I have broadband! So it is not necessarily so that broadband is the answer to the speed problem. Flash sites are too slow, so in my view the software is the problem and not the delivery system aka broadband.

Way too slow loading. The format looks good, but for anyone not on a fast connection, it is the usual too slow and after awhile gets a wind-up. I dislike such sites in the end because of the lack of speed.

SMC DA 50mm 2.8 macro

Raw and Linux and Pentax Pef

Ufraw + Gimp works super and also I see Digikam also works pretty good. I am using the first combination when I do editing on Linux.

I wouldn't hesitate about recommending Ubuntu. There is a book out also Ububtu Hacks, I am learning a lot from that and the official Ubuntu book.

There are various RAW softwares that you can use in Ubuntu. I will list them when I have my laptop next in use.

I have the 21/40/70. Day to day I use the 40 mainly, the 70 next. For the Swiss British Classic Car meeting http://homepage.mac.com/stevenbutterworth/Sites/index.html - I use almost entirely the 21 - each one has their use, and to be honest I am happy with all of them. They may not be the fastest or most exclusive, but what counts is the end result, I cannot complain.

In the past I used Canon. Today I am more than happy with the Pentax K10d, it has many things going for it. I love the controls and the placement. Then I like very much the colours that are captured. It took no time to feel at home with this piece of kit, so when I read negative comments in reviews, I sometimes think the reviewer is either biased or just plain stupid and there have been some highly biased reviews haven't they. So many, that I very rarely bother with reviews now as I do not trust them.

Someone else said, all camera manufactuurers make good cameras these days. On reflection, I would agree, and each different make handles some things differently, that is why this subject of which make of camera is and has always been subjective.

For DSLR I made my choice and that is Pentax.

Clarky,

You did not lose the lenses then I hope!

I love Classics as well, and this set of images shows off what the K10d is capable of, there are some really nice sharp images.

You could also try Extensis Portfolio. It handles much bigger databases of images. It really does organise images well and allows one to find any image fast. However it costs money.

It uses Keywords and so on, it also has data fields for just about anything and everything to do with images. (EXIF, IPTC etc), once the RAW files are saved inside Portfolio, you can then export at any time, see peviews, make web pages and so on. I only scratch the surface of what it can do. I also have not lost any images or had any problems with the software.

So when I go out and come back with images, I first copy to my hard-disk to a folder, DATE, PLACE and then import to Portfolio adding Keywords, and the program brings in all the EXIF, IPTC info. Add Copyright info etc.

I have never been so organised. Thoroughly recommended software.