One of the biggest advantages of a prime is that it is faster (smaller f stop #, bigger opening).

If you're willing to try a "cheap" lens get the Canon 1.8 50mm prime. The glass is to Canon standards, but the barrel is all plastic (I suspect that's how they keep the price down.) The speed difference between my T2i kit zoom and the 50mm amazes me. The Kit lens will need flash, the 50mm won't need it. The lens runs a bit over $100 at Adorama or B&H. It's worth getting.

I've never dealt with either of them. One theme I see is "if it's too good (low) to be true" it isn't true. I've dealt with B&H and Adorama. I've heard good things about Abe's of Main (but never dealt with them). I've had nothing be superb service from B&H and Adorama, along with prices that are realistically low. Stick with well known sites.

If you do go with pop-up sites do a web search with "scam" or "ripoff" along with the company name before buying from them.

I'll stick with B&H and Adorama. (no connection except that they have some of my money!)

Willard

New Egg has it as a Black Friday special for $49, with free shipping. I also ordered a Dolica ZX600B300 60" Carbon Fiber Tripod & Ballhead Combo for $99 -- specs looked good. Anyone have any experience with it?

Willard

Has anyone used one of these? How well/easy/fast are they to use? I like the idea of the conveniece, but am hesitant since my current method of pulling the card and putting it in a card reader works.

I'm shooting a Canon T2i, medium

A very good choice is paint.net (at http://www.getpaint.net/). Now freeware it started development as an undergraduate college senior design project mentored by Microsoft, and is currently being maintained by some of the alumni that originally worked on it.