have found that since becoming active on Nico I have used a good chunk of memory with various files and pictures that are in several stages of editing.

I had a very good time learning how to convert animated images and I want to teach myself more about photo editing and animation, and I am a huge technology fan. Building a network sounds like fun to me and I was just wondering about the products available from non biased people who know more about this than I do. Computers and technology are my second favorite topic I feel bad about asking these questions to people in the real world so I do not show them just how behind the curve I have fallen.

There are some very bad reviews out there, and some very good ones. Are there any good 1T units that are wireless secure access capable that don't run Linux and allow for RAID.Do I need mapping? It sounds like a good idea. Am I looking for something that is way over my head? I don't really want to buy a several thousand dollar rack server I am not hosting a site...yet.

Thanks.

EDIT- What about a switch,do I need one? Currently I am using a cable internet modem(if that's even what it's called anymore ) and a 54mBps 10/100 wireless Netgear router @ <5' from me. My wife and I both are constant laptop users and she is planning on upgrading soon and I would like to have somewhere for her to dump her files before replacing the computer, and that sounds like a perfect opportunity for a system makeover.

[Beancooker]

Buy an external hard drive. You can get a 1 TB (1000Gig) drive at Costco for like $139.

You can also get portable external drines for $80ish.

Online storage is good, if you're sending a lot of large files, but unless you're sending a lot of stuff, it's not worth it IMHO.

As far as a server, Costco has a good deal on those also. http://www.costco.com/Browse/P...en-US

It really depends on what you're wanting to do. I should be on AIM when you're still up tomorrow. Hit me up.

[Slidegood]

Well if you want one that will work on a network you have to make sure it is a true network hard drive. They usually connect by USB to a router or standard is Ethernet (i would use a cat6 series cable because of a faster memory transfer rate). But if you want a regular external hard drive prices. You'll find that a lot of the cheaper ones require a separate power supply so you'll need to plug them into an outlet as opposed to having a USB powered hard drive.

[SteveTheTech]

Thanks for that I am one of those stubborn guys when it comes to things like technology.

I would really like to have something that was accessed using a browser window and a direct numeric address accessibility. I am not in a rush to get something but that is pretty much what I want and they seem pretty cheap and useful if you have a hardrive full of randomness like I do. Do any of you guys know if having a faster (n) router will effect the average communication speed? If so I think I may wait to upgrade until I get a new router. Thanks again for your input, I really want to catch up on the new computer stuff without leaving Nico.

Going to another forum is not an option I really appreciate the Nico guys opinions.