On the trip to PC Expo, I took my trusty Compaq Concerto for handwritten notes and trade show coverage and my IBM ThinkPad 755CE for typing articles and navigating to New York and back (aided by GPS and Etak SkyMap software). In addition, since I am finishing up a review of Adobe PhotoDeluxe Business Edition, I also loaded it on the ThinkPad as the digital darkroom for PC Expo pictures. After all, you have to truly USE the product to review it properly, right?

Note: Yes, several of these images prove that I was DWTP (Driving While Taking Pictures) but rest assured. In most cases, either the car was going less than 15 mph or I made sure that squeezing off a shot took my attention off the road no more that sipping a cup of Starbucks or talking on a cell phone.

I also took my Sony Mavica MVC-FD7 digital camera (see review) and here are some pictures that I took on my way to PC Expo in New York, from Chicago. The pictures on the way back are here.

Rolls Royce
When I saw this car in the rearview mirror, I knew I wanted to take a picture of it. This shot is taken off the rearview mirror. It demonstrates how the Sony Mavica MVC-FD7 can focus properly on this unusual combination of close object reflecting a distant object.

Rolls Royce side view

This Rolls was so long I couldn't get a picture of the entire car - this is the best one I took. It was taken at 60+ mph and demonstrates the Sony's ability to "stop" action and create a clear picture.

Omni
This is a rather eclectic Omni that I saw in parking lot on the trip. Notice the "Kilroy was here" style hood ornament peering over the bug shield and the airbrushed license plate.

Cool rally car driving away

I saw this car in my rearview mirror and by the time the Sony was ready, this is all I caught using some zoom. Let's just say this car passed me "very quickly".

Unusual New Jersey sign
This sign affirms what I would think should be plainly obvious, to most people, in most states. The only reason I can think that this sign is needed is that sometimes right lanes are used as "diamond lanes" (carpool lanes), where 3 or more people need to be in the car during rush periods. It was raining slightly when the shot was taken and the sky was overcast.

Hewlett Packard Bus

While I was on my way to Digital Focus 99 and Mobile Focus 99, I saw this Hewlett Packard bus on the New Jersey turnpike. This picture was also taken at 60+ Mph from an open window.

Panasonic "changing message" billboard
Took these series of picture while I was stuck in traffic waiting for the Lincoln tunnel (heard about the jam up on the car radio after I passed the Holland tunnel exit and could have used Etak's new traffic service). Although these three pictures were taken from a "moving" vehicle, anyone walking past would have looked like they were speeding.

Second image on the Panasonic "changing message" billboard
What appears to be a smudged background is really a series of ones and zeros in light grey.

Third image on the Panasonic "changing message" billboard
With the traffic jam, I could get pictures of each message on the sign -- not much else to do, waiting to get through the Lincoln tunnel on my way to Digital Focus/ Mobile Focus 99.

Stuck in a traffic jam in the Lincoln tunnel

In case you haven't seen the inside of the tunnel, this is what it looks like with lots of traffic. I like to see it with a lot less traffic and during the times I commuted the traffic moved quite well.

New York
Finally! -- I'm in New York! The of the Lincoln tunnel is covered with ceramic tiles and the dividing line between the states is "set" in tiles, along with the names, New York and New Jersey. This was captured at about 20 mph.

Copyright © 1999 Rick Smith All rights reserved.