Going Digital    by Alex L. Goldfayn Order:  USA  Can HarperCollins, 2006 (2006) Paperback Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Belle Dessler There's something comforting about knowing that your family's pictures are stored safely in a photo album among stacks of other heirlooms you rarely dust off. But wouldn't it be wonderful to actually admire all those lovely photographs on a regular basis? To share your memories with family and friends? Or to edit out the slow, jumbled parts of your home movies and show off the professional results? With Going Digital as your personal guide, you can. In his Letter from the Author, Alex L. Goldfayn makes a bold claim. 'I believe this little book will change your life,' he tells us. 'And if you give me the next five minutes - the time it will take you to read this brief letter - I'll tell you how.' I recommend giving Goldfayn more than just a few minutes, especially if you're still uncomfortable with the ever-changing technology that claims to make your life easier. Once you've perused the pages of this book, you'll not only be more comfortable with the information presented here, you'll also be eager to try out some of the suggestions provided. Alex L. Godfayn is no stranger to technology. He writes the My Tech column for the Chicago Tribune and hosts The Technology Tailor Show for WGN Radio. And in this slim reference guide, he shares his vast knowledge with all of us. If you've ever walked into an electronics store, you know just how overwhelming it can be to pick out a new digital device. And once you get it home, it can be even more frustrating to make sense of the jargon-ridden manual and put the device to good use. Going Digital makes it simple to understand what the equipment can do for you, and how to best take advantage of the various capabilities being offered in today's marketplace. Written with clarity and purpose, the book systematically leads readers through a logical progression of ideas. Beginning with an introduction to The Wonderful World of Digital, Goldfayn tackles each subject in a detailed yet easy-to-understand manner. For example, in his chapter on Printing Photos, Goldfayn outlines four options for achieving 'crisp, bright, sharp-looking photographic prints for your digital images.' If you don't want to print your photographs, that's no problem either. There's an entire chapter on Sharing Digital Memories, which offers a wealth of suggestions on everything from putting entire photo albums on a CD to viewing your pictures on TV, sharing pictures online and setting images to music. Although the author makes it clear he's an expert on the subject of digital technology, he presents the information in a concise and simple to follow manner. If you've been looking for a sure way to learn the basic and advanced capabilities of your digital devices, look no further. Going Digital provides a firm foundation towards understanding, creating, editing and sharing your electronic memories for years to come. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews