Dr.John's Hardware Blog

Work in Progress on "Big and Black"

2009-10-02T08:59:00.001-07:00

our new Super Server;

Dell PowerEdge 6850 with 4 Xeon 64bit dual core CPUs running at 3.33MHz (retail value: $4,200, paid $280)
IBM eSeries 346 with 2 Xeon dual core CPUs running at 3.6MHz (retail value: $3,800, paid $200)
Overland LoaderXpress with 60 LTO tapes for archiving backups (retail value: $3,700, paid $150)
60 IBM LTO 100/200GB backup tapes (retail value: $2,700, paid $300)
several SCSI drive caddies
Brand spanking new half height cabinet (retail value: $700, paid $175)
Total cost so far: $1,105 (value; other than the $15,100 retail price... immeasurable)!

Overland LoaderXpress Tape Library

2009-09-26T03:42:00.000-07:00

Just purchased an automatic robotic tape library device. This will give us an inexpensive and reliable way to create backups of every customers' hard drive images, so that when/if they have a disk failure in the future we can replace their hard drive and restore the image easily and quickly.
In addition, since it is an automatic robotic device connected to our server and able to be accessed through the internet it can be a way to do incremental backups of any online computers we like.

Online LoaderXpress price: $3,500

Online tape price: $3 4.00

Oh and by the way, I didn't pay those prices. I found a fully functioning LoaderXpress on eBay for only $150 including shipping, and also 60 used but pre-formatted and tested tapes for $300. Thats only $5 per tape! I love shopping for deals and steals.

Blu-Cigs Electronic Cigarettes

2009-06-09T13:56:00.000-07:00

I've been a smoker for almost 45 years, I've tried many times to break the habit without success... so far. Trouble is I love to smoke, and my only motivation to quit is to please other people. If I truly wanted to quit for myself, I suppose I might be able to... ? Now, I've discovered a possible way to take care of "others" as well as my own desire/need. E-Cigarettes; a way to "smoke" without "smoking". E-cigarettes (and e-pipes and e-cigars) do not burn tobacco, do not give off second-hand (or for that matter, first-hand) "smoke". They do allow a smoker the feeling of smoking, indeed even give off a water based vapor that looks like smoke without the smell. They are not quite the same as the real thing, but pretty close. And hopefully close enough to allow me to eventually quit the real thing and be satisfied, and in the process keep everyone else happy as well...

Netflix Roku Digital Video Player

2009-06-08T12:50:00.000-07:00

If you are a subscriber to Netflix (and if you aren't you soon will be!) you need to take a look at this new device; Roku Digital Video Player

$99 MSRP

The Roku digital video player instantly delivers high-quality movies and TV episodes directly to your TV using your high-speed Internet connection. Compact and lightweight, inexpensive but powerful, simple to set up and use. Learn more from Roku.

Watch 12,000+ movies or TV episodes from Netflix instantly.
Easily connects to any TV
Pause, rewind, or play anytime, just like a DVD
Small as a paperback book -- fits into any home entertainment system
Wirelessly connects to your Internet service
30-Day Money Back Guarantee from Roku

Amazon's Kindle Will Change the World!

2008-07-18T09:11:00.001-07:00

July 18th, 2008
A week ago I logged into Amazon.com to order a book;
The Big Book of Small Business.

It had been loaned to me by Bob Jones of BJ's Towing and after reading the first two chapters and skimming through it I decided it was a manual I simply had to own.

While on their website I ran into an ad for the Amazon Kindle.

An electronic reading device about the size and weight of a paperback book. It stores up to 200 books in digital form, with the ability to add a memory card if you need more storage. Pricey at $359, but it gives one the ability to carry a whole library around with you in your shirt pocket.

Unbelievably easy to read (unlike trying to read anything of substance and length on a laptop or LCD screen). I read all the reviews and watched several videos online of people who had them and decided to give one a try.

