David Pogue's Digital Photography: The Missing Manual

Transferring the Photos by USB Cable

Now it's time for you to import your pictures to your computer—a remarkably easy process.

Connecting with a USB Camera

Every digital camera comes with a USB cable, usually black. The computer end of the cable has a flat, rectangular, standard USB plug. Connect it to one of your computer's USB jacks.

The other end—the part you plug into your camera—has a small, flat-bottomed plug whose shape varies by manufacturer. Connect it to the corresponding jack on the camera, which is often hiding behind a rubber or plastic door. Now you're ready to proceed.

Step 1: Turn on the Camera

What happens now differs only slightly depending on your program:

• Mac: If iPhoto isn't already running when you make this connection, the program opens and springs into action as soon as you switch on the camera.

• PC: Open Picasa. Click the Import button shown here. On the next screen, from the Select Device pop-up menu at the top left, choose your camera's model name (you can see it in the illustration on the next page).

  

After a moment, you get to see thumbnails—miniature images—of all the photos on your camera's memory card. If for some reason the software doesn't "see" your camera after you connect it, try turning the camera off, then on again.

In any case, your screen should ...