Blatant Plug: We have just launched a brand new course at PCMech University which is designed to give you tactics you need to know on how to take professional photographs using any standard digital camera. No, you don’t need the expensive model to make good images. The secret is in the person holding the camera, not the equipment (in most cases). Come by PCMech University for more information.

But, that’s not the purpose of this article. I promise. Let’s say you are taking some cool shots with your camera. What can you do with them besides impress yourself?

Go Quasi-Pro Online

Anybody who is a hobbyist photographer would love to make some money doing what they love - namely taking pictures. The Internet makes it much easier to do.

In the old days, you would need to make the right contacts and even strike up a deal with an agency. You’d have to send in your negatives and get approved, yada yada. Today, stock photography sites are online. And with photography being mostly digital today, you can now simply upload your photos.

One such site is iStockPhoto. iStockPhoto is a large online marketplace for stock photography. Anybody looking to buy a photo for use on the web or in print advertising, for instance, can come to this site and buy rights to use a photo. That is what stock photography is all about. As a photographer, you can submit your photos to iStockPhoto and earn money if anybody purchases your work. Pay rates usually hover around 20% of the purchase price. You can set the purchase price yourself (ranging from $1 up to $40).

Now, to keep the quality of the collection up, yes you do need to get approval from Istockphoto before you can participate. They will check the quality of the work as well as any possible copyright issues and appropriate model releases (if there are people in your photo).

Other sites you can check out are ShutterStock (pays 25 cents per purchase, which can add up if you keep things fresh) ShutterPoint, Fotolia (between 30 cents and $1 per download) and Dreamstime (pays between 50% and 80% commission).

Some Tips

As I end off this article, here is some quick advice if you want to start making money doing this:

1. Takes LOTS of pictures. As any photographer will tell you, you snap snap snap to end up with a few good ones.
2. Pay attention to what sells and take those kinds of photos. Feed the demand.

If you take it seriously, then yes, you can make money with your digital camera. It doesn’t have to be a full-time job, either. It could be a spare time thing and still work out in your favor.

1. It’s too big to fit on the desk.
2. It uses an insanely thick cable with a Centronics connector to connect to your computer.
3. Your computer (especially if a laptop) doesn’t have the port where that insanely thick cable is supposed to plug into.

Assuming you can acquire a printer ribbon (if dot matrix) or replacement toner (if laser) for it, you can resurrect that printer using modern tech.

Converting Centronics to USB: Only takes a single cable to do this. And being the printer is old it’s more or less guaranteed to be recognized by your computer without the need to install any drivers whatsoever.

Connect printer directly to the router: Requires a miniature print server. This connects via Ethernet directly to the router and network-enables the printer. No connection to the computer required (but some setup does need to take place.)

Connect printer over Bluetooth wireless: Requires an (expensive) adapter. Also may require another (not-so-expensive) USB Bluetooth adapter if your PC isn’t Bluetooth-enabled. The adapter mentioned for the printer does Centronics and USB! Wireless range is stated to be 100 meters (328 feet) but in practical application you’re “safe” with about 25 meters (82 feet) at the most. Works well in most instances. The best part is that you can have the printer in a completely separate room - leaving you more desk space.

Some quick truths about older printers

Dot matrix printers while loud and have a slow PPM (page per minute) speed have two distinct advantages.

1. Tractor feed paper, if available, is dirt cheap.
2. You can easily go for an entire year without having to change the printer ribbon.

Older business-grade HP LaserJet printers also have a slow PPM but have the following advantages.

1. New toner, shockingly, is sometimes cheaper than inkjet replacement cartridges.
2. Toner lasts far longer than inkjet cartridges do.
3. Biz-grade LaserJets can be easily serviced. Chances are high that there’s a local certified HP tech close to where you live - and he does house calls.
4. Older LaserJets require no stupid proprietary drivers because support is built-in to the OS. Windows, Mac and Linux will “see” these printers with no fuss, no muss.

