Blog Notes-February 2011

1. Testing a different process for creating PDF's. First some statistics, starting with a Word document (DOCX) 12 pages, 3,186 words, (no graphics), 35,002 bytes
   • Word 2007 Save as PDF 651,320 bytes PDF v1.5
   • doPDF 6.3 fonts not embedded 49,851 bytes PDF v1.4
   • doPDF 6.3 fonts embedded 4,932,976 bytes PDF v1.4
   • I noticed that a newer version of doPdf is out: 7.2, I'll have to upgrade and test.
   • Testing a different package, open source PDFCreator 1.2 123,785 bytes (more features?) PDF v1.4
     • beware, installs a toolbar even if you opt out! Removed active link www.pdfforge.org / pdfcreator
2. Camera shopping - Canon or Nikon?
   • A check for which is more popular (i.e. more used equipment available)
     • eBay ads
     • Craigslist ads
3. Sony SLT-A55V α DSLR camera is a new "best of" innovation.
   • key features that catch my eye
     • small size compared to Canon and Nikon
     • innovation of design, no mirror to flip up
     • GPS integrated for capturing location info
     • image stabilization inside the camera (I'm sure there are arguments between this and lens based)
     • camera based sweep panorama stitching and HDR
     • HD 1080 movie mode with auto-focus active during shooting
     • HDMI and USB 2.0 connections
     • smile capture mode - which works, amazing!
     • Questions: remote firing, updates for firmware,
   • Digital Photography review of the Sony SLT Alpha A55 August 2010 conclusion page
   • I questioned if additional lens exist: Minolta/Konica Minolta/Sony Alpha lens data. (note: the author,Michael Hohner Photography, of the lens data maintains a great photography site focused on the transition of Minolta/Konica to Sony product.
     • Sony purchased the camera business from Minolta/Konica 5 years ago in March 2006.
   • Looking for more lens info, particularly on the kit lens
     • SLR Gear review of the Sony 18-70mm f/3.5-5.6 DT SAL-1870 kit lens
     • A more expensive alternative is the 16-80mm Carl Zeiss
   • Sony DSLR Talk Forum at Digital Photography review.
   • Specifications:
     • Sony SLT-A55
     • Canon Rebel T2i
     • Nikon D3100
     • Nikon D7000 another step up
4. Accounting for Entrepreneurs - Teaching introductory accounting and working on budgets and business plans leads me to trying to finds examples that are simple to understand and complex enough to be interesting.
   • Some notes from 2006 book: Streetwise Finance and Accounting for Entrepreneurs.
   • What types of businesses are most relevant? Service, retail, manufacturing?