Showing my ignorance.
 

Still browsing cameras, wishing for the money tree to bloom. Ho hum.

I have a Sony Mavica that works with a floppy disk that I just pop into my hard drive. This is the only digital camera I have ever used.

How do pictures get uploaded from other cameras that don't use discs? Is it simple, or something that has to have all sorts of cables hooked to something.

I am considering that Nikon Coolpix that Bill Whitaker spoke of. Since it is a little older, the price is so low, as opposed to that Rebel I have been wanting. Any one else familiar with this camera?

Mary,

I'm assuming that you have one of the old discontinued Mavicas. As far as the Coolpix, there are at least six which use that name. Was there one in particular that caught your eye?

Nikon Coolpix

Yes,
 

the 995.

Also, wondering about the fuji brand. They seem to be significantly cheaper than the Nikons and Canons with similar features. I have noticed really good reviews on these cameras by the owners on dpreview.com. Are you familiar with that brand at all?

To answer your question about getting the pictures out of the camera: My camera attaches to the computer using a USB cable. When I connect it, the software starts automatically, and downloads the pics.

You can also use a card reader. Take the card out of the camera, and insert it in the reader to snag the pictures.

I was at my uncle's house this week, and he showed me his printer. It has a built-in card reader, so you can print photos directly from the card, or send them to your hard drive.

I believe that there are other models that use a camera dock. Just dock the camera, and it does the rest.

Lots of options.

By the way, all of these methods require fairly up-to-date computers. You could use the Mavica with a ten year old computer, but the new cameras will need USB. Take that into consideration if you have an old computer.

No
 

I have a fabulous brand spanking new computer with all the bells and whistles. Thanks to a swap for a portrait. So that shouldn't be a problem. I was just reading from a portrait photographer that the fuji cameras "love skin", so Im exploring that at the moment.