goddi

==================================== Jill, Thanks much!!! I tried everything except that. The usual Windows command with Shift or Ctrl keys did not highlight them. Your solution with just the Shift key worked just fine. Gary

============================= Greetings, If I may jump in here with an observation and question that has to do with this 'integrated vs. dedicated' graphics card question. I recently purchased a laptop, my first. I went ahead and added an Nvidia graphics card with 2Gb of memory. Why? Just to be safe and it was only $75 more. When I asked the Toshiba tech guys about how the integrated graphics card worked with the added Nvidia card, they said the laptop will choose it automatically based on the demand. Hmmmm... I did not like that answer because I wanted to know when it was being used or not being used. Anyway, I just found an interesting discovery. If I right click on a program's executable file (.exe), I get a choice of which graphics card can be assigned as the default to that program. I have Win8. So this might be useful for those who might have not discovered it yet. But...my question is, does it make sense to change the default integrated graphics card to the Nvidia for PTE or Photoshop, etc? Or just leave it to default to the integrated (less powerful) Intel HD 4600 card and hope it really is using the Nvidia when needed? Gary

Greetings, I have 15 MP3s in my Timeline. I need to move the last 12 or so of these MP3s as a group to nudge them all at the same time to the left. As it seems now, I have to do it one at a time, which will disrupt the precise crossfading I have already have set for these 12 MP3s. Is there any way to highlight all 12 as them as a group and move this group of MP3s to retain their current crossfadings? Thanks... Gary

============================ Sure, but it does not catch the stuff that Malwarebytes catches. You need several different programs. You can't rely on just one. I have MSE, too. Try Malwarebytes just for the fun of it. Easy to install; easy to dump. Gary

================================= Leo, I figured that. I like it so I will probably purchase it too when the time comes. Times have changed. I notice now that many of the formerly 'free' programs that I have been using are now for purchase. Getting a new laptop and trying to install the same programs are now popping up with prices. And some don't work with Win8 so you have to buy their newer versions. Great marketing concept. Get us hooked on the freebee...then $$$$. :D/> No problems though. Gary

======================== Leo, I, too, use Malwarebytes. A couple days ago, I experienced the same thing. Then I remembered your posting. And I updated my Malwarebytes and the problem disappeared. At first, I thought, here we go again...virus. But it is good to see it cleared up. But I have a question about your Malwarebytes. I put Malwarebytes on my desktop PC a long time ago and it was free. Now, I just put it on my new laptop and it is the same build version, but it say "Trial" as the top of its opening window. I thought I saw on this "Trial" version that it was good for 30 days, but now I don't see that indication. Does yours say "Trial" and will it function after this "Trial" period??? Gary

Greetings, I know this issue has been raised before. In Dec. 2011, a request was made for all files used in a show to be bolded. Currently, only the primary file that is used in a show is bolded in the File List. I am currently going back to one of my old shows to do some tweaking. This show has the same background (or primary) image in each of the slides. In O&A, I have added video clips to each background image. So each slide contains only the background image and the added video clip. The problem is that the File List shows only the background image in bold, but none of the added video clips are bolded. I have the original untrimmed videos and other images in the File List that were not used in the show, but they all look the same, unbolded. Those files that were used as non-primary files and those that were not use are all unbolded. So here are my suggestions: When an image or a video clip is used that is not the primary image in a slide, have it highlighted in the File List is some way, such as a different color (for example). Also, it is difficult to identify the images (as a group) that are used in a particular slide. For an example, if you have added several images or videos in a slide, it would be very helpful if, when you highlight a slide in the Slide or Timeline View, all of the images and video files that are associated with that slide are highlighted (perhaps in a background color) in the File List. So as you go from one slide to the next in the Slide or Timeline View, the different images and video clips used in that slide will be easily identifiable. As it is now, you have to go through the O&A's to determine the file name of each added image or video clip in each slide. Thanks... Gary

====================== Dave, Yes, I'd rather do any adjustments outside the camera. I still shoot JPGs. I did the update but I assume that I'd have to actually apply it through a camera menu...if I wanted to...for in- camera adjustments. Gary PS Yes, I just checked in my D7000. The Auto Distortion Control is 'off'.

