With the low cost of hardware (still not free but getting close) and the huge amount of data a digital camera can make, the thought of a total hard drive failure (especially the one your using to back up your data to, but that is another story!) should send shivers through even the most brazen computer user.
How can you provide protection against data loss? Tape drive? Have you ever actually tried to get data off a consumer grade tape drive? You might as well inscribe your data on grains of rice an keep it in an old sock… The commercial drives cost way too much and the software is sketchy at best.
Backup to DVDs? Sure, as long as you don’t mind plodding through the 30+ disks you made when you backed up your 160GB drive. That is if none of them have developed a read error (that is yet another story for me to write.).
So what are you to do? Well, why not build a RAID…
What is a RAID you say? Well, it stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Drives. Once a thing only for servers that cost as much as last years Ford Focus can now be build at home for next to nothing. You just need some drives and a controller and your all set!
What’s RAID? – Tweak Hardware
Beginners Guides: Installing RAID on Desktop PCs
Mac Mini SE/30
Pretty neat idea for an old SE.
“I gather in SE(old Mac) 8.4inch LCD,Mac mini,power packs. and all connector accessible and DVD drive also. i made it 2005 Feb. 5th.”
Mini SE
Luke, I am Your Tater…
This will make a great gag gift for the office Christmas party this year…
” “A spud on the dark side” That’s how toy maker Hasbro Inc. is promoting its latest Mr. Potato Head figure, Darth Tater.
The toy spud will be available next month, ahead of the May release of “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” the latest installment in that film series.
Darth Tater will come with a light saber, cape and helmet, in addition to the regular Mr. Potato Head accessories such as eyes, mouth and nose.
The Pawtucket-based toy maker says children will be able to “have all kinds of mix n’ match, Mr. Potato Head fun with this wacky spud dressed as the infamous `Star Wars’ villain, Darth Vader.”
The toy will retail in the United States for $7.99. ”
A Mac Mini Enthusiast Network
So you ran out and waited in line for the spanking new spiffy Mac Mini. Now you have the thing and your wanting to ‘stress the envelope’ and see what you can make this baby do but you don’t know where to look. If your not one to blaze new trails and risk releasing the magic smoke from your new toy, BYODKM (Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse) is the place to start. From overclocking to mounting one in your car, BYODMK has information for the modder and power user alike. Even if you don’t own a Mini this site is worth a look.
BYODKM.net – A Mac Mini Enthusiast Network
Photographer Seeks Resolution
“Flint’s Gigapxl Project is an attempt to capture America in a series of very high-resolution portraits. Beginning in 2000, Flint has made about 1,000 gigapixel photographs during long road trips covering thousands of miles. His last trip lasted six weeks, stretched 9,000 miles and resulted in 150 images.”
This is pretty neat. People forget that a large format camera can have simply amazing resolving power when the negative is enlarged. I like the idea of capturing America in such high resolution sounds like fun. I hope Unesco will use his camera will be used to record endangered archaeological sites. I wonder if there is room for someone to take very low resolution images of America. 🙂
Wired News: Photographer Seeks Resolution
Gigapxl Project
Faux Wood Mac
This is a very cool paint job. It reminds me of one of the Woody car form all those sufing movies in the 50’s.
(Translated via Excite)
Mac Paint