History Lesson of USB

USB stands for Universal Serial Bus, and most of us know that it is the de facto standard for connecting perihperals to your computer today. The major benefits of USB are:

1. Allows connection and disconnection while the PC is running (hot swappable)
2. Provides low-level power to peripherals to avoid the need for external power. This is adequate for things like keyboards, mice, low-power speakers, etc.

The USB 1.0 spec started out in 1995, with the 1.1 spec coming out three years later. USB 1.1 provided maximum bandwidth of 12 Mbits/sec. The USB 2.0 spec was finalized in 2001, providing 480 Mbits/sec - roughly 40X faster than the original spec. USB 2.0 is what most PCs are using today. USB 2.0 is fully backward compatible with the original 1.1 spec.

We are seeing hardware today that stretches the limit of USB 2.0.

Firewire hasn’t always been faster than USB 2.0. The bandwidth cap used to be 400 Mbit/sec. Apple released Firewire 800 in 2008, with bandwidth just under 800 Mbit/sec. A coming S3200 spec will have Firewire hitting 3200 Mbit/sec. So, as it sits now, USB 2.0 is indeed outshined by today’s versions of Firewire. This is a leading reason why so many video cameras and other bandwidth intensive devices are using Firewire primarily.

Bigger, Faster, More Manly

USB 3.0 is going to 10X the current USB 2.0 bandwidth. It will do this by adding fiber optic wires alongside the copper wiring in the USB cable. Fiber optics, of course, use light rather than electrical current to transfer data. That means speed.

A USB 3.0 spec, working at nearly 5 GBps, will be the fastest method of connecting peripherals available. It will beat the coming Firewire spec as well as the current versions of eSATA, which operate at about 3 GBps. This will make USB 3.0 the leading connection type for devices like video cameras, external hard drives, card readers, etc.

We don’t yet have many more details on USB 3.0. The spec was introduced by Intel in September 2007 as a prototype. So, it is still a work in progress and a lot of information is still missing. For example, how many devices will be able to be connected? Will the CPU usage remain high (a fairly common complaint with USB 2.0)? We don’t know yet.

One thing I can say is that USB 3.0 is shaping up to kill Firewire. With a working USB 3.0 spec and eSATA, why would anyone use Firewire? Perhaps our existing Firewire devices will become obsolete.

Are there other methods of printing available that are available for purchase now that could potentially save you money in the long run?

Absolutely.

Dot Matrix

Chances are if you’ve been around computers long enough, you’ve seen dot matrix printers in action. These printers are basically indestructible, make excellent use of ink and have proven reliability.

Do they have the same quality as Laser or InkJet? No. But you’ll smile knowing you don’t have to purchase ridiculously priced ink cartridges. The ribbons that dot matrix printers use are as cheap as 5 bucks and last a good long time!

Dot matrix printers are for those who print out a ton of stuff but don’t necessarily care about quality as long as what’s printed is easily legible. For example, if you run a small business and print out lots of things for record-keeping purposes, consider dot matrix.

Compared to yesteryear, today’s dot matrix printers are much quieter.

At the time of this writing, NewEgg currently has 40 different dot matrix printers available for sale. And yes they also sell the print ribbons, too.

LED

LED looks and acts much like laser printers do with the exception there are less moving parts inside, meaning there’s less to break. The printhead for example has absolutely no moving parts. You can get the tech scoop on how LED printers work here.

To note: LED does not have the same print quality as laser but it would appear they do not break as often as laser printers do. Reliability is key to owning any printer, and the LED offerings would appear to offer a longer-lasting printer due to its by-design simplified way of printing.

At the time of this writing, NewEgg currently has 9 LED printers available for sale.

And yes, some do have color.

Laser

Laser printing is a good technology but I give fair warning to all buyers that if you buy cheap you will get cheap. It is absolutely not worth it to buy a low-end laser printer because it will break quickly. Granted, some have experienced years of good use out of a low-end laser printer but those individuals are few and far between.

Per laser’s advantages, its largest is that it has superior print quality. Even if you only go with a monochrome printer, the quality is always excellent.

NewEgg has more laser printers compared to any other format, offering you excellent choice. At the time of this writing they currently have 316 laser printers available to choose from.

It’s suggested that you make sure how easy (or difficult) it is to get replacement toner before buying a laser printer.

