Learning curve

I was on the receiving end while on holiday in SA. Not only did I get a new helmet; I also had my phone upgraded, bought a new laptop and a new camera.

With my South African cell phone contract; I was due for an upgrade which my daughter-in-law, Amanda arranged even before I got home. Since my first cell phone (which was the size of a brick) in 1997, I have always had a Nokia. So it was rather strange to say goodbye to this type of phone after 17 years. My new Smartphone is Samsung 5 and although I'm still learning all about it and its many features, I don't know how I ever did without it! 

My new Smartphone  - so smart it almost makes my tea

When Amanda did the upgrade in the city, she snapped the children 

and loaded the photo on the front (you can see shadows of pappa and mama in the background!) 

Two years ago I needed a new laptop and bought an Ultrabook. With a 12 inch keypad, it was small, compact, and the best was I didn't have to travel with it in a computer case. It had a sleeve so I could slip it into my backpack which makes all the difference when you go through several airport security checks several times in one journey. 

It was getting old and very slow;  I asked my son, Angus to look for a new computer for me. The Ultrabook had increased in price: almost double what I paid in 2012, so Angus sent me the specs of an Acer Notebook, 14 inch keyboard but still carried in a sleeve. And the price was still the same as my original Ultrabook. 

Voila! 

This neat little machine has so many features and programs but with Angus helping me online and on WA, I'm getting the hang of it. My friend, Gattina from Writers Cramps has assisted me as well. 

The best news is that within a week Angus sold my old Ultra book and I recouped half the new Notebooks purchase price. 

Acer Windows Professional 8.1 - fast and furious! LOL! The screen responds to touch

A week before we went out on leave, I noticed that the battery cover on my camera was not closing properly. When I checked, I saw I was unable to insert the memory card completely. Looking even closer with the help of a torch/flashlight, I realized that a small spring had broken inside. I was still able to press the memory card down carefully and then quickly close the battery flap, so holding in it place. 

When I bought the camera, a Canon Powershot SX50HS in February, I didn't receive a power supply with which to connect the camera to the computer when uploading photos. It had a place for this external supply, yet there wasn't one. Instead I had to remove the memory card, insert it in a port on my laptop and upload the photos. Afterwards I'd remove the memory card from the computer port, insert it into the camera, and close the cover. Unfortunately I take so many photos that I repeated this operation almost daily and obviously wore out the spring below the memory card. 

While in SA, we took the camera to a recommended camera repair shop; they were unwilling to open it as it's still under guarantee. The technician suggested we return it to the shop where we bought it and ask them to send it back to Canon for repairs. That way I'd avoid perhaps having to pay exorbitant prices for the repairs. Only problem was although I always keep my purchase slips this was back home. I'd only be able to return it on our next leave.  

While in our favorite department store later that day, I thought I'd look at the price of a new camera. The shop assistant brought out the latest model: Canon Powershot SX60HS! I hadn't even heard of this model. Grant had followed me to the camera counter and when he saw me looking at a new one, he said, "Just buy it, Jo." Now how can a lady resist such an order? 

My new camera 

We'd already left the shop when we realized that it, too didn't have an external power supply for uploading photos. So Grant went into a computer shop, showed them my camera and the place in which you can insert this supply and promptly bought me one. 

I only started using the camera once we returned to Tanzania. It is also quite complicated (I love using the manual function for my bird photos but still have not mastered setting this one properly) but I am getting used to it. While at the Malaika Hotel on Lake Victoria, I was playing around with the features when suddenly the I was asked on screen: "name this camera" and a qwerty keyboard popped up on the screen. I named the camera "Jo's Photos" and when I pressed the function wheel again, images of a cell phone and a computer screen appeared on the camera screen! It has a WiFi feature on it as well, so you can transfer images straight from the camera to a cell phone or the computer.

This camera has WiFi

Mobile Device Connection

Unfortunately there is no manual so I'm having to learn using this camera by trial and error.  

So all that remains now is for me to start posting really good photos on my blog! 

I'm linking my post to Our World Tuesday which you can visit by clicking here.

Here's wishing you all a wonderful Tuesday!