best on site viewing software is 5minutephoto?

[carleton]

Rolland,

As my friend, Ed, stated, there is my event software, Photo Parata. I have one focus: Make it as easy and flexible as possible to get your images in front of your customers at the event!

Photo Parata is a hybrid of both desktop application and web application. The admin tool, called the Grand Marshal (GM), is the destop application that makes it easy to setup the Categories, sub Categories, and Image Galleries and downsizing the images to appropriate sizes for the Kiosk Viewing Stations (KVS).

Distribution of the images to the KVS is done using Apache web server. There are two advantages here:

1: You don't have to buy Microsoft Client Access License (CAL) for every viewing station, you can use Windows XP Pro for up to ten (10) viewing stations. For more then ten KVS's, you do need to run a version of Microsoft Server. But since there is no SQL database engine in Photo Parata, you can simply purchase the Windows 2003 Web Edition, which is only $400.

2: The Apache web server powers over 60% of the Internet and is a very tested and reliable system for distributing files very quickly. Along with Ed running on 16 viewing stations, I have another customer that has run on 32 viewing stations without a problem!

I am currently in the beta of the new Cart feature that allows customers to tag the images they like. I am hoping to have it out of beta in the next week. Please stop by my web site and fill out the Demo Request form and I will be happy to get you a demo key!

[rolland_elliott]

Does Parata allow customers to enter in credit card information and check out via the shopping cart?

[rolland_elliott]

How about online dash pics?
Is anyone using this? It is kind of expensive up front $1000 to $5000 depending on features, but seems like the oldest solution so it might be pretty stable?

Picsphere is very interesting!
The only comission based software! 7.5% is not bad either.

[carleton]

Rolland,

Photo Parata currently has a very simple cart system. It is more of a favorites system that allows the customer to tag his/her favorites and then from the Admin tool, the Grand Marshal, the sales person is able to copy all the selected images into one directory on the computer for printing.

P.S. I did release the 4th beta of the cart system last night. To download and try out, please see the web site:

www.miltonstreet.com

[GeneCarl]

Paul,
i have run 5 minute with 16 stations and 20,000 plus photos with no problem
Gene

[Claude_Ferron]

Originally Posted by GeneCarl

i have run 5 minute with 16 stations and 20,000 plus photos with no problem

Can you provide us with the hardware specifications, Windows version. Did you have lots of customers browsing at the same time. What are your hard drive speed? Do you have a photo of the setup? This always give use inspiration

Thanks

__________________
Claude Ferron, Owner / Photographer
www.subitophototo.net
Viewing System Solution - A proofing solution for event photography
Informations about the solution here (VSS)

[Ed_J_Szalajeski]

Hey all,

I have been using Photo Parata since November, and it is more important than my camera in most respect.

I have been using between 10-15 viewing stations depending on the event.

I have been very happy with the preformance of Photo Parata, getting pictures rapidly to customers within minutes of the event.

The server is a Dual Core PowerEdge with 2 GB of Ram, 7200RPM Serial ATA drive.

Running MS Small Business Sever 2003.


How many customers viewing at one time, all 15 machines cranking away. They tend to fill up fast as the events finish.


Photo Parata is engineered to utilize the Apache Web Sever, so I do not need to purchase expensive CALS for each viewing station.

At my last event, with the latest version of the software, the system ran very effectivly.

The key is getting customers to see all the options, and to add selections to a shopping cart for printing or purchase later.

The key feature to Photo Parata's Shopping cart, is that at the server, I can quickly bring up a copy of a customers selection and push them to my sales completion workstation.

I have some pictures of the setup, and will upload them and share with everyone.


My next problem is that I need to create a better viewing station solution, for clusters.

Currently I put the computers on raised tables, I am looking at other options, clamping monitors to poles, with s mini desk to work from, I am open for solutions, that is where I plan to put my effort forward.


Ed Szalajeski