laptops + help protecting framed art

[aimeekitty]

::::::FRAMED ARTWORK IN SUN?::::::
Does anyone have experience with putting up original artwork (like animation cels) in a kindof sunny spot? will UV glass protect the artwork enough?

EDIT: looks like the consensus is no cels anywhere near the sun, ever. (Maybe I can find a bedroom that's darker and make it my art room?) I have some stuff I've been keeping in a celbook for years, I'd like to finally frame them sometime in the next couple years. lol.

::::::LAPTOP::::::
Mitch and I need to finally get a laptop. I'm leaning towards a MAC because I'm used to them and I like their ease of compatibility for presentations at conventions. We'd need one of the new MACs that can run PC progams, too.

What about having internet anywhere you go? How does that work? Does it only work when you hit a "hotspot"? I've never had one, so I have no idea. (in fact I haven't had a laptop since college!) Mitch would need to be able to check his email and play games on a laptop on the train, but it seems the train here doesn't have internet yet.

Thoughts, suggestions, please!

Comments

[singingraisin.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't put any artwork you really love in any place that will get much direct sunlight. While I'm sure the glass would help it a little bit, I wouldn't want to test it out on stuff I couldn't replace.

[merrycalliope.livejournal.com]

The framers at the shop where I worked warned against putting art on walls that would receive direct sunlight even if they pieces were framed with the really nice UV glass. I guess, really, there's only so much the glass can do because other things can affect art like drastic temperature changes and humidity levels.

As far as having Internet anywhere you go...I'm not sure how it works with laptops. I know on my iPhone I can access the Internet anywhere I get 3G access...which is something provided by the service. So maybe you can set a laptop up to take advantage of 3G via whomever your cell phone provider is...?

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't trust any art to sunlight, no matter how much "UV" glass is "supposed" to help.

[karisu-sama.livejournal.com]

Free WiFi zones are not everywhere, just certain locations. You can have a laptop networked via Airport or some such utility to another computer in your house that you have on a physical link to the internet - this gives the laptop internet access.

[ziggybecket.livejournal.com]

All modern Macs can run Windows. You can either install something like VMWare or Parallels to run Windows apps while you're running MacOSX. That works fine for most apps. But for games and apps that need all the CPU power, you can reboot with Boot Camp and actually boot Windows, which you need a separate copy of. VMWare/Parallels you have to buy. Boot Camp comes free.

As for wireless internet, it sort of depends on how much you want to pay and depends on where you are. If you're going to be around Starbucks all the time, then you'll have pretty cheap-ish wifi that way or depends if there's a lot of wireless hotspots in your area.

Now if you want wireless internet practically anywhere then you need to check out AT&T or Verizon's wireless data plans. They can go from $50/mo or more plus a wireless modem. But the upside is that you can get almost DSL speeds anywhere there's cell phone reception. Which is cool, but pricy. Oh and there's usually a bandwidth cap, like 50megs a month or something. Again it depends.

Oh if this is to feed Mitch's FF addiction, I don't know how reliable the connection will be during a train ride. And I think you'll hit those data caps too. :/ It would be fine for email and chatting and web surfing though.

[qob.livejournal.com]

you will also have to buy Windows, so figure a minimum of $100 more.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

I think he would at least like to play FF! $50 a month is kinda high, but we'll save money on him taking the train, so it might be worth it. But it might not be worth it to him if he cant play FF? Dunno, have to ask him. Me personally, I'd be fine inbetween hotspots, you just download your mail and then reply to it while you're offline.
FF is so old, would it really hit a data cap?

I KNOW NOTHING>>>> XD

Mitch would probably run the computer in Windows all the time, I'd just like the option to run it as a MAC when I need to. I've had so many problems with people's random laptops at conventions not doing what I need them to do. I'd feel more comfortable having a personal laptop which I know how to use and know how it will function when I'm in a bind, right?

[ziggybecket.livejournal.com]

Yah, I don't know how much data FF will use. He could try by putting a bandwidth monitor on his current desktop and play for like an hour and figure out how much FF uses in bandwidth?

