Ralph’s Place

One of the simplest and most well known equations in the electronics world is that Bigger numbers = Better. 2 gigabytes, or 2,000 megabytes of RAM in a computer, is much better than a mere 256mb and a 2GHz processor could wipe the floor with a 400MHz cpu of old.

However, take that 2GB of RAM and use a rubbish memory management system, then you might barely match the performance of a 512 machine that’s efficient with it’s memory use! Whilst it’s true that 2GB is better than 512meg, that comparison is only true when each is pitched fairly against each other… ie. it’s not the only factor in good computer performance!

The same can be said for the size of the CCD on modern digital cameras. 6 megapixels is, on paper at least, considerably better than 2mp, and a 10 megapixel beast is better still! Unfortunately though, the CCD is just one small component of the camera. And despite what the retailers would have you believe, it’s not nearly the most important.

In fact, the number of megapixels on your camera pretty much only defines how large you can print or view your photos. Simplified, there are about 1.3 million pixels on the average computer monitor (1280×1024), so a photo from a 1.3 megapixel camera could, in theory at least, be viewed at full screen on your average monitor, with no loss in quality. Any more pixels and the monitor must start merging them to render the image, which actually begins to compromise the quality that you see. For viewing on your monitor, the benefits of 6 megapixels over 1.3 are hard to see.

When printing, the difference is easier to see because printing machines work at much higher resolutions. But for most people, printing at 6″x4″, 2mp will be more than enough. A 3 megapixel camera will normally print up to about 7″x5″ and so on.

On the face of it then, the more megapixels, the better the quality. No?

Nope. As I said before, it only affects the size you can print to without seeing any decrease in sharpness. The quality of the photo depends on the camera. Specifically the lense, the focus, the camera settings, conditions and of course, the photographer!

The most important piece of kit (if you ignore the guy operating it) is by far and a way the lense. This is what focuses the image onto the CCD in the first place, and thus what determines the sharpness of the image you get out at the end. That’s why my 3.2mp compact takes much better photos than your 5mp mobile phone. It’s also why a 6mp DSLR produces sharper images than the 8 or even 10mp compacts you can get these days.

It’s probably clear by now, that for you and me, 5 maybe 6 megapixels is more than enough in a decent camera. The only conceivable reason to put that same CCD in a mobile phone though, is that bigger numbers = better in just about everyone’s head. Whilst you and I may know that such a CCD in a phone is comparable to polishing turds, your average consumer will be drawn in by the big numbers and just assume that it’s better.

Essentially, a little more money on the CCD means a lot more sales, even if the pictures aren’t any better at all.

It seems the big issue these days is ‘Respect’. Whether in politics, at music festivals, in sport or just in the words you utter under your breath at the inconsiderate, overpaid dingbat who pushed past you on the tube this morning. The issue of ‘Respect’ is all around us in today’s society.

In Japan - and this is brilliant - they’ve even gone one step further and enlisted the help of manners police to help bring the issue under control.

I don’t have answers, but it does make me wonder sometimes… how did things end up like this. Not necessarily all bad, per say, but different. What changed, what events occurred that slowly but very surely meant that each generation was just that bit more rebellious than the last?

The more you think about it, the more obvious the answer appears to be. The clearer it becomes just how much control one thing has over the development of a child’s mind and what they perceive as normal behaviour. You can even see how this thing has developed and adapted in an attempt to follow cultural changes without realising that it is itself the driving force behind any real change.

You can probably see where I’m going with this. You only have to watch a bit of children’s TV today to see how obvious the differences are to when you were a child. Where once we had stories with morals, and heroes who prospered by doing the right thing, now we have nonsense that’s neither particularly stimulating for a child or educational. We have ‘cool’ shows that glamorise the bad guys as much as the good and leave the child to make the distinction themselves based on… what?

We all either learned our respect from our parents, or the tele, whichever we spent more time listening to… and as time goes on the TV is starting to win, could it be time to start fighting back?

Finally got round to sorting my photos from the lake district. Some are on facebook, some are on this site HERE

=^)

Confusing, isn’t it. Why would someone who enjoys the occasional drink, choose not to do so on this occasion? Are they feeling ok? Is something up? Health problems? All these questions have come up in response to the statement “I’ll have a lemonade please”, whether outspoken or kept to yourself, you can’t help but wonder.

So why? Why is it, that unless you are openly teetotal, driving or pregnant, it has become socially less acceptable to meet friends in a bar and abstain from drinking alcohol, enjoying a soft drink instead?

Or maybe it’s just when I don’t drink? I dunno

All the time you hear and read about people complaining about things. Everything from a bad customer service experience to being fully ripped off! Almost never though, do you hear praise for a company or service.

Well, right now I want to do just that. I recently signed up for O2 broadband and quite honestly, it’s been about as simple as it could get! (not to mention relatively speedy) The only glitch I had was getting the wireless box delivered, and that’s because I wasn’t in. I called the guys up, they offered to send it to a work address (this was around 3 in the afternoon) and it promptly arrived the next day. To get connected, you just plug it in, and it works. Easy!

Good service. Simple to set up. Quick. …what more could you want?