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February 21, 2008

Flickr vs. Picasa

I have recently been going back and forth on using Flickr and Picasa Web Albums.

Inspired by a recent comment left on a photo I shared, I decided to do a comparison between the two, and why I have come to selecting Picasa as my choice of sharing photos online.



FEATURE

FLICKR OR PICASA

NOTES

Photo Storage (Free)

Picasa

As a free account, Picasa allows you to store 1 GB of photos, while Flickr allows 200 photos. Unless I was uploading 5MB/photo to Picasa, I can store more pictures on Picasa than Flickr

Photo Storage (Full)

Flickr

Unlimited photo storage for Flickr $25/yr) vs, Picasa’s

  • 10GB $20/yr
  • 40GB $75/yr
  • 150GB $250/yr
  • 400GB $500/yr

 

Desktop Tool

Picasa

Absolutely no comparison here. Picasa’s desktop tool allows you to organize, edit, and manage your photos easily, including uploading and downloading of photos. You can even download other people’s photos using the desktop tool.

 

Flickr is a simple upload utility.

Tagging

Flickr

Though both allow tagging of photos, Flickr allows mass tagging, while Picasa does not

Sharing

Picasa

Both can do public and private sharing, but to share private photos in Flickr, it requires the other users to create or have a Flickr account.

 

Flickr has more options around privacy and how to share, but for me, it is not applicable for how I share pictures

Notes/Captions

Flickr

Only the owner can add a caption to the photo in Picasa.

In Flickr, users can not only add notes, but can add them on the photo themselves

Comments

Tie

Both work essentially the same

Organization / Managing of Photoes

Picasa

This is strictly a matter of preference. In Flickr, it’s a 2 folded answer – if you have a free account, Picasa wins because you are not limited to the number of sets/albums. If you have a pro account in Flickr, then it’s a tie. You can organize, manage, edit, your sets and photos all online in Flickr, but you can do the same (and even a bit more) with the Picasa desktop tool. I prefer managing my photos offline, and uploading the photos I want to share.

Web 2.0

Flickr

No comparison

Picasa has some community blog and photo sharing, but it’s nothing like Flickr

Ease of Use

Picasa

Strictly a subjective criteria, but I find for what I use photo sharing, Picasa is a much better option for me. I manage my photos offline, and upload them online to share with friends and family. I’m not interested in managing it online (even as cool as Flickr is on that), nor in photo communities.

 


In conclusion, the biggest factors that made me go with Picasa is the desktop tool, the value for the price (free), and the ease of use of the site and tool. Though Flickr has a lot of cool online options, I just don't prefer to use/manage photo sharing in that manner.

Posted by Christopher Prall at 07:28 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

February 19, 2008

The Folding Workbench Project

I had yesterday off, so I decided to complete one of our house projects - building a folding workbench in the garage. I made most of comments in the pictures, so please view the pictures for details.

2008.02.18 - Workbench Project

I have an open issue with the table design, so I'm looking for input here. To secure the legs in place, I am using a 5" 3/8" lag screw in each leg, screwed in from the top, through the table, into the leg. The pro is that it secures the leg - the con is that I have to screw and unscrew it every time. Though it's not the end of the world, it's as easy as just dropping down the table.

I would rather not use the screws, but I still need a way to secure the legs in place. I am open to ideas. Bring them on!

Posted by Christopher Prall at 05:10 PM | | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

February 16, 2008

Making Holes in The House - Range Hood Project

As many of you know, I enjoy to cook. Well, with cooking comes a lot of kitchen smells - some good, some bad, some strong. Being that our house has a very open floor layout, the smells go everywhere, and we really don't want to smell curry or garlic for days in the house! So began the exploration of addressing the range hood problem.

We looked at 2 options:
1) Converting the current range hood from a recirculating hood to a exhaust range hood
2) Replace the current over-the-stove microwave range hood with a over the stove range hood to exhaust outside

After doing much reading online, reviews on Consumer Report, and weighing the pro's and con's of replacing the current range hood (better exhaust, loss of microwave and potentially counter space, etc.), we opted to do the conversion.

I will first say that this project was not particularly difficult, but it required significant planning because of a few things:
1) I was about to make a permanent hole in my house. No do-over on that!
2) There conveniently was a 2x4 right where I wanted to cut out the holes
3) The air duct cap was not going to be flush with the outside vinyl siding
4) Required me manufacturing a custom air duct system
5) I was about to make a permanent hole in my house. Yeah, I said it twice

The project took the weekend, over a course of 2 days. I could have completed it one day, but I didn't start until the Saturday afternoon and work had to cease after it got dark. I would say, all in all, trips to Lowes and all, it probably took me 9 - 10 hours. I spent the majority of the time on manufacturing the air duct, making trips back and forth to Lowes, and planning. The actual 'work' part didn't take that long - perhaps 2 - 3 hours in all.

I was quite proud with my custom work on the air duct. Unfortunately, I did not think of taking pictures of the project until Sunday, so you don't see the whole construction of the air duct, but trust me, damn Case engineering education at work there.

Enjoy!

2008.02.09 - Range Hood Venting Project

Posted by Christopher Prall at 12:27 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)