What about thermal?

I don’t recommend thermal InkJet printers because they have the same issue regular InkJets do: High cost of cartridge replacement.

However, if you want to check them out anyway, at the time of this writing NewEgg offers 18 Thermal InkJet printers.

1. Power points

When purchasing a UPS, make sure the power rating is right for your equipment. If you buy one that is rated too low, you might run out of juice before you can power down. Most UPS devices are designed to provide 10 minutes of power. When selecting a UPS, you need to look at the VA rating — or amps multiplied by voltage (120v). The amp rating should be listed on your computer. Add up the VA ratings of everything you will connect to the UPS, then purchase a UPS with a VA rating 20-25% higher. If you are a home PC user, look for a UPS with a 500-700 VA rating.

2. Backup time

Don’t expect your UPS to keep your PC running all day. Most UPSes are engineered to provide you a backup time of around 10 to 20 minutes. What they essentially do is save your work when there is a power outage and avoid an abrupt shutdown that could mess up your computer settings. Choose the UPS that meets your backup time demands.

3. Other features of a UPS

When you are buying a UPS, ask the vendor about more features than just power. This will help you in finding the UPS which has that one additional option that will help you in your buying decision. Of course, the best feature is Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) which isolates your PC from voltage fluctuations that lead to computer disturbances. A UPS with AVR conditions the incoming power before being fed to the PC’s Switch Mode Power Supply (SMPS). Most UPSes also automatically initiate a scheduled shutdown sequence when the power is lost, after saving your work, to prevent damage to the computer hardware.

4. Warranty

Obtain a guarantee before buying a UPS. Undue delays in replacements can affect business. Some vendors offer onsite warranties, where they replace the batteries at your place. If you are planning to use the UPS at work, go for a longer warranty term.

5. Don’t compare SMPS and UPS rating

Even if the SMPS carries a high rating, your UPS needn’t be competitive. A 600 VA rating on a UPS should be fine for most systems. So don’t go on a VA shopping frenzy. Relax.

6. Battery replacement

The general rule is three years. But if you are experiencing low backup times more frequently, you could get the battery replaced immediately if it’s under warranty. If you are facing no problems, expect your battery to work for three years. Its advisable to buy replacement battery cartridges while you are buying the UPS. These cartridges will breathe new life into UPS systems suffering from expired or weak internal batteries. They cost about $30.

7. Power up

Contrary to the myth, its perfectly fine to leave the main switch on even when you are no longer working and the computer is shut down. However, its best to pair your UPS with a voltage stabilizer for additional safety.

8. Software reports

The software provided with the UPS is not always accurate with its reports. So don’t listen to it when it says your battery needs to be replaced even though you’ve never experienced low backup times. These faulty reports shouldn’t worry you because they may be trying to get you to purchase the company’s product more frequently (a common problem with print cartridges.) The software is good at its essential function of shutting down the PC properly and saving your work, but you may be the best option to determine whether its time to change the battery.

9. Usage tips and tricks

Do not overload the UPS by, for example, connecting external devices like the printer, scanner and the fax machine. NEVER plug a printer into the battery backup system. To optimize the charge of your batteries, you should discharge them completely at least once a month. And lastly, make sure the UPS is properly grounded all the time to prevent any electrical disasters.

10. Compare the prices

Standby UPSs are available in the range of 300VA to 500VA for office use, and up to 2KVA to 3KVA for workstations and large servers. Inexpensive standby UPSs ranging in price from $50 to $125 are used by millions of users of personal computers all over the world. Some of them include brands like Belkin, American Power Conversion (APC), Cyber Power, Data Shield, EFI, NCR, SAFE, Pacific Power, Sola and UP Sonic.

