Robert SIlvers

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Static Page Comments

• November 11, 1997, on Web Tools Review--Scanners:

  It is not quite fair to say that PhotoCD is 8-bit when a drum scan is 12-bit. PhotoCD is 8-bit log-scale when a drum scanner is 12-bit linear. PCD is more like 10-bit linear with more efficient coding.

• November 11, 1997, on Web Tools Review--Scanners:

  One thing I would add to flatbed resolution comments is that, while it is true that 72dpi or 300dpi is enough for most files, a scanner is not a perfect device and adds noise to each pixel. If you scan at a high (say 600x600dpi) resolution and then downsample, you average this noise out and get a cleaner file. I would NEVER scan at less than 150dpi -- even if you want 72dpi. Clean files also compress better.

• October 15, 1998, on Communications:

  In reference to you AT&T article -- yes, their help line has 10-20 minutes of hold. It took them almost 7 days to get paging working on my phone -- which in the end was their programming error (they started a new exchange and did not tell their paging system!)Yes, it is very silly that the phone cannot get the time from the network. Yes, to other people, it sounds bad (bandwidth not symmetric so that the person paying the bill gets the best service -- scam???) But, my Nokia phone rings plenty loud. You can get a vibrating battery if you need more. You also can delete voice mail without listening to it (hit the skip- to-end key (3 I think, then hit 7). I get ridiculous amounts of talk and standby time -- at least triple my last way-cool phone. And, you did not mention the reason to get the service -- no roaming charges and no long-distance charges. My phone bill has gone from $700 a month to $120 a month and I can talk all I want. I am very happy.