The number of images that can be stored will vary depending on the image resolution. One new approach is Sony's Mavica digital cameras. The Sony cameras store images to standard 3.5-inch floppy disks, making image storage inexpensive. Each floppy disk can store 20 images of the highest quality. The conventional approach to transferring images from camera to computer is through the PC's serial port.
Serial communication is very slow and makes the transfer process a tedious chore.
Some appraisal imaging software products let you preview the images in the camera before transferring them to the computer. If you choose a digital camera with memory cards you have some alternatives. If your desktop PC is the destination, then you can install a PC Card reader device. It connects to the parallel port and allows for faster image transfers. You can also purchase internal card readers that offer even faster transfer speeds but they cost more and can be more difficult to install.