Conclusion

Remember, there are two kinds of UPS systems. The Standby Power System (SPS) and Online UPS System. If you are a home user, go for the relatively cheaper SPS. The price of an online UPS is three to five times that of a standby UPS with the same power rating. For servers, buy an online UPS (online means outgoing power is always drawn from the battery). Expect to pay between $150 and $1,000 for an online UPS. The higher the VA rating, the more you’ll pay. You might also want to consider buying one with advanced-battery features. These features include intelligent-battery management, battery-replacement indicator, and hot-swappable user-replaceable batteries.
UPS is the easiest way to protect your hardware and data. Many people think a surge protector suffices (an electrical device which includes a fuse which does not allow a power surge to harm sensitive devices such as computers), but actually they only offer limited protection against power spikes. For a better and more thorough protection, you need a UPS. It isn’t intended to power you through a blackout though. For that, you would need a generator. Rather, a UPS will let you save your work and power down safely.

On that note, I thought I would outline a list of things you can do with your webcam. Considering what you can do with it, they are a good buy. Most webcams range anywhere from around $50 to up to $100. I have two Microsoft webcams for my desktop machines. My notebook computer has one built right into the top of the screen. They really are everywhere. So, what can you use it for? Let’s take a look.

Video Phone

The idea of video phone used to be one of those futuristic concepts in the “someday” department. Today, using the internet, video phone is commonplace. Most instant messaging clients today support video in one way or the other. Personally, my favorite is Skype. With Skype, you just download and install a free program, search for your friends on the Skype network, add them as contacts, and then you can talk to them whenever you want. At it’s core, Skype is more like a phone. You talk to people using the microphone on your PC and you hear the other person over your speakers. Once you begin a call, though, you can start up your webcam and allow the other person to see you (and vice versa if they have a webcam).

Setting up the webcam with Skype is easy and works most of the time. I say “most of the time” because I used to have a weird problem with everything looking green and scrambled - kinda like watching pay-per-view without the unscrambling. I still do not know why that was happening, but since I upgraded to Windows Vista, everything works fine.

Home/Office Monitoring

Sometimes you may want to be able to monitor your office or home when you are not there. Webcams are your ticket to paradise. When it comes to monitoring, you will find that there are many more expensive webcam options available. The difference, usually, between those more expensive webcams and the smaller ones for your desktop computer is that the larger webcams probably have a web server built into them. That means the webcam is internet-enabled with it’s own IP address. Once connected to your network, you can directly access the webcam and view what it sees over the internet. Essentially, then, the webcam is a mini-computer with a lens.

You don’t need a expensive, server-enabled webcam to do home monitoring. You can use one of the cheaper, USB cameras and use your own computer as the server.

Live Streaming

These days it is VERY easy to live stream from your webcam to the internet. The popularity of it is also increasing due to several web-based services which turn it into child’s play. Chris Pirillo, of Lockergnome and TechTV fame, has almost totally changed the way he brings content to the web now. He uses live streaming video almost 24/7 and he then posts recordings of relevant portions to Youtube and several other video sites. Justin.TV is another pretty popular live webcam streaming site.

Now, Chris Pirillo is not using a small USB webcam for his primary footage. But, you can. And he does use a service that anybody can use: Ustream. Ustream makes bringing live video to the web really easy. Browsing around Ustream shows that most of the “shows” are really stupid and boring. A few, though, offer real shows that are entertaining and useful. To use Ustream, all you need is the Flash plug-in installed to your web browser. It doesn’t get easier. Stickam is another similar service to Ustream.

By the way, a poor man’s way to do room monitoring could be to use your cheap webcam in conjunction with Ustream. It will work.

Recording Videos

Perhaps you simply want to get some footage of yourself and record it for something else. For example, using Camtasia Studio, you can record your screen and create presentations. Camtasia, though, also has the ability to bringing in footage from your webcam so that you can create a picture-in-picture effect in your final video. Using Windows Movie Maker, you can also record direct from your webcam and make a video out of it suitable for posting to sites like Youtube. Unfortunately, you have to use Windows Movie Maker under Windows XP. WMM under Vista has gotten rid of this feature…something Microsoft really dropped the ball on.

Video Email

Video email is not something that is quite there. Sure, you can probably email video file attachments around, but that is tedious. Fortunately, if you take the whole traditional email thing out of the equation and make it all web-based, it gets easier. Enter Eyejot. Eyejot is a free video mail service. You set up an account and you can send video messages back and forth with people. It interfaces with your webcam using the Flash plug-in, just like Ustream. The only hitch to this whole thing is that one has to log into their Eyejot profile in order to view messages. You will, however, get an email notification of a new Eyejot message so you’re not left guessing.

