By MacNessa, on June 20th, 2010%
Do you find it overwhelming that technology advances so fast?
I like it, and I find it exciting, but as a consumer I sometimes find it very hard to keep up. While finances do not allow me to be an early adopter, this has often saved me from making rash choices when it comes to new technological toys.
Like when my littlee threw my Macbook to the floor, and the insurance paid me out for a new computer. I knew that I wanted to replace it with an iMac, but the one that I could afford (the old 20″) was sold out around the country. I could only find one new 24″ at a vastly inflated price.
The sales guy in question, was very discreet and advised me to wait and see what Apple announced during the coming two weeks. As much as two whole weeks without a Mac? It was all I could do not to rend my garments, cover my head and wail in anguish.
Okay maybe not, but JOLLY NEARLY.
Then it was announced that Apple were releasing new 21.5″ and 27″ models that were way cooler! I had to wait nearly another month for my shiny new 21.5″ iMac to arrive (and live in Windows hell during that time), but just imagine if I’d been in such a hurry (and had the extra cash) to have splurged on that one 24″ model? I’d now be stuck with older technology. Sure that computer would have been fine and served its purpose well, but I’d still be left feeling a bit ‘meh’.
 My Canon camera on the other hand has served me so SO well. It’s an 8.2mp Canon 30D and I love it. Of course the advantage of a camera over a computer is that you can buy a new lens when you feel like you need a change. Sure, I do covet a 5D in the *worst* possible way or even the *best* 1D, but at least buying a new lens (my next purchase will be an f2.8 24-70mm) and it sure as heck costs a lot less than a 5D.
Yes, I will get around to buying a new camera body sometime soon, but for now, it still takes the best photos, and its perfect for me. So often you see a photographer upgrade their gear, and you almost want to tell them to rather take a course and improve their photography before uptrading their technology! (Yeah I just invented that word ‘uptrading’ you like it?).
What computer do you use?
What camera do you use?
Do they still do a great job for your needs?
By MacNessa, on July 23rd, 2009%
I love my Macbook.
It’s 2.5 years old and it’s still a major workhorse.
I’m running Tiger OS X.
It runs CS4 like a much bigger, stronger machine. Like a dream in fact. The smaller system memory places no limitations on its capabilities at all.
 But here’s the thing. I don’t want to spend money on a larger monitor, when in reality I’d rather put that money towards my dream machine.
Because my dream machine will do several things, that my trusty macbook can’t.
No I’m not going to go into a lengthy explanation of system specs and operating system improvements, all I’m referring to is that wide, beautiful, 24 inches of viewing pleasure.
Having space to display my photographs, and my editing toolbars without hunching over to see them, down on my little screen.
*That* is, in a nutshell, what I’m after.
Have I ever mentioned before how much I want an iPhone 3G S too? Yeah, if anyone at Apple is listening and feeling generous, I would be *most* grateful, and most verbose, loquatious and chatty about the brilliance of Apple technology for EVER MORE.
By MacNessa, on February 20th, 2009%
When starting out in a new home business, it’s not always necessary to go big with equipment and supplies. I mean, as much as I’m always talking about my dream graphic design/photography studio all the time, I realise that when I finally get my own space at home (as opposed to a desk, a foot from the end of my bed), I don’t need to go rushing off to IKEA or Office Max or another office furniture store and spend a fortune. Unless of course, I have the spare cash, and all my other new business needs are taken care of, as in 24″ iMac, stationery, supplies, funky pens and pencils etc. I could quite happily start out with something simple, like patio furniture, or a more industrial type shelving system etc. Sometimes if you use your imagination, you can really come up with cool solutions.
Challenge yourself, the next time you’re in your local building and hardware store, like Builders Warehouse for example, look around and see what you can make for yourself. I came up with the idea to use a blank, basic door, with two tall trestle legs as a workspace. Then I can paint the door in a thick gloss enamel in a color of my choice, and I’d probably spray the trestle legs in silver. This would make a great work area for spreading out designs and proofs. Since I’d use the high trestle legs, this would be a good height to stand at, and it would be good for me to have a reason to get off my backside too!
