JMD,
The PC Interface bug-a-boo is either a blessing or a curse. Clearly, without an installed PC base I don’t believe that the mass adoption of digital photography would be possible at all. Nearly the entire “value chain” for the field of digital photography is PC-based.
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In fact, the Internet and the desktop PC form the foundation on which digital photography is able to grow. It seems, however, that this foundation is not only responsible for the very rapid adoption of digital photography, but also stands to limit its potential. In order to capture the remaining larger segment of the population who enjoy photography, but are not PC savvy, alternatives to the desktop environment will be necessary. The reward for reaching out to the non-PC user is substantial, both to digital camera OEM’s, those making a market in paper prints, and SanDisk alike.
As Art said, for archival purposes a PC interface seems to be an absolute requirement. Without an alternative to storage of “digital negatives” (the raw data files) it is difficult to construct a successful business model for digital photography. Thus, the PC is a vital link in the value chain.
After SanDisk announced the joint venture with Photo Me a few weeks back I typed the following. I hope it speaks to the questions you raised in your earlier post...
Road Blocks to the Widespread Acceptance of Digital Photography
I have been thinking about the importance of SanDisk's venture with Photo-Me that was announced recently. Ultimately, the success that digital photography will or will not achieve will be determined by the user experience. Because the final destination of an image captured with standard film photography is a color print, digital photography must either allow users a hassle-free method of obtaining "hard copies" of their photographic memories or offer suitable alternatives. Thus, it is a useful exercise to review the steps required in creating digital photographic memories.
The PC Connectivity Bug-a-Boo
There are currently 5 means of viewing digital files, of which 3 require a PC interface. There are as follows:
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Paperless Imaging
This includes primarily the viewing of Internet albums, home pages and the like. Other options include use of cables to view directly from a digital camera via a television set, PC-based screen saver/slide show programs, or the use of digital picture frames.
Home Photo Editing and Printing
This includes primarily the use of image editing software and a high quality inkjet printer or a dedicated photo printer that accepts memory cards to produce “hard copies” of variable quality.
On-line Photo Processing
These services are usually intimately linked with on-line albums sites that offer free storage of photo albums for on-line viewing.
Kiosks
Thus far these services are geared more toward photo scanning and "copying" using self-service desks at photo developers and pharmacies.
Digital Photo Developing
Modeled after traditional film developing, these services will be offered by most of the larger photo processing chains nationwide over the next 6 to 12 months.
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DISCUSSION
The PC interface is an important point as it does represent a hurdle for many potential users. If this hurdle is not overcome, the market for digital cameras may be constrained. Thus, by requiring PC familiarity prior to a digital camera purchase a sizable portion of the consumer market is instantly eliminated from the picture. Conversely, the elimination of the PC from the digital photo "developing" circuit and creating a stand-alone digital camera is not desirable either. One can argue that consumer familiarity with the PC is a major driving force in digital camera sales. To further emphasize the symbiosis of the digital camera/PC relationship recall that nearly every photo editing program requires a PC to function. Thus, the ultimate goal is not to eliminate the PC, but to both facilitate the PC interface and to seek viable non-PC alternatives for those unable or unwilling to master the required desktop computing skills.
PC Connectivity Plain and Simple
One of the simplest ways to achieve PC connectivity is through a universally available and universally accessible standard, such as a floppy disk drive. The success of Sony's early Mavica series was due largely to this PC interface. Through the use of floppy adapters and custom drivers (companion software loaded on the host device) SmartMedia cards, Memory Stick and MMC/SDMC will also afford floppy access. An additional price paid here is the expense of the adapter and the limited bandwith of the floppy connection. Once in the PC the captured images may be manipulated in any way the user sees fit.
CompactFlash and microdrive offer a unique solution by allowing users direct access to the content of the flash memory card via a PCMCIA adapter. This is a very inexpensive and easily mastered task to ask of the consumer which is truly plug-and-play. No additional software drivers are needed. As with competing storage media (SmartMedia, Memory Stick, MMC) form factors, this technique requires both editing and archiving/storage functions (and Internet connectivity) be mediated through the host device, in this case a laptop
The future, for the time being, seems to be parallel, USB and Firewire ports combined with dedicated card readers. These USB and Firewire ports may also allow direct camera-PC connectivity.
OPTIONS and PREFERENCES
A) "PC-less and Paperless"
The use of several viewing devices can completely avoid the need for a PC. This includes options such as direct viewing from the digital camera after it has been connected to a standard television. Most digital cameras offer this option. Alternatively, images stored on the removable media could be viewed on a handheld device (an e-book or palm computer), via a set-top box with a dedicated slot or with a digital picture frame. With the exception of a direct TV connection with an RCA cable most of these options require familiarity with computers. Also, no archival storage possibilities can be interfaced and no photo-editing possibilities exist.
B) PC-less with paper prints
Only three options currently exist for PC-less digital photography with paper prints. These options require direct printing from flash cards using either a) an inkjet printer with a dedicated memory card slot, b) a stand-alone dye-sublimation printer (such as offered by Sony and Olympus) with a dedicated memory card slot or camera connection, and c) standard film processing or kiosk service using memory cards in place of standard film. With each of these options an mechanism for photo archiving is lacking.
C) Paperless and PC-based
Perhaps the most exciting option available to digital photographers who are comfortable in the PC environment is the use of the computer hard drive as a repository for digital photo albums (with several options for backing up files), photo editing software for touch-ups, and either an on-line site or home page for secondary storage/display/remote access/photo sharing. This option, although not as convenient as paper prints for sharing and display, has created a totally new and uniquely convenient environment for experiencing photographic images over longer distances.
D) PC-based with the option for paper images
Continuing with the last option discussed ("C"), motivated PC users with a hobbyist bent may elect to create paper images using relatively inexpensive "photo quality" ink jet printers, on-line print services offered by most web-hosting sites, or any of the techniques described in "B" above. The biggest impediments currently are the cost of consumables required for most inkjet printers and the potentially time consuming process of uploading and ordering photos on-line. With time the cost of inkjet supplies/photographic paper will likely fall. Currently it is difficult to produce individual prints at the same cost per print as a standard film process. Also, mostly highly-motivated hobbyists are currently attracted to this technique. Regarding on-line services, the emergence of services such as DSL and cable modem access (rapid uploading), semi-automated downloading procedures (batch uploading) and relatively inexpensive photo developing sites will likely increase consumer acceptance.
Finally, innovative solutions like SanDisk's hybrid approach with intelligent kiosks, an integrated on-line hosting/storage/viewing/ordering website, and locally accessible self-serve processing will continue to pressure standard 35mm film processing shops.
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FWIW,
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