Show Your Mug

So, yes, if you don’t mind having your mug shot in full motion going out across the internet, there are many cool ways to use your webcam.

Some Say Yes

There was a report put out a month or so ago from an Australian air quality researcher claiming exactly that. They contend that laser printers spew out large amounts of particulate matter into the air which can be harmful when breathed in. The study was published by Environmental Science and Technology, a publication by the American Chemical Society. They specifically tested 62 different laser printer models and found that 17 of them were particularly high emitters of toner into the air.

According to a PC World article about this study:

Two printers released medium levels of particulates, six issued low levels, and 37 — or about 60 percent of those tested — released no particles at all. HP, which is one of the world’s leading printer sellers, dominated both the list of high-level emitting and non-emitting printers.

HP responded to an inquiry by PC World by saying they were looking into it. Then, a few days later, HP responded again challenging the findings. According to the STLtoday.com story:

“Vigorous tests are an integral part of HP’s research and development and its strict quality-control procedures,” the statement said, in part. “HP LaserJet printing systems, original HP print cartridges and papers are tested for dust release and possible material emissions and are compliant with all applicable international health and safety requirements.

“Based on our own testing … we do not believe there is a link between printer emissions and any public health risk,” HP said.

The company says it intends to speak with the report’s authors in greater detail about their research.

So, what’s the truth?

Practice Common Sense

Obviously, HP has a business interest in saying their products are safe. That said, keep in mind that the media LOVES to make huge generalities out of a single study somebody did. People can make study come out pretty much any way want, and the media’s only criteria for making it front-page news is whether it is sensational and controversial. So, it is really easy to jump to conclusions if you don’t have your BS filter enabled.

That said, just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. For instance, sitting in front of a computer monitor for a long time is said to be able to cause problems due to radiation. Many people out there put filters over their computer screens specifically to filter out this bad radiation. It is easy to say it is crap because you can’t see it. Hocus pocus some would say. But, that is potentially VERY close minded and ignorant.

I would recommend practicing common sense. Do you want to throw out your laser printer? Of course not. Do you want to do what you can to keep the room it is in ventilated? Absolutely.

USB flash drives are so much better. Today, they offer respectable capacities. USB 2.0 makes them pretty fast. The BIOS of many motherboards even has the capability of booting from a USB drive. They are more dependable then optical media because they cannot be scratched. They are more dependable than even hard drives because they have no moving parts. So, there are a lot of possibilities for these little sticks.

Below, I will go over the most useful uses for your USB flash drive.

(1) Moving Files Around

This one is really obvious and goes without saying….so let me explain. Unless two computers are on the same network and sharing files, it can be a pain in the butt to move a file between them. If the files are small, email is usually a good way to go. For really large files, email may not work. CDs and DVDs are one way to go, but unless it is rewritable, you’re essentially sacrificing a whole disc just to move a file. USB flash drives are much more convenient. Move files between your PCs. Even carry some of your important files around with you. Since almost any computer running Windows today can recognize and use your USB drive without any further setup, you have ultimate portability.

(2) Having a Portable Computing Environment

Some software is designed such that it can be run exclusively from a USB flash drive without needing to use the hard drive of a host computer. PortableApps is one such way of doing this. PortableApps is a free suite of programs that are designed to run totally from your USB drive. It includes programs such as Firefox, GIMP, Filezilla, OpenOffice, Thunderbird, Audacity, and more. All open source, and all hacked slightly so that they can operate in a self-contained environment. This means that you can use your own computing environment, with all your data, on any computer anywhere. Just plug in your USB drive and up comes your computer.

PortableApps is also updated quite often.

(3) PC Troubleshooting

Another useful way of using a USB drive is by loading on a bunch of diagnostic utilities for PC troubleshooting. Then, you can troubleshoot any PC you come across by sticking in the USB drive and running the diagnostic of your choice. This is commonly done by PC technicians. Need to do a virus scan on a computer without antivirus installed? Just move your personal favorite antivirus utility from the USB drive and run it (perhaps AVG). You can also store the rescue/recovery data for a PC on a USB drive and use it whenever you need to fix an ailing PC that won’t boot properly.

