LG VX8100-Can I download from phone to computer?

[big_harley_davidson]

I have an LG VX8100 picture phone. I have two questions:

1. Is a data cable available to connect this phone directly to the computer, or am I restricted to bluetooth (I don't have a bluetooth dongle.) I can't find a cable on the Verizon site.

and

2. Using the cable (or bluetooth if the cable is unavailable) is there a way to upload pictures from my phone directly to my computer without having to send them to Verizon's "Pix Place" on the web? Verizon says the ONLY way to get my pictures from the phone to my computer is to upload them from the phone to the Pix Place website via phone ($.25 per picture) and then download them from the website to my computer. I find this hard to believe, since I know other phones can upload directly to a computer, and since I have several experiences with Verizon giving me incorrect information, I am hoping you guys can help.

Thanks in advance for your help.