What tells you know that Winter is almost over?

Fire plugs sprouting from the snow on sunny street corners

Arial Bridge on the way out to Park Point. Nice beach out that way on the Superior side. Took the Ervin tour, too. I hear it's pretty fantastic at Halloween!

Once you have the the picture of the old vac you can use Photoshop to make look like a new one!

Always good advice.
Love the mask.

Always good advice.
Love the mask.

I use PCs at work, but have always been a Mac user for my personal work.

Macs are less a target for viruses
Macs OS is more stable
Macs are more expensive, although I believe it is a reflection, at least in part, of better components.
PCs have a better software selection, but Mac is catching up fast.
It is easier to "tinker" with at PC operating system than a Mac's, but I want to get work done, not "tinker".
When you do have computer problems, I have found it easier to find help fixing PCs than Macs. I know it's because PCs have been around since day 1 and there are more people to ask... Macs not so long. In making the system more reliable and easier to use, Apple has made the System a little harder to do do-it-yourself repairs. Sort of like cars of today vs cars of 20 years ago. Like today's cars are better than they were 20 years ago... I think Macs are better than PCs.
Macs ARE better at graphics than PCs, but that gap is narrowing, too.

Bottom line... get the Mac, you'll love it.

You have hit on one of my concerns about a kit lens... If at some point I want a better quality lens I will be paying twice. It makes some sense to me to get the quality lens I want up front. Judging from what I am hearing on The thread I'm over-thinking this and will be happy with a kit lens to start. I have learned a few new ways to look at this... Glad I asked! Thanks everybody.

You have hit on one of my concerns about a kit lens... If at some point I want a better quality lens I will be paying twice. It makes some sense to me to get the quality lens I want up front. Judging from what I am hearing on The thread I'm over-thinking this and will be happy with a kit lens to start. I have learned a few new ways to look at this... Glad I asked! Thanks everybody.

Thanks, Mudpuppy. I am thinking I'd start with a wide angle and expand from there. That would keep me busy indoors until the snow melts, then I could consider a longer lens for the critters.

What part of Mi do you call home? I'm up in the Keweenaw Peninsula

Thanks for the assist and as a follow-up question. In the case of a Nikon body with a kit lens, does Nikon package the body & lens or is that package put together by the retailer? More to the point, do I have to be concerned with a retailer bundling a low-end lens to lower the price of the package. I am pretty certain if the les is Nikon the quality is there. No camera store here so I will eventually purchase on-line.

I am looking at a Nikon 5100d or 7000d digital SLR, but my question applies equally as well to other manufacturers. Should I be purchase a body with a kit lens or buy the body and lens separately? I would like to own a wide angle lens and a telephoto. What has your experience been with kit lenses?

I read somewhere that men should not shovel snow[/quote]

I'll bet the gal in that photo was cursing her choice of open-toed shoes as she shoveled the sidewalk!

Good to have you here, Roy. You'll find a lot of helpful folks here. I'm also from Michigan.. A Yooper from the Copper Country, eh! - Duke

There's always Photoshop Elements 10 for Dummies! Aptly named because My kids gave me a copy for Christmas. They know. I hope they didn't over estimate my abilities.

If you get half as much good advice from the members here as I think you will, you will be editing in no time at all.

A Merry Christmas and a joyous & healthy New Year to all!
Please send snow!