==================== Hmmm.....I don't see that about 'only in Retouch Menu'. I see "Distortion control data are used to correct barrel and pincushion distortion during shooting and editing. They can be loaded into cameras that support distortion control." It seems to apply to all Nikon supported cameras in the same way. Well, I did the update and it all went well. If it helps, great. You never know..../> Gary PS You can check out some comments at DPReview: http://www.dpreview.com/news/2013/07/19/nikon-updates-distortion-correction-data-for-DSLRs-adding-latest-lenses?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=generic

Greetings, Just noticed a Nikon update for Distortion Control Data is available. Here is the link: http://nikonimglib.com/dcdata/#os-windows There is also a link for Macintosh on the above site. Gary

========================= After 2 dropped calls with Toshiba tech, I tried a 3rd time. We finally figured that their website in incorrect. It is a 1920x1080 display. And, I discovered also that they made a mistake on the graphics card their web site says it comes with. Their web site says it is a 'integrated card graphics card'; but they said it actually comes with an NVidia card (2GB GDDR3 NVIDIA ® GeForce® GT 740M with Optimus). Good news. But can anyone tell me if a Touch Screen will degrade the quality of the viewing? Gary

Toshiba has finally come out with a 15.6" laptop (P50-ABT2N22) with the 4th generation processor (Haswell). I don't understand a couple things. They show the Video specs as follows: Video: Display* :15.6" FHD TruBrite® LED Backlit Display (1920 x 1080) Display Resolution: 16:9 aspect ratio, 1920x1200, Supports 1080p content I don't understand why there are two different aspect ratios. When I play a PTE show that was created with the 1920x1080 aspect ratio, will it have black bars at the bottom? Or will it be full screen? Also, I have a choice of a touch-screen or a non-touch screen. Would a touch-screen affect the quality of the show? Are is there no difference? Thanks... Gary

============================== Colin, Thanks for the info. I have been going around to the computer stores and trying out my PTE shows on various laptops just to see what happens. I have been surprised that many times the video clip portions of the slideshows will not play smoothly on many, but play very well on others. I can't tell what might be causing this but the salemen say it must be the video card. Though the worst was when I played a show on a Sony with 2 gb on the memory card. The show actually stopped playing during a video clip. So it pays to test PTE shows on the laptop before you buy it. But something else has me wondering. When I play PTE shows from a memory stick on my desktop PC, it starts practically immediately. When I play the same PTE shows on laptops, there is a very long pause before the show starts. It seems to happen on every laptop I have tested. Can you explain what is going on? Gary

=============================== This has been an interesting and educational event. It looks like they put a high-powered engine with a govenor on the throttle in the laptops. The TN and 6-bit screens are OK for gamers but not for working with images. I understand now why they don't want to publish these specs. :(/> Thanks. Gary

==================== Greetings, I don't have Win8 yet so I am not sure what you mean. Can you give more details on what you mean by 'apps do not work well...". Thanks... Gary

======================= Colin, I finally got some answers. I got a number for Toshiba's Customer Service Sales (whoever they are?) but I was told that the screen for the Qosmio X70 is a 6-bit TN. Each time I asked a question, he had to put me on hold and go ask someone. So I don't know what else to think. Perhaps all laptops are like this but it has become too much of a burden to dig into the detail. Not sure yet what I will do. It does seem to have a good graphics card, though. But it looks like it is a good laptop to output to an external monitor as mentioned, after doing all the detailed work on a desktop PC. Thanks for the info. Gary

===================== Colin, Thanks for the info. But I can not get any more specs on this laptop from anyone. Still trying but it just can not be found...yet. All I can find is that it is "1920x1080, FHD TruBrite TFT LED Backlit Display, 16:9, Supports 1080p content". When I look at my Nvidia info of my Samsung monitor, it shows that the Color Depth is 32-bit. Take a look at the attach screenshot. Are we talking about the same thing? Gary

====================================== I have been trying to find more specs for the screen for the Toshiba Qosmio X70 laptop. It seems to be top secret information!! I have called Sales, Customer Service, Tech Support and Repair (though they would not even answer the phone). My desktop's Samsung monitor is 'True Color 32-bit'. Is this a comparable spec to what you are talking about? I put a question on a Toshiba Forum site so I will report back if I get any answer from them. This Toshiba laptop has "built-in HDMI® output feature to view your 4K Ultra HD digital content on the latest TVs". And it has "Resoluton+" that is supposed to improve the viewing of DVDs and videos from camcorders. So there is hope that it has a better laptop screen but without the detailed specs, there is no way to really know. But, this doesn't mean that the laptop's screen will show any more than 6 or 8 bit color depth (?). Gary

