Computer Info – May 30, 2001

This Week’s Meeting

        Take a look at a digital camera and transferring the pictures from the camera to the computer via a USB card reader.

Digital Cameras

PIXELS
        The more pixels you have, the higher the resolution, which determines overall detail, sharpness, and – to a point – image quality. But all pixels are not equal. A more expensive camera will have physically bigger sensors and therefore pixels. Larger pixels give the camera a better chance of gathering color and tonal information as well as reducing noise.
MEMORY
        One of the basic upgrades for a digital camera is a bigger memory card. The most popular memory card types are CompactFlash (Types I and II) and SmartMedia. Sony has come out with a Memory Stick. The largest CompactFlash (type II) is 300 MB while SmartMedia maxes out at 128 MB.
LENS COMPARISON TO 35MM CAMERAS
        35mm cameras capture light in a frame measuring roughly 1x1 ½ inches. But digital cameras are closer to ½ to 2/3 of an inch. This means that the focal lengths are smaller on the digital cameras – the lenses themselves are smaller, but the viewing angles are about equal. A digital zoom lens of 5.2-16.5mm might seem like quite a wide angle lens – but this would be the equivalent to a 34-108mm zoom on a 35mm camera. So, when you look at the spec list, always check for the phrase, "35mm film equivalent" to help in your decision.
ZOOM
        Look for optical zoom – not digital zoom. Digital zoom means the camera’s computer brain crops away the image and discards pixels!

        For the best photographic quality your printer can provide, always shoot the highest resolution/quality your camera can provide.

USB Card Reader
        Typical prices of the USB card readers are – for SmartMedia ($44.99) and for CompactFlash ($29.99). These are the prices found on the SanDisk web site. Their prices for the 64MB memory cards are – for SmartMedia ($69.95) and for CompactFlash ($74.99). Card readers that hook to the parallel port are also available.

Photo CD – Picture CD

PHOTO CD
        A Photo CD can be made from 35mm and APS films. The picture format is PCD which is a Kodak proprietary format. To get a Photo CD, you will need to go to a photo place that specializes in them. It can be ordered at the time of processing your film or it can be made from already processed film. You can have your film developed and put onto a CD without purchasing prints. Photo CDs cost more than Picture CDs on a per-image basis. A Photo CD will hold 100 images.
PICTURE CD
        A Picture CD can be made from 35mm and APS color print film. The picture format is JPG. Picture CDs are available at most retail finishing labs. It can only be ordered at the time of processing. With the Picture CD, you will need to purchase prints also. The Picture CD will hold only 40 images.
 
 


Your Browser Crashes

Error Message: "Invalid Page Fault At Kernel32.dll"
        Maybe you get this error message when you’re trying to open a Web page. Your browser may freeze while you’re scrolling a page or perhaps it won’t display a page. You may also see it when trying to close the program. Kernel32.dll handles memory management. Just about every action in a Windows application like your browser involves this busy DLL (dynamic-link library).
        Most Kernel32.dll errors are not caused by a corruption of the Kernel32.dll module. Generally, something else, such as a missing or corrupt file, is causing the Kernel32 driver to overload. In most cases, a file your browser needs no longer exists because you deleted it; this usually happens when you don’t shut down your PC properly.

Internet Explorer 4.x, 5.x
        Click TOOLS, then INTERNET OPTIONS. This defaults to the GENERAL tab. Under TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES, click the DELETE FILE button, then click OK. Click the SETTINGS button and click the VIEW OBJECTS button. When the DOWNLOAD PROGRAM FILES window appears, click VIEW, then DETAILS for a list of Program Files and their Status. Remember, you’re not looking for the Kernel32.dll file but other damaged files that are causing Kernel32 to overload. Highlight and Delete any files that are marked damaged. In most cases, you’ll be deleting damaged ActiveX items that have been creating havoc with the Kernel32 driver.
        Under HISTORY, click the CLEAR HISTORY button to dump corrupt files. When the INTERNET OPTIONS box appears asking ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT WINDOWS TO DELETE A HISTORY OF YOUR VISITED WEB SITES. Click YES and OK. Reboot your PC.

Netscape 4.7, 6.x
        Click EDIT and PREFERENCES. Under CATEGORY, click NAVIGATOR; under HISTORY, click the CLEAR HISTORY button.
        Click ADVANCED, highlight CACHE, and click both the CLEAR DISK CACHE and CLEAR MEMORY CACHE buttons. Close Navigator.
        To see if there are any corrupt files or plug-oins that could be causing the Kernel32 error, open Windows Explorer. In the Navigator folder
        C:\PROGRAM FILES\NETSCAPE\COMMUNICATOR\PROGRAM
look for the PLUGINS subdirectory and rename it something like PLUGINSOLD. Close Navigator. In Netscape 6, the PLUGINS folder is typically located under C:\PROGRAMS FILES\NETSCAPE\NETSCAPE6.
        Reboot your PC. Connect to the internet and open Navigator. If Navigator is stable, the problem was with the old PLUGIN folder. As Navigator has created a new (and empty) PLUGIN folder, delete the old one and go to Netscape and redownload your plug-ins.

Either Browser
        If your browser doesn’t crash when you open it, download Direct X 8.08a
                          http://www.microsoft.com/directx
Click the Start button, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and open the System Information Utility. In the left pane, click the plus sign for Components and click a hardware component, in this case Display. To the right, you’ll see the name, date, and version number of each driver. Click the History radio button to find out when you last installed a driver. Now, browse to the manufacturer and check for updates.