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CD RW in Sahara CD RW in Sahara
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North Africa Topics specific to North Africa and the Sahara down to the 17th parallel (excludes Morocco)
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



Trans Sahara Routes.

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  #1  
Old 4 Nov 2002
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CD RW in Sahara
Im going to Algeria & Niger. I have digital camera and I need to copy my photos to CD. Does anybody knows if any internet cafe in this region is having Read-write CD. Others ideas how to save pictures are also welcomed. Thankes!
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  #2  
Old 4 Nov 2002
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Why not using PCMCIA hard disk drives (2GB or greater)?



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  #3  
Old 4 Nov 2002
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Not exactly related but we discussed digital vs. conventional film cameras on the road in the Photo forum. I suggest you take a look at these threads; I think there were some ideas on how to handle digitals on the road.

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A.B.

OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
ShortWheelbase.com – Jeep preparations.
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OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
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  #4  
Old 4 Nov 2002
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What is PCMCIA?
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  #5  
Old 4 Nov 2002
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I'm taking a digital camera, laptop and SLR camera on my trip. Any tips on safely storing the gear? I have a case for the laptop and conventional camera cases for the 2 cameras. Any experiences with gear in extreme conditions???
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  #6  
Old 4 Nov 2002
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Quote:
Originally posted by Janez Jevnikar:
What is PCMCIA?
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=PCMCIA

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  #7  
Old 5 Nov 2002
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PCMCIA is now officially known as PC Card. It’s a standard for adding peripherals to laptops. It’s the thin slot on laptops where you insert the card type modems, network cards, sound cards, memory and hard disks.

Some of the better digital cameras use this system to store their images on PC Card memory cards or hard disks. If your camera is so equipped than it’s a good option.

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A.B.

OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
ShortWheelbase.com – Jeep preparations.
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OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
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  #8  
Old 5 Nov 2002
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Mel,
Since you’re driving around in a caravan, I would recommend getting hard cases with foam padding instead of the soft cases. (I’m very happy with Pelican) Stuff the cases somewhere so they don’t move, sway or slightly bump to the side of the car for example. If you have space still take along the empty soft cases and transfer the equipment to it on daily outings since they’re easier to handle. Alternatively, a friend made a small cupboard padded with foam where he squeezes his soft cases.

In the Sahara the soft sand will go everywhere, so keep the equipment in its cases when not in use. When used I keep an old rag handy to cover my camera while not shooting. I also plumbed an airline from my air compressor to the inside of the cab and leave a small air hose attached all time I’m in the Sahara. Before I put away my camera, I clean blow it from the soft sand; it only takes a couple of seconds.

------------------
A.B.

OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
ShortWheelbase.com – Jeep preparations.

[This message has been edited by A.B. (edited 05 November 2002).]
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  #9  
Old 6 Nov 2002
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IT Gear in Saharan conditions....

Laptops overheat like mad. One reason they are so compact is they lack the air circulation space and heat sink capacity of desktops. I wouldn't take one into the Sahara.

Ive used Sony digicams and Canon SLRs in the desert a few times without problems, as long as you take precautions such as those outlined.

CD-RWs give massive dust-related problems in desert environments and blank CDs themselves can warp in desert heat unless you keep them artificially cooled.
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  #10  
Old 6 Nov 2002
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Hi,
I am using an small Acer Travelmate 313T since 2000 to store my digicam pics, digital maps, do route planing, fetching email via sat.phone etc.
No problems so far, but I don't use it while driving. To avoid overheating: don't operate it in a closed container.
I am storing it in my rucksack.

No problems so far with my Nikon Coolpix cameras.

To charge my egear I am using a small 12V DC to 220V AC converter.

I once used a PD-Drive (from the pre CD-RW times) and no promlems with it. But it is very important to keep dust out of it. On the long term that will me almost impossible, for 1 trip of up to some weeks it might possible.

I wouldn't bother with an extre CD writer after my good experiences so far.
Take an notebook with a huge HD and make 2 partititions. The secont partitition is only for a back up of important data. It is very rare that both part. will fail.

Another possibility: use a 2nd HD only for backup, stored at a different, safe plache.

Or use one of the mass storage devices for digigams.

Hope that helps. Yves


[This message has been edited by Yves (edited 05 November 2002).]
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  #11  
Old 6 Nov 2002
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Im traveling by Renault4, so loooooow buget. I will not take any notebook with me. Im iterested about 0.5 euro Cdrw having with me, not some expensive stuff. My camera is having only usb port, so I cant use some old pc. As I see there are two ways of storing pictures. One is to find internet cafe with CDRW and the other is to lucky find some traveler with new notebook.
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  #12  
Old 14 Nov 2002
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Yves, I’m afraid formatting the HD into 2 partitions will not do any good for us travelers. There are 2 types of failure, one caused by software behaving badly or premature shutdown and the other caused by shock and vibration. If you encounter the first type of failure then yes most likely only one partition will fail. However since the laptop will be bumped around a lot the second failure is more likely and in this case the entire HD will stop working.

In any case you should always back up. Digital storage is ridiculously unstable if you really think about. Always back up no matter what kind of setup you have. I would take the CDRW, pack it well, and back up every couple of days in a very clean environment.

------------------
A.B.

OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
ShortWheelbase.com – Jeep preparations.
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OasisPhoto.com – Images from the Magical Sahara.
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