================================= Yes, that is right. But since both are independent (not integrated) graphics cards, I figure either would be pretty good. The 17" has a 3GB GDDR5 Nvidia GeForce GTX 770M w/ Nvidia Optimus. The 15" has a 2GB GDDR5 Nvidia GeForce GT 740M w/ Nvidia Optimus. Gary

==================================== Speaking of specs, I am not sure how to evaluate the possible choices of hard drives. Some are available only in 'custom' built and some in prebuilt. I am not sure how each would affect using PTE, in creating or showing the slideshows. Since I don't have one to test, can someone give some idea how they rate? 1- 1.0TB (5400 RPM, Serial ATA) 2- 1.0TB (5400rpm); Hybrid 8G Serial ATA hard disk drive 3- 1.256TB: 256GB mSATA Solid State Drive (SSD) + 1TB (5400rpm) Hybrid HDD 4- 256GB Solid State Drive (Serial ATA, SSD) 5- 750GB HDD (5400rpm, Serial ATA) 6- 1.0TB: 500GB (7200rpm, Serial ATA) + 500GB (7200rpm, Serial ATA) I am leaning towards the #2, #3, or #6. The size and speed seem to be optimum but I really don't know how to decide. Choosing the specific Toshiba's (4th generation) model will determine which hard drive it will have but I am not sure of the pros and cons of the different possibilities (durability, speed, heat, noise???) Can anyone enlighten me on these choices??? Gary

================================ I took a closer look at the keyboard on the Toshiba since you mentioned it. The layout looks pretty similar to my Microsoft keyboard, only missing some duplicate keys that I never use anyway (attached). The keys are black. I've never seen a white keyboard...but this Toshiba has backlite keys. I guess this would help in low-light situations. Yes, I do take a memory stick and test out various laptops at the store. The problem with the Toshiba that I like is that no one has it in stock yet. And if I want to customize it, I am pretty sure a store would not do it. I would rather buy a laptop locally so I have someone to talk to face to face when there is a problem. It they do come out in stores, I guess I will have to go with the pre-built models. Gary

============================= Yea...I keep going back and forth between a 15" and 17". When I look at the 17", it does not look too big...but then the little added weight...I just don't know. I'd rather do a live demo because I'd rather see a live demo if someone else was presenting one. I can see recorded ones on YouTube. It just is not the same, especially for a small photo club like we have. Not having used a laptop before, makes it very difficult to decide what I really want....:(/>:(/>:(/> Who knows??? I'll just have to keep asking myself questions. Gary

=============================== Now that is a really good question. And I am constantly asking myself that same question. It's not that I really need one on a regular basis. What triggered my searching for one is that my photo club wants me to put on a demo of the PTE program next season. I don't want to just show the slideshows but I want to show how to actually create a slideshow using PTE. The only way is to have the program on a laptop and have everything set up to work properly. I don't want to take the chance using someone else's laptop. The worse thing is to have something fail during the presentation. And I figure if I am going to get one, get a good one. Also, I'd like one to have downstairs in my home so I can do research on the laptop without having to run upstairs to my desktop PC. Getting lazy...maybe. It is a matter of convenience, I guess. It has been impossible to find a laptop that I liked but I think this new Toshiba model can be configured to pretty much how I would like it. Gary

=============================== I see that Toshiba just came out with the Toshiba Satellite P50-ABT2G22 Laptop. It is customizable and the 15.6" screen's resolution is 1920x1080. It tooks pretty good. It has the Haswell and i7. And the HDMI output has the '4K capability' (not sure if this will be useful but who knows...). Gary

================================ Dave, Yes, I am trying not to compromise. But almost every thing I look at has some deficient hardware in it. But...I just took a look at the Lenovo IdeaPad Y510p (59370005). It has 4th gen; 2.4GHz; 15.6" display; Nividia GT750M w/2Gb; 8 Gbs Ram; 1TB 5400+24Gb SSD; DVD drive; HDMI out. A bit heavy at 6 lbs. Hmmmm... The problem is I can't find it in any story around here to actually see it and test it out. But I guess there is hope. I'll have to keep checking around. Gary