Computers are Fun! They are Not Just For Business!

Computers are Fun!!!  They are not just for businesses....

iPhoto.  Now wow!!!! That is a program that i didn't have to buy, as it came with the computer, and has changed my life.  Many of you who are already using Apple computers know exactly what I mean.  It is amazing.  How I used to dread the traditional photo album.  I was always so confused about what to do with all of the photos that I printed and didn't use.  Photo storage boxes?  Great just more clutter in the house and would I ever really go back and look at pictures that didn't originally make the photo album cut?  Probably not.  Not to mention the time involved sorting through the pictures, selecting just the right ones to commemorate the trip, and putting them in an album.   So I think you understand...... Photo albums are not my strong suit. 

iPhoto has changed the way we as a family look, engage and organize photos.  Now when friends come over and say, "Hey we would love to see your Utah trip?", within two minutes the trip is on the large desktop screen with killer country music playing in the background!  Did I mention I had to do nothing except find the trip and Apple did everything else?  Yes everything.  It is incredibly straight forward.  Also, I didn't have to go get that one photo album and find the couple of pages that have the trip, which is usually finding the needle in a haystack for me. 

I know there are still a few traditionalists out there that are saying......."But I love looking through my photo album!"  Well, I feel I got you there too.  Every year we do a big album with many pages, say 100, and it is done in the form of a hard back book.  These books are beautiful and sit on our coffee table.  You can have 1 photo, 10 photos or 60 photos on a page with a layout you select.  It is fabulous and incredibly memorable.  Time involved?  Only what you put into it.  It is as easy as drag and drop.  You can type in stories, name photos, name the page and list quotes.  What I usually do is if there is a fantastic photo I just drag it to a folder, which I created, called 2007 Book.  This makes it easier at the end of year so I don't have to go through all of the photos again, which can be nice as it is like going through memory lane.  Girlfriends.  This is easy!  It doesn't get much easier.  On a PC not so easy and not so intuitive.  I have used both and am well verse in both.

So what about printing and sharing photos? Apple and other companies made that easy too.  Apple is easy in that you create an account, select the photos you want to order and kodak will charge your credit card and deliver it to you within approximately 2-3 days.  Okay for me, that used to be the most painful part.  You would drop off the film and then you would pick up the film and then you would go back to get reprints........Okay guys, time to simplify our lives........No more.  One stop.  We are all too busy!  A little secret though.  I prefer going to kodak, ofoto or shutterfly's websites because they have a program you download, that lets you upload a ton of photos at once and share with others online.  They also have good products that you can incorporate your photos into, coffee mugs, collages, t-shirts, etc.......all the good grandparent gifts.

I am not trying to tell you how to use iphoto, as there are books on that.  All I want is for you guys to know that this is a program that is plug and play and is easy.  You don't need to KNOW computers to work it.  It is intuitive, streamline and cool.  Pick up a book, embrace the technology that is out there and at your finger tips.  You will have fun and make your life a lot easier.  Stop buy an apple store.  They have classes and you will be amazed at what you can do.  Simplify.  That is what computers are for.....

-just a mom that is trying to find more time in her day

ps if you have a mac or are considering a mac, buy the iLife book by Jim Heid.  It is simple, straight forward, and has lots of pictures.