The reason I chose a door, because for one, it’s cheap, plus it’s also reinforced, whereas if you simply bought a wooden plank – it would warp downwards if you placed too much weight on it.
Yes there are many solutions out there, if you only open your eyes and be creative.
By MacNessa, on February 18th, 2009%
There is a local computer store, which is part of a chain ’round these parts.
I used to love to shop there. The shop assistants were true geeks. Helpful geeks. This was back in the day before I had a Mac.
Then they went and got regular dumbass shop assistants. I knew more than them (maybe it was me that got smarter I don’t know), assistants that had to go and ‘ask someone’ the answer to my question, and then leave me standing on the shop floor for way too long.
Then they got pricey.
So guess what happened? Of Course.
I simply stopped shopping there.
Then I got a Mac, and not only did I NOT shop there, I told everyone else to stop shopping there too. Because they sucked.
Let’s fast forward a moment to yesterday. With my youngest at day care (half day) as of this week, I suddenly found myself with some time on my hands (after working for 2 hours straight at a local wifi hotspot on a clients website), and a little time to kill in the mall before fetching my eldest from school. So I ventured inside.
OMG.
They are now a certified Apple dealer.
They had a real 20″ iMac on display, ready for me to fawn over.
They now sell Mac software (though the range is VERY thin).
They have a trade in deal going on now. As in bring in your old hardware, and we’ll give you discount on new hardware.
The deal they were offering on the iMac was cheaper than if I had it sent out from the USA.
I was honestly and totally gobsmacked. They’re no longer sucky, evil, highly priced, corporate asses.
They’re enlightened, community uplifting, school donating (the old hardware), ecologically aware, DISCOUNTING, MARVELS!
I was and still am surprised. Way to go Incredible Connection! You have a new supporter in me! Now if they just had some tv deals for me to look at too, I’d probably be back there today again.
By MacNessa, on October 26th, 2008%
Thankfully, not the monetary kind, and my iMac fund continues to swell satisfyingly!
However, I have a Monday 11am deadline on a bunch of photo edits that I need to do, and I’m seriously down with the flu. Not so much ‘down’ as ‘totally bloody flattened’ by it I might add.
What I’d like to be doing now, is floating on a lilo (air mattress for those of you unfamiliar with the ZAF lingo) around my green sparkling turquoise swimming pool, with no cares in the world, and being so thin that the handfuls of decadent Ju Ju Be‘s that I’m hoiking into my mouth won’t make any difference.
But back to reality, a sick bubkins (yo-yoing fevers no less) and photo edits will have to absorb me totally. Maybe the OPU can sort out the pool so that next weekend, barring rain and blustering wind as has become the norm of late, we can actually *use* our pool instead of looking at it like yet another job that needs doing.
Oh for a tropical holiday right now…
By MacNessa, on October 6th, 2008%
The Other Parental Unit (OPU) and I (yes, as a geek I have to have some nerdy title for my husband) had a rare night out last night. We headed to our local waterfront which can usually be relied upon to have some kind of buzz going on, and last night was no exception.
US Aircraft Carrier In Town
The USS Theodore Roosevelt is in town – or at least I should say ‘parked’ about 1km offshore because a big-ass aircraft carrier like that was going to fit in eensy weensy Cape Town harbour. Although the big-ass destroyer accompanying it – did – and was sitting docked in all its battle-grey glory, with what looked like party lights strung from front to back (yes I have no idea what ‘front’ and ‘back’ is in ‘naval’ terms).
Anyhow – what this meant with close on 3000 strapping navy boys just 1km offshore, there were a fair amount of them around the waterfront, all very orderly, walking around the mall in civvies, usually in groups of 4 (I’ll bet they were given a security briefing about not going around alone – not that they couldn’t have all single-handedly fought off any muggers!) So the mall was all abuzz as usual, and of course *my* first port of call was the Apple iStore.
