1) Can anyone recommend decent open source photo editing/organizing software?

2) If I use openoffice and other open source software on two computers (one being a mac and one being a windows machine) is it easy to work on documents and stuff on both computers, or are there compatibility issues? For example, can I use an external hard drive or one of those little memory fob thingies between the two machines so I could work on the PC and transfer stuff to the mac laptop for working on stuff elsewhere??

3) Can anyone tell me more about those little memory fob thingies? They're pretty cheap, right?

Basically, I am likely getting a new computer but I can't afford another mac and I don't really have a preference anyway. My current laptop is pretty old and slow and beat up. I am looking at getting a desktop cuz it's cheaper and I want a real keyboard/mouse. But I also want to be able to work on my laptop from time to time. With any online stuff it doesn't matter but if I am working on documents or research or whatever on the desktop I want to be able to get it onto my laptop as well.

I've thought about getting another laptop so it could be portable too, but I'm not sure. It's more expensive and I'd still have to buy a keyboard/mouse, and possibly another monitor. I like the thought of having two monitors so I can work off of notes or research or whatever on one screen with the document I'm working on on the other. But that may be too much to ask for. Monitors aren't cheap.

Thoughts?

I use GIMP. It's free and very powerful.


Download for PC: http://www.gimp.org/windows/

Download for Mac: http://www.gimp.org/macintosh/

I've used it on both types of machines and it is great. It's similar to Photoshop, so if you've used that, this won't have too much of a learning curve.


for #2, I'm not sure. Word processing documents always seem to get messed up between those two types of computers for me. Maybe use RTF format? Images, video, etc. always seem to be fine from PC to Mac. I haven't tried the other direction though.

3. Flash drives. I love them. They are pretty cheap now and will hold at least a couple of gigs on the cheaper ones. I just use the Office Depot house brand, and they've been fine. I use the same ones in either platform.

GIMP was the first result when I searched, it's good to hear it's a good one.

Do you know much about google docs?I find it intriguing. I've used it a little bit just for notes/brainstorms/post drafts/etc but not for any real work. Do you know if it's compatible with open office (eg if I formatted something in google docs would the formatting transfer if I copy/paste it into open office?)

It just creeps me out though thinking that google controls/possesses so much information. I think I'd rather have it on my hard drive.

I know I've handled docs in rtf before in email attachments or something - I wonder if you can save things into that format from open office?

I suppose I could poke around and figure some of that out. I just downloaded open office earlier today onto my macbook but haven't had a chance to mess around with it much. It looks pretty intuitive.

I've only used MS Office at my past jobs (as far as word processing etc) so I'm just not very familiar with other software. Haven't done much of any word processing on my laptop.

but I've had issues trying to port documents from it to other applications. I can't remember what, but I think it was formatting problems. I mostly use it for school stuff, handouts and whatnot.

The mac I use came with "Pages", so that is what I use for other stuff. I should try and see if I can open up those files on a PC. That's not free though. TextEdit should already be on your mac, so that might be a possibility to play around with. If it isn't there I think you can find it free online. I haven't tried open office, I should download and play with that. It looks pretty cool.

especially to keep large files like photoshop images, but they are small and really easy to lose...I lost a bunch of my computer graphics class work when I lost one, :(

An 8 GB for $20, seemed like a good deal. Memory is cheap!

I ordered a new computer too, holy crap. I went for a desktop PC, just couldn't justify the price of a mac at all, or even another laptop. My old beater laptop will have to do. You can get so much more in an old-school tower-style PC for so much cheaper than any of the other options.

I think I did good - I actually researched to figure out what kind of processor, memory, speed, video cards and wireless cards and all the other hoo ha. I checked reviews and sale prices and all the other crap and I feel pretty good about it. I hate spending money like that on anything, heh.

One step closer to having my office set-up. I have an old table that is just the right height for a desk, and I need to take back this decent office chair I used to have that I gave to a friend several years ago...she won't mind, lol.

Pretty soon I won't have any more excuses for this extended vacation from real-life.

or did I miss that elsewhere?

They're okay. His dad is in pretty bad shape, has good days and bad days...he's been fighting terminal cancer for more than 20 yrs. He's like a timex watch.

His mom is definitely having major memory problems and has been told she can't drive anymore. She refuses to recognize that her doctor has said this for a reason. She also refuses to take her meds prescribed for memory loss/alzheimers. She is able to keep up a facade of normalcy (with the help of the family members and her local support group who have been dealing with all the nitty-gritty stuff of life) but it is a very thin facade.

She has threatened to 'run away' to an unnamed friend's place who will let her drive. She has threatened to get a new doctor. In any case, she is not able to provide the level of help and care that his dad requires..

She does have these brief moments of clarity where she recognizes how overwhelmed she is but then it's forgotten the next day.

We came back home on Sunday night and monkeyman went into work Monday and made arrangements to telecommute for the time being. He headed right back up there on Tuesday. I've stayed at home for now with the dogs. He is touring assisted living places with them and they found a really nice one (it's not very big and the 'owner' of the place has her own parents living there, that's a good sign) but his mom insists they don't need to move there 'yet'.

He has planned a meeting for Monday with a few of his siblings and a hospice social worker person who should be able to give them the straight scoop on his dad's needs and his mom's diagnosis and what the next steps should be.

It's possible that monkey man will continue to telecommute for awhile and use the FMLA if necessary and stay up there with them, in which case I'll go back up. I may anyway even if he'll only be there for a couple more weeks. I dunno...

life, the folks are lucky, in a way, to have the support, so many don't...



"She does have these brief moments of clarity where she recognizes how overwhelmed she is but then it's forgotten the next day."

stress is such a factor in alzheimers...


hugs for you...the dogs must be a comfort and a release valve...

nursing home now and so her care is managed, but her emotional difficulties are pretty much dumped on me. I wish I could give you and the monkeyman some insight or encouragement, but it is just a hard road - no way around it. Tell the man to try and not take his mom's personality problems personally - it is her disease, not "her" and it certainly is not "him". I know, I am going through it right now.

You have nothing to do but to be strong - nothing else...

:hug:

It is hard indeed. Things are going pretty good for now, I'm still at home, and monkeyman is still in NH and rallied the siblings for a big meeting to figure stuff out. So at least the logistical sort of shit is getting worked out.

He's okay up there because he is sort of the golden child to his mom so she is scapegoating other siblings, heh. I wish I was there for him but there is a full house up there at the moment and I'm trying to get my shit together here anyway, I'm in this weird limbo land at the moment.. It's weird being away from him while he's dealing with all this.

It's also crazy how hard it is even with so much family and other support. And don't even get me started on the costs of care and the insurance crap. God damn.

:hug:

:hug: