Gardening Goes Worldwide!
Since the advent of computers and the Internet, gardening has become a whole lot more interesting. I can remember lugging gardening books back from the library, pouring over them and forgetting to return them on time - every time. I made lists, kept track of growing information, made charts and kept notebooks. I never really thought about taking pictures of the garden or individual flowers. It never entered my mind to contact gardeners in Germany to exchange growing information. For the most part, gardening was a private endeavor occasionally shared with a local nursery owner or someone you might run into when shopping for fertilizer.
Things change. Now, all of my notes are on my computer. I have thousands of photos. I communicate with gardeners worldwide. I do all of my research on-line, and keep only a few excellent books for ready reference. I know how to use photo editing software. I build gardening websites. I interact on gardening forums, I sell plants here and on my eBay site. I administer a free plants website and three Facebook pages. What the heck happened? Through trial and error - great equipment and a high level of productivity happened. The keyword is productivity. I've had lousy equipment that kept me stalled out for weeks or months. I've purchased programs that didn't deliver. After 15 years, from the days of Radio Shack DOS computers and 28K modems to today, I've finally arrived at a point where I feel the equipment I have allows for the greatest level of productivity. Since we're all for making our gardening pals' lives easier, we're passing on our suggestions for how to assemble an electronics and software situation that will enable you to be more productive and spend less time fussing with and fixing up your workflow.
We've linked up our suggestions to Amazon.com for good reason. You can punch the picture and be immediately transferred to further information about the products we recommend. You can read reviews, compare prices, or buy right there on Amazon.com. They offer discounts, great shipping rates, purchasing ease and personal information security. We use Amazon.com all the time and have been very satisfied with our purchases. The best parts are doing all your shopping from the comfort of home and waiting for the boxes to arrive.
iMac 27" from Apple
Two years ago, I purchased another PC. I wanted a reliable computer that would handle my web and photographic requirements with ease and have enough firepower to allow for me to indulge a side interest of mine, namely 3-D imaging. I wanted it to be the last and best PC I would own. I did my research, made the purchase, set the computer up and prepared for super-productivity. It didn't happen. For over a year I wrestled with components that wouldn't recognize the operating system - or other components. The BSOD was a way of life. I get it stable, then...BSOD! I joined forums and listed problems. My problems weren't just MY problems. It seemed everyone else had the same problems. Goofy graphics cards, loose memory sticks, USB ports that didn't know they were USB ports. Fan noise. Driver hunting for hours. Reloading operating systems. Phone calls to the service people. If everyone else had the same problems, then why the heck did they sell computers with unsolvable problems right out of the box. After almost a year of heartbreak and zero productivity, I sold my "Super Computer" to Gazelle. I had discovered the Apple iMac 27".
During a trip to Best Buy, my husband and I spotted a screen showing the crystal clear image of people skiing. We thought it was an HDTV. It was the iMac. I checked the specs, told my story of woe to the resident Apple "Genius" and went off dreaming of the possibilities. In December of 2009, I bought it. I have never had a more productive and pleasant computing experience - and I've been at this business of computers for almost 20 years. I only wish I had switched to Apple computers sooner.
The 27" screen is large enough to allow for an open Firefox window, Aperture up and cranking out photo work, a movie, Finder (all your files for reference), a bunch of saved desktop files, mail and convienient little Post It notes called "Stickies." That's a lot going on at once. I'm not a game player, per se, but I've read reviews from gamers who are smitten with this wonderful computer too. It comes with iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes and a nifty music production program called Garage Band. Additional applications can be downloaded from the Apple App Store (I'm currently figuring my way through World Of Goo) and timely updates are delivered directly to your computer there as well. No annoying virus warnings (who wants to be threatened every time you boot up?). No hardware incompatability. I plugged in, reared back and waited for the "Hardware Not Found" warning. It never came.
Words cannot describe the clarity of an iMac screen. We did junk our television for good, which should be recommendation enough. The iMac is our new entertainment center. This was also my first experience with WiFi. I expected hours of setting up, error messages and frustrating instruction perusal. I plugged the Apple Airport Extreme in and it worked. Yes, It worked on the first try. It managed to also find my Windows based laptop instantly. The laptop still can't find the iMac, and I don't care.
Lion is Apple's current operating system. It comes with the computer along with the software I already mentioned. If you're a little put off by having to junk Windows or your favorite Windows programs entirely, you can easily format part of the iMac hard drive and install your Windows operating system. Try that with a PC, and it might explode or vomit a virus into your lap.
The sound system is built into the iMac body. It is absolutely great...but, I do have an old, super Altec/Lansing sub-woofer and THX surround sound speakers that really kick, so I plugged and played...sheer bliss! Unlike my old PC's, the iMac USB ports actually recognize whatever you plug into them. Shocking!
Finally, you get a wireless "Magic Mouse" - which it is, and a sleekly designed keyboard that's missing that superfluous numeric section to the right. It's like going from a tenement to The Bauhaus. Even the keys are deliciously responsive. Since December of 2009, I've had absolutely NO problems with this computer. I am in awe, and have accomplished more than I imagined possible this past year. I'm Mac solid for good!
For more information about the iMac 27" desktop computer, click on the Amazon.com carousel above for additional specs and kudos. I've also included links to the Airport Extreme Base Station (WiFi), Pixelmator (super photopaint program), and Aperture (photo editing). Check them out! In fact, do yourself a BIG favor and punch the iMac buy button at Amazon.com. You and your blood pressure deserve it.