camera on the way, what else does a beginner need?

[TCampbell]

DO take a few hours to go through the manual. You just bought a camera which is considerably more capable than cameras you may have used in the past, but it's a tool... not magic. Good images won't just happen because you own a better camera, you'll want to invest some time to learn to exploit the tool. That starts with reading the manual.

If this is indeed your first camera which allows you to independently control all settings, you'll want to learn the basics of "exposure". Pick up a good book... Bryan Peterson's "Understanding Exposure" is very good... as is Scott Kelby's "Digital Photography" series of books (it's now up to 5 volumes, but meat is in the first couple of books.)

Once you read this stuff... go out and practice. You want control of your camera to be 2nd nature to you -- so you aren't trying to remember how to do things when you have an opportunity to grab a great exposure.

The camera can be put in an entirely automatic mode -- but that reduces it to the power of a point & shoot camera. You can do so much more once you learn to get it out of the automatic mode and "control" how it creates an exposure.

Good luck!

 

[rudimaes]

Haven't most computers a card reader build in? Mine have.
Rudi

Here you find a free online e-book where you can read about the basics:
Creative Photography A Complete Online Book - Book Contents
Rudi

 

[KmH]

Your D3300 comes with a basic editing software - View NX2 - on the software disc that also has the complete D3300 Reference Manual as a PDF file.

I too cannot stress enough just how advantageous knowing what features, functions and capabilities your camera has, and how to utilize those features, functions and capabilities, is.
For instance - your D3300 has 3 light metering modes you can choose from. Understanding the advantages and pitfalls of all 3 modes is extremely beneficial.

To help learn how to utilize your cameras features, functions and capabilities I highly recommend this group of Digital Photography Tutorials