Camera to computer download question

[Highsurf03]

Hi -

My wife and I want to buy a digital camera for our grand-daughter. Her mother is saying that we must buy one that is "compatible with San Disc technology." They have MAC computers in their home.

She is saying - and I think that she is wrong - that they have a San Disk photo editing program and that is the only thing they can use to download pictures from the camera to the computer. I have been to the San Disk company's website and they don't show any editing programs. They show only the products I am familar with: flash drives, memory chips, etc.

I've never heard of anything like this. Every digital camera I've ever had has come with both a download and an editing program - and everyone one of them has either been applicable in both the MAC and PC formats or it came with two CD-Roms - one for MACs and one for PCs - from which to load the programs on to my computer.

Have I missed out on technological advance - or is my stubborn daughter just wrong?

Thanks in advance for whatever you might be able to tell me.

Gary

[A.M.D.A.]

Hi -

My wife and I want to buy a digital camera for our grand-daughter. Her mother is saying that we must buy one that is "compatible with San Disc technology." They have MAC computers in their home.

She is saying - and I think that she is wrong – that they have a San Disk photo editing program and that is the only thing they can use to download pictures from the camera to the computer. I have been to the San Disk company's website and they don't show any editing programs. They show only the products I am familar with: flash drives, memory chips, etc.

I've never heard of anything like this. Every digital camera I've ever had has come with both a download and an editing program - and everyone one of them has either been applicable in both the MAC and PC formats or it came with two CD-Roms – one for MACs and one for PCs - from which to load the programs on to my computer.

Have I missed out on technological advance - or is my stubborn daughter just wrong?

Thanks in advance for whatever you might be able to tell me.

Gary

I think she is wrong...

Most cameras will indeed come bundled with their own little downloading software program and perhaps another for performing basic edits. These usually come on two CD's – one compatible with Windows and the other with Mac.

SanDisk may have its own programs too, but it sure isn't absolutely necessary for being able to download/upload photos and videos to a computer.

Or, I would recommend this, buy a good memory card reader. They are faster and easier to operate than having to mess with a camera attached to a bunch of cables.

[Canuck935]

Yes, no specific software is necessary to transfer your photos from any memory card to the computer. A fast card reader is highly recommended when it comes to hardware though.

[another view]

Like the others have said, what she's telling you is not the case. As a "default", a Mac will use iPhoto to import digital pictures but I (for one) don't use it (open Finder, copy to computer). Card readers are great, but there are a lot of options - of course they need to fit the card (SD, c/f, etc) but USB2 or Firewire, or maybe ExpressCard (34 or 54?) if it's a laptop. USB2.0 is universal, but others might be easier/faster.

[Lori11]

I never hook my camera to my computer, you can get a a card reader (I have a 6 in one, meaning it fits 6 different cards and I love it, Plug ina USB port and she is set to upload to where ever her little heart chooses! GOod luck!