Windows question - traveling light

OppsOpps Registered Users Posts: 160 Major grins
edited July 1, 2008 in Accessories
Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this ...

I'm not a Windows person but I want to travel light and plan to use a small external USB disk to store my photos when I'm out traveling. Since most computers I'll be able to access will be Windows machines I need some suggestions for "portable apps" that I should install on the disk to help me copy files from my memory cards to the disk (yes I know that I just can drag and drop but I file manager is usually nice). If there is some application that makes it easier to upload images to smugmug it would be even better.

Sorry if this a rather basic question but Windows isn't my area.
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Jan Erik Moström

Comments

  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,962 moderator
    edited June 30, 2008
    Opps wrote:
    Sorry if this is the wrong place to ask this ...

    I'm not a Windows person but I want to travel light and plan to use a small external USB disk to store my photos when I'm out traveling. Since most computers I'll be able to access will be Windows machines I need some suggestions for "portable apps" that I should install on the disk to help me copy files from my memory cards to the disk (yes I know that I just can drag and drop but I file manager is usually nice). If there is some application that makes it easier to upload images to smugmug it would be even better.

    Sorry if this a rather basic question but Windows isn't my area.

    You don't need anything special. Windows Explorer works just fine for moving pics from a card to the machine. The Smugmug drag and drop uploader will also work if you point it at the external drive. I have lots of apps on my Windows machine, but I have never seen any reason to use any of them rather than Explorer for transferring pics to the computer.

    HTH.
    My Pics
  • OppsOpps Registered Users Posts: 160 Major grins
    edited July 1, 2008
    Richard wrote:
    You don't need anything special. Windows Explorer works just fine for moving pics from a card to the machine. The Smugmug drag and drop uploader will also work if you point it at the external drive. I have lots of apps on my Windows machine, but I have never seen any reason to use any of them rather than Explorer for transferring pics to the computer.

    HTH.

    Yes, I know that Windows Explorer works but I thought that there was something that might make it even easier. When you say "drag and drop uploader" do you refer to the web based uploader?

    And one more question: can Windows machines by default view RAW files from a Nikon D80 or is it necessary to install some drivers/converters?
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    Jan Erik Moström
  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,962 moderator
    edited July 1, 2008
    Opps wrote:
    Yes, I know that Windows Explorer works but I thought that there was something that might make it even easier. When you say "drag and drop uploader" do you refer to the web based uploader?

    Yes
    And one more question: can Windows machines by default view RAW files from a Nikon D80 or is it necessary to install some drivers/converters?

    I don't run Vista, so I don't know what it can do out of the box these days. My impression is that you need to install a Codec from Nikon to view NEF files. Hopefully, a Vista user will jump in and clarify.
    My Pics
  • PupatorPupator Registered Users Posts: 2,322 Major grins
    edited July 1, 2008
    Richard wrote:
    Yes



    I don't run Vista, so I don't know what it can do out of the box these days. My impression is that you need to install a Codec from Nikon to view NEF files. Hopefully, a Vista user will jump in and clarify.

    Yes, you do have to install the Nikon NEF codec. This allows Vista to create thumbnails from the NEF files so that you get a preview of the file before you open it. It also allows Windows Photo Gallery to give you a full-size "preview" of the file (opens much faster than Photoshop, etc.) if you like.

    http://www.nikonimglib.com/nefcodec/

    The codec is also necessary (and works with) XP SP2 - but it does not work with 64 bit Vista.
  • OppsOpps Registered Users Posts: 160 Major grins
    edited July 1, 2008
    Pupator wrote:
    Yes, you do have to install the Nikon NEF codec. This allows Vista to create thumbnails from the NEF files so that you get a preview of the file before you open it. It also allows Windows Photo Gallery to give you a full-size "preview" of the file (opens much faster than Photoshop, etc.) if you like.

    http://www.nikonimglib.com/nefcodec/

    The codec is also necessary (and works with) XP SP2 - but it does not work with 64 bit Vista.

    OK, then I know. I'm going to use machines that I can't install stuff on so I'll just copy them to my harddisk, upload them to a server and then do the rest when I get back home.

    Thanks.
    --
    Jan Erik Moström
  • PupatorPupator Registered Users Posts: 2,322 Major grins
    edited July 1, 2008
    Opps wrote:
    OK, then I know. I'm going to use machines that I can't install stuff on so I'll just copy them to my harddisk, upload them to a server and then do the rest when I get back home.

    Thanks.

    I *THINK* this will work - download the Picasa2 installer. Run the installation but choose your external drive as the install location. Once it finishes, plug the hard drive into a different computer, browse to the install location for Picasa and click on the .exe file. I think it will actually run. Then you should have a portable app that can read the NEF files so you can see (and even do some edits) them on the road. I'm told you can also do this by just installing Picasa on the computer, then dragging the Program Files/Picasa folder to your portable drive and uninstalling Picasa from the main computer (that will leave a "clean" uninstall behind you and a working copy of Picasa on your other drive. I haven't done this, but apparently others have with success.)

    If that doesn't work you can always download the portable apps version of the GIMP: http://portableapps.com/apps/graphics_pictures/gimp_portable

    You probably want to install portable apps and a few programs on your drive anyway, it will be really useful for your situation.
  • RichardRichard Administrators, Vanilla Admin Posts: 19,962 moderator
    edited July 1, 2008
    Pupator wrote:
    You probably want to install portable apps and a few programs on your drive anyway, it will be really useful for your situation.

    Another alternative was just announced...you can upload the RAWs to SmugVault. This is separate from your Smugmug account and will cost extra, but it might be convenient, as you wouldn't even have to carry the portable drive. OTOH, you might need to buy a lot of connection time, which can be outrageously expensive in some parts of the world.

    Pupator's suggestion sounds plausible to me. Whatever you choose, I would strongly recommend giving it a test run before you hit the road.

    Good luck.
    My Pics
  • OppsOpps Registered Users Posts: 160 Major grins
    edited July 1, 2008
    I'm going to check out picasa and see what than be done (but I'll keep away from Gimp ... I scream every time I see the user interface :D )

    Yes, the SmugVault is an attractive alternative. I was considering it for backup (need to do some calculation of how much it would cost me ... and what time it would take to send the files) but it might be even better for this.
    --
    Jan Erik Moström
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