Just to play devil's advocate for a second: Photo files are significantly larger than e-books, so bandwidth cost is higher for stock agencies. With that being said, they still don't deserve more than 40% of total price, leaving the majority to the content creator.

Absolutely AMD (FX-8150). Also, I purchased all parts over a period of several months, doing careful research to be sure that I got the best deal possible. I'm sure that there's no way that I could buy everything in a day and get anywhere near that price.

Quote from: spike on May 24, 2014, 16:40

If someone buys a mac "because it looks good on the desk", there is no point in telling that person anything about the processor or the storage.

Anyway... most people would be completely fine with an i5 pc with an SSD drive (for 600$).

Do you really think Apple is buying seconds from Intel or getting technology only after Intel or whoever doles it out to the home builders for PCs?

Once again, it is worth the extra cost for the product to look nice. People spend extra on clothes that look nice, they spend extra on furniture that looks nice, they spend more on homes, and on food that tastes better. They go to places that have more excitement of things to do and they spend more money doing so. And oh, I've even heard stories where they will spend more on unique and special images.

Strangely, I don't look at my computer. I generally look at what's on the monitor...

you should never be offended if someone asks - because it is a perfectly normal request.

I agree 100%. People ask physicians and mechanics for opinions at parties, why should photographers or illustrators be any different? Just because you don't say yes doesn't mean that you have to be offended. Think of it as a compliment, turn them down politely, and go on about your business.

Here are the results of my search for "business man" from New York, US.

The one thing that i see (and hear) over and over is "laptop." I'm not sure why anyone wanting to get a serious volume of work done would consider a laptop in the first place. You get much more bang for your buck (Mac or PC) from a desktop. And honestly, how often are you doing heavy-duty work when you're not in your home or office?

YMMV, but for me, when I'm not in my office in front of my computer, I don't want my computer following me! 

Can you replace the bulb, add modifiers like softboxes, is there a warranty, any resale value, etc...?  I would still go with Alienbees if you want something cheap.

• You can replace the bulb
• I have softboxes for mine
• Not sure about warranty as I've never needed to use it
• Why would you worry about resale value on a $65 item?

Maybe there's a bug.

There are no such things as bugs, only features. 

You can add one more. Very nice work!

I'm thinking drone and Go Pro. Plus I already have two Go Pros...    Can't afford the drone, yet.

I have that combo and it's a blast! I fly my GoPro on a Parrot A.R. Drone 2.0 ($250USD) rather than the more popular, pricier ($860USD) DJI Phantom. I just don't have the cash to spare for a Phantom, even though I would love to own one!

^  Click on the lastpass icon in your browser, then select "Tools" and "Security Check".  It will open a page with an offer to take their "Security Challenge".  Click the button.

It will then scan all the passwords in your vault and report on how secure it thinks they are, duplicates and the like (might take a while).

After this, it will give a report which includes any sites it found in your vault which are known to have been vulnerable, and whether or not they have been fixed.  If they have, it will recommend you go change your password - if not, it will suggest you wait.

Thanks! I had clicked the "Security Challenge," but thought that it wasn't what I was looking for. Now I'll go do it again and follow the instructions.

While I was filming a music video, I noticed that one of my quick release plates was kind of strange. I tightened the screw and thought nothing of it. When I came back in from a cigarette break (I don't smoke any more!) a bit later in the shoot, everyone in the room was really quiet and looking at me with fear in their eyes. Turns out the quick release failed and my 5DII fell off the tripod from about 6 feet. The body was fine, but the lens had to be sent in for repair.

Even funnier was the time that my wife and I took a few friends up into the Adirondack mountains to picnic and take photos along the Moose River. I dropped something small and cheap (I can't remember what) and my buddy was on a rock trying to reach it. I asked him to give me his camera which was on a neck-strap. He declined. I asked him to hold onto my arm for support. He declined. He fell into the river with his D40x. It wouldn't have been funny except he looked like a cat in a bathtub. The look of pure panic on his face just set me off. We both look back and laugh now because that was the incident that made him buy his first t2i and now he makes a living as a video producer.