Shooting in Chicago

I def appreciate the loyal service my Compaq Presario F700 has given me in the past three years. However, my computing needs have grown and as they have grown my poor little battery has gotten really compromised. I'm getting what, 60 minutes of service on one full charge.


I'm currently doing a 7 photo Photomatix merge with Canon 5D Mark II raw files. Talk about mach slow. I could do interval weight training during each batch of seven photos. Actually, let's back up a bit. Downloading, having Lightroom 2.x convert the photos to DNG files, and creating 1:1 previews is Leo Tolstoy long. I'm not complaining though, this computer was never meant to be a photo computing device.


I do believe I'll be requiring a computer upgrade soon. I'm extremely interested in, or should I say, by default, I'm obligated to consider an Apple product. Proverbially speaking, us creatives should be rocking the, with character, with sole, with spirit, with an unparalleled ecosystem of complimentary products, Apple products. Yeah, hard to deny the impact Apple has on the retail market. In a down economy, Apple stores are packed. Ever heard of Apple providing discounts on current year products? Rarely and usually if you are a student.


Even though the secondary market for software is a bit limited, I can't deny the styling (all metal case - very cecy), the battery life (60 minutes currently versus 6 hours), and the moderate immunity to internet STDs (syberly transmitted diseases - bai bai slow my @ss down Norton Anti-Virus ). I do realize all these nicer things command a premium. At least 1.5 - 2x premium. I'm cheap but I'm willing to consider it, if it satisfies my needs. However, I'm not looking forward to learning a new OS. Heck, I'm just barely learning the finer aspects of Windows 7.


On a different note, I had a chance to photograph some areas of Chicago. I borrowed a car and drove from a suburb in Illinois and to downtown Chicago and photographed the lighthouse, the Bean, and the staircase at the Museum of Contemporary Art at a total cost of $210 plus admission to the museum. Yeah, I was completely zoned into being creative and completely lost all abilities to understand the posted street signs. Those darn parking violations are pricy but are a bit cheaper that those I have experienced in Los Angeles.



Mood: Constantly Tired
Music: Silence
Location: Casa De Sydney – Northbrook, Illinois