(4) Booting Your Computer

Many motherboards in use today are equipped with BIOS that can boot from a USB drive. To take advantage of this, you will need to enter your BIOS and change the boot order so as to put your USB drive in front of your hard drive in the sequence. Then, you can install an operating system to your USB drive. This is sometimes referred to as Live USB. Now, obviously, you will not be able to install a copy of Windows in this fashion. Windows is too big and is not designed to run from a USB drive anyway. However, there are some smaller, portable versions of Linux that can fit on a USB drive, such as Puppy Linux or Damn Small Linux.

(5) Using Windows Vista ReadyBoost

ReadyBoost is a technology only available in Windows Vista which allows a USB drive to be used for caching in order to boost performance of the PC. It basically takes some of the active system files that are randomly called upon and caches them on the flash drive. ReadyBoost employs a logical system on the drive to make access very quick and the end result is that requests for data from the USB drive are said to be 80-100 times faster than a hard drive. To use this, you just plug a compatible USB drive into a Vista-powered machine. The AutoPlay dialog will provide an additional option for speeding up the system. Select that option and you will get a Properties dialog window for the drive with an extra tab for ReadyBoost. Windows will test the drive to see if it is up to specs for ReadyBoost. For a USB drive to be ReadyBoost ready, it needs to be over 256MB, have an access time faster than 1 ms, be capable of 2.5 MB.s reads and 1.75 MB/s writes. It is also recommended that the USB drive be 1-3 times larger than the amount of system memory. So, for example, I have 2 gigs in my desktop. I should have a USB drive that is at least 2 gigs in capacity.

(6) Sew a Pattern Hi-Tech Style

OK, I wanted to throw one in here that is just off the wall. Let’s enter the world of sewing. Yes, many modern sewing machines today have USB ports on them. You can use the USB drive to put software updates onto the machine. You can also transfer patterns to the machine for automatic creation on your fabrics. Yes, it is the old time world of sewing merged with the world of technology.

Infertility Caused By the PC

As a story in Wired magazine reported back in 2004, putting a notebook computer on your lap could lead to infertility. The heat caused by the computer is the problem. Just like a desktop computer, a notebook PC generates heat. That heat has to go somewhere. The laptop, then, has blowholes on it, usually underneath and in the rear of the unit. The fan sends the hot air out of these vents. If these vents are not free and clear, the heat can build up and the notebook temperature increases.

Now, you’re a man and you are using this hot notebook computer in your lap. Heat transfers into the family jewels. It messes with the swimmers, if you know what I’m saying. Need I say more?

Here are some related reports:

• PC World: Researcher Warns Male Laptop Users of Infertility Risk
• WebMD: Laptop Computers May Affect Male Fertility

You get the drift.

Save Your Balls

Get a laptop desk if you want to use a notebook PC in your lap. You can use your laptop on a desk or table and that will work, too. But, many people like to use their notebook PC on their laps while sitting on the couch or in bed. If so, use a laptop desk.

One such desk I have is by LapWorks. Specifically, I got a Lapworks Laptop Desk Futura. The company gave one to all of the attendees of Gnomedex. I have been using it since and am quite happy with it. It is a very simple device. It is a hinged device that is folded into two halves. Unfold it and place it on your lap and then put your notebook PC on top. If you are using it on a table, then the Futura can elevate the back of your computer, giving it an incline. See the pictures below.

As I said above, notebook PCs generate heat. I used to use my laptop PC on my lap. It got quite heated because it could not adequately cool down. The vents on the unit would be up against the cloth of my pants and it would not be able to cool properly. The underside of the notebook got so hot sometimes that I had to put it on a table.

So, save your notebook PC and your family life. A laptop desk is a welcome addition to your notebook computing setup.

Rich looks at the complexities around the proprietary connections and cables that come with his Olympus digital camera. He finds a way around his connector hell.