Apple iStore Visit
Sigh…I just can’t get enough time looking at, and playing with the 24″ iMac. It is a THING OF BEAUTY PEOPLE!!! I *so* cannot wait to get one for myself. It is going to take my photo editing and webstuff to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL!
It totally inspires me to DESIGN A WHOLE NEW HOME OFFICE around it, because anything less than IKEA like organisation and funk will just not work. This beauty deserves a fresh, clean space to call it’s own.
I also had a great time showing the OPU what I’m buying him for Christmas…
Nope. It’s not the iPhone, although those *are* available here now. We don’t want to get forced into 24 month contracts, given our pending overseas move early next year, so those will have to wait until we get to where we’re going. No, rather, this is the iPod Touch. The cool thing is that it runs *many* of the apps that the iPhone does, making it not only the coolest iPod around, but totally synch-able with mac’s calendar app etc. It also has wifi, making web browsing easy.
Needless to say the OPU was really excited at having a funky cool gadget for Christmas, and totally paid for by me  LOL.
Anyway, we rounded off our evening by having some FABULOUS Thai food at Wang Thai, would you believe that I’ve never eaten at a Thai restaurant before? I’ve tasted thai cooking, but *never* this good! I had the Lemongrass chicken, with coriander and it was incredible. I’ll definitely go there again too!
By MacNessa, on October 4th, 2008%
Did you guys know that even John Chow uses a Mac? Yeah, apparently he’s one of the brands newest fans!
Hurray! More great exposure for an awesome brand. Apparently he got one, wasn’t intending to use it, and thought he’d give it a try, and got hooked and now says that it’s clearly superior to anything else in the market right how. Hello! How right you are oh thou great internet marketing guru. Lol
Well those of you who know me, know that one of my goals during the next twelve months is to acquire a shiny new 24″ iMac. Right now I’m working off a MacBook, which of course is awesome and I love it, but as a photographer, I *really* need to upgrade and work on a bigger screen. Plus run Aperture, only *the* best photography workflow programme in the world.
Once I finally have it, I’m going to make sure I have great home owner insurance, just in case anyone sees it through the window, and decides it is *that* awesome, that they’d like to pilfer it. But seriously, they’ll have to get past me first.
By MacNessa, on October 1st, 2008%
Discovery of the Century!
I feel like I’ve made the discovery of the century! Although realistically speaking you probably already know this, and I’ve just been doing an “Ostrich” and had my head stuck in the sand, or somewhere else less pleasant…
I just found an online retailer, that carries Apple products (and no, not just iPods), as in Mac Mini, MacBook, iMac – the whole bang shoot. Now my excitement is because….
THEY ACCEPT PAYPAL!!!!!! (Do a little dance… make a little love…get down tonight!) – Yes I just did a jig right here in front my MacBook. What this means, to me personally, is that I am a WHOLE lot closer to my goal of that shiny new Aluminum encased beauty with a 24″ screen that we all know I deserve.
Now if someone could point me in the direction of some software/widget that will generate a nice sidebar widget for me, showing a graph, of how close I’m getting to my goal, I’d be most grateful.
Slightly off subject here, but if you are in need of some acne treatments be sure to check out that site, as they review some of the latest remedies available out there.
p.s. never mind about the graph thingy, I’m using Neo Office. If you haven’t heard about it, good, I’m reviewing it tomorrow right here on MacNessa.com!
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My Canon camera on the other hand has served me so SO well. It’s an 8.2mp Canon 30D and I love it. Of course the advantage of a camera over a computer is that you can buy a new lens when you feel like you need a change. Sure, I do covet a 5D in the *worst* possible way or even the *best* 1D, but at least buying a new lens (my next purchase will be an f2.8 24-70mm) and it sure as heck costs a lot less than a 5D.