The other question though is I dunno how stable that connection will be on the train. So I dunno if it will be worth it for him.

[knitchick1979.livejournal.com]

Been a while since I hung out helping the framers at Hobby Lobby but I'm pretty certain that the UV glass is *not* fool-proof. So if you're worried, err on the side of caution.

As far as the laptop, I have a brand new MacBook so I can answer questions about that!

With the Internet, the new MacBooks come with built-in wired and wireless internet capabilities. The Airport is actually quite good, I catch signals much better than I did with my old laptop and its wireless card.

If you need internet in places other than hotspots (which are becoming more and more prevalent) then you can get mobile broadband. Cricket, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint all offer mobile broadband (I'm not positive about other cell companies like AT&T), and basically it's a mini modem that plugs into your laptop. For the Mac you'd need to get one with a USB connector (there's ones that are like little flat cards but the Macs do not have that type of slot).

The battery life on my little Ianto (yes I named my laptop Ianto) is quite good, I've gone for a few hours on a charge. *yanks power cord out and looks at display* He says 3 hours on a full charge. :D

All the newer Macs have the Intel processors and thus would be capable of running Windows programs. For presentations, my MacBook has a built-in DVI-out port, and then you'd just get the cable to convert to what is needed for the projector. I'm waiting to find out what kind of inputs the projectors at Acen have (we're using Ianto to show a presentation during the Fanfiction panel this year).

Hope that helps and feel free to email me if you have any other questions!!

[qob.livejournal.com]

another option would be to install Wine www.winehq.org/ if you just want to run an occasional Windows program.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

that's fabulously helpful, thankyou! Looks like Ianto is doing exactly what I'd need! (which is appropriate! XD)

[knitchick1979.livejournal.com]

:D I loves my Ianto.

The best though was the day I said to my friend, as we were splitting up to go home for the night, that I was tired and I was gonna go curl up in bed with Ianto. Cue other friend calling her cell and triggering the Torchwood theme! We nearly died laughing.

Now I just need to get a spiffy laptop skin. I'm thinking about commissioning one, but I haven't decided what I want beyond Ianto ;)

[withinity.livejournal.com]

The UV glass definitely won't help much with cels. I have one that was under UV glass and the black ink still turned a bit brown. It might have anyway, but I wouldn't recommend exposing it to light so much.

[kittytreats.livejournal.com]

Oh my, you have some expensive but awesome cells! I was curious what people do with them. I see them at conventions which were tempting to buy. That's a neat idea, framing them. My art room upstairs is pretty bare at the moment.

My friends who have laptops just take whatever wifi is available. I do have one friend who uses a Verizon Wireless subscription. So he can be online pretty much anywhere with a special pcmcia card (I think they have usb cards now). Like with the other comments, Apple might have some sort of special service you can subscribe to.

[aimeekitty.livejournal.com]

compared to most cel collectors, I really don't have much, but the ones I have are very dear to me. :) I've had this particular one for several years (ie, I haven't added or sold any for several years.) I bought most of them when I was in college when I got my first animation (steady) paycheck. (also a couple of the gargoyles cels are Mitch's)
You do have to be very careful with any kind of artwork though. Mine right now are in a shady corner and up my (relatively dark) staircase, no where near sunlight... so I was worried about what to do with them in my new place.

That's cool about the laptop!

[daitenshi-dream.livejournal.com]

Your Last Unicorn and Secret of Nimh make me go "FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFffffffffff!!!!!!!"

The reflection cel has always been my favorite. *_*

[caiwynne.livejournal.com]

Ah, a question I know oodles about! I have worked in my family's frame for several years, and unfortunately there is nothing in the market that will protect your artwork 100% in direct light. While UV coated glass protects your art up to 97%, I would definitely not put it into direct sunlight. If there is a wall that is screaming for art, I would recommend art that is replaceable like a mass produced poster or print. Something that you won't make you feel like you ate month old sushi if it gets damaged. Also, keep in mind when framing original artwork, such as cels, you want to create the best possible environment for it. So whatever frame shop you take it to, make sure they use acid free mats, foam core and mounting.