My Kindle arrived Monday morning, and it took an hour or two before I got to the point of forgetting that I had an electronic device in my hands, and was able to immerse myself in the book that I'd ordered (two as a matter of fact, and instead of paying almost twenty dollars this time for the hard bound copy, it was only $9.99 and downloaded wireless-ly in less than a minute from the cellphone system).

This device is going to change the world of reading forever!

Seagate USB External Drive

2008-04-23T12:02:00.001-07:00

My Stuff: Periferals and Toys

2008-04-23T11:55:00.001-07:00

SanDisk Sansa e250 Media Player

2008-04-23T11:33:00.001-07:00

Like the iPod and similiar devices, this one is small (fits easily in any shirt pocket), easy to use and best of all; cheap. You can spend several hundred dollars for an Apple iPod or you can carry your music, videos, movies, podcasts with this for half a hundred instead. Unlike the iPod, this also includes a built-in FM receiver, so you can listen to radio off the air as well. One of the features I use most is its built-in one button voice recorder. Although it doesn't have a speaker and to hear your voice messages and reminders, you'll need a set of headphones, it is a nice device to have on hand.
Here's a link for a good review with video: Sansa e250
The SanDisk Sansa e200 series (4GB) next to the 4GB Apple iPod Nano (with a ColorWare treatment). This 4GB version lists for $70 less than the 4GB Nano. Note: The Nano is much thinner and lighter than the e200.

MotorolaQ Cellular Phone

2008-04-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

Video Review

Product Summary

The good: The Motorola Q boasts a sexy, ultrathin design and features a sharp display, a full QWERTY keyboard, EV-DO support, and a sharp multimedia functionality. The Windows Mobile 5 smart phone also has integrated Bluetooth, a speakerphone, a 1.3-megapixel camera, and solid call quality.

The bad: The Motorola Q lacks integrated Wi-Fi and analog roaming, and you can't use its Bluetooth as a wireless modem. The screen also tends to hold a lot of smudges, and there's no option for a cameraless version at this time.

The bottom line: The Motorola Q lives up to much of the hype by offering good call quality, an excellent multimedia experience, and the essential productivity tools, all wrapped up in a sexy little package.

Specs: OS provided: Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Edition; Installed RAM: 64 MB; Wireless connectivity: IrDA, Bluetooth

Slingbox Solo: TV Anywhere

2008-04-22T12:37:00.001-07:00

Rather than having to hope the television tastes are compatible, I decided to try out a device I'd heard about called "Slingbox". It allows you to connect to your own television at home, or even your Tivo or DVR. With a broadband internet connection you can not only "watch" your TV, you can control it from where ever you are. I had recorded several documentary programs on my DVR's external hard disk drive and was able to access not only the DVR, but to actually stream the programs from it thru my DVR and router onto my laptop while away. As a result my son Tony and I watched Download: The True Story of the Internet on my laptop in the workshop while the girls were watching a chick flick. The quality of the video stream depends entirely on your broadband speed of course, the audio was always right in sync, but occasionally the video would pause, buffer and then skip ahead. It isn't perfect, but it surely is an option that's before now never been available. Were I a traveling salesman or a trucker still, this device would be as important as XM radio! Here is a link to a YouTube video that describes the Slingbox Solo.

MagicJack: Free Phone Calls

2008-04-22T12:21:00.000-07:00

Another tool I decided to try out on my vacation is the MagicJack VOIP (voice over internet protocol) device.
For only $39.95 you can buy one of these cool little USB adapters, plug it into you internet (broadband-highspeed) connected laptop, or desktop and have free long distance calling!
Better still, the cost includes the device, the next year the cost is only $20 per year!

Canon ZR850 Digital Camera

2008-04-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

I just bought this camera a week before I left for vacation. As you can see from both the videos and still photos taken during my vacation, it does a wonderful job. I was tempted to go with an HD camera, wanting to capture the very best quality video I could, but the cost was out of my budget range. I settled for this one, and after using it for the last couple weeks, couldn't be happier.
Video Review