Yeah, I remember you Tony! Glad to hear you've recovered; that sounds like
a crazy situation, and it's good you've come out of it not too much worse
for the wear! And yeah, being back on the HWG list has already proven to be
useful for me, so I for one am glad to be back too! And seeing those same
names in my inbox when you've been gone for so long--yeah, there is just
something *way cool* about that, so congrats and thanks on keeping that up
guys! Cheers, and glad to see you back Tony! :)
BINO
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tony Riederer
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2009 12:57 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [H] Hardware Digest, Vol 15, Issue 22
I might as well jump in here too as I am a returning person also. Welcome
back Bino. I was a member since the beginning of the list. I took a break
for a year or 2 and suffered a severe head injury a little over a year ago
which sure changed our life here. I am almost back to normal again which is
considered a miracle from what I have been told. Feel like I am one of the
luckiest men alive. Well enough about my stuff. All of the sudden one day I
thought about all the messages I used to read from The Hardware Group list
and thought I would check and see if it was still around and to my surprise
it was so I rejoined. It is way cool to see a lot of the old names again.
Look forward to the information I have missed for the last couple of years.
Tony
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
[email protected]
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 2:50 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Hardware Digest, Vol 15, Issue 22
Send Hardware mailing list submissions to
[email protected]
To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
http://lists.hardwaregroup.com/listinfo.cgi/hardware-hardwaregroup.com
or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
[email protected]
You can reach the person managing the list at
[email protected]
When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
than "Re: Contents of Hardware digest..."
Today's Topics:
1. Re: The straight dope on USB drives...and is SDHC related?!
(Bino Gopal)
2. Re: The straight dope on USB drives...and is SDHC related?!
(Bino Gopal)
3. USB hubs? (Bino Gopal)
4. Re: Re-introduction for Bino Gopal... (Bino Gopal)
5. Re: Re-introduction for Bino Gopal... (Bino Gopal)
6. Re: Re-introduction for Bino Gopal... (Bino Gopal)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 12:35:16 -0800
From: "Bino Gopal" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [H] The straight dope on USB drives...and is SDHC
related?!
To: <[email protected]>
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Well, newegg (at least) has 64GB too, though the price/size ratio is not
favorable:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2003240522%20130
9439130&name=64GB
Yeah, I remember seeing the Corsair Voyager GTs, but they're not around
anymore...interesting...
It's the little things that get me though--the cap is detachable and easily
losable; why not make it built in or not need a cap? And what about
somewhere sturdy to attach it to a keychain where it won't come off?! I got
a 8GB Cruzer for $15 from Best Buy just to have it, and I had it on my
keychain and the flimsy ring already slipped off my keychain! *sigh*
It's those things that get me too; the actually usability aspects, not just
the speed and reliability! :P
BINO
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Winterlight
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 11:30 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [H] The straight dope on USB drives...and is SDHC related?!
> > So this is a timely return to the collective b/c I've been researching
(my
> > method of dithering) over the purchase of the "best (and biggest size
for
> > the buck too)" USB flash drive for months now.
The biggest, which I believe is Cosair's 32GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233061 is
not going to be the fastest. That title belongs to the premium "Red"
Cosair Voyager GT 8GB which is expensive and isn't easy to find right
now.. probably coming out with a new version.
http://www.corsair.com/_datasheets/CMFUSB2.0-16GBGT.pdf
I have a 16GB Cosair Voyager, which cost me 25 bucks on sale/Rebate
at Newegg and it is pretty fast on the reads, but not so much on the
writes. But well made and a very good value. You can get the 32GB for
40 bucks regular retail now.
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 12:37:08 -0800
From: "Bino Gopal" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [H] The straight dope on USB drives...and is SDHC
related?!
To: <[email protected]>
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hehe, I already have a separate USB 2.0 2.5" for storage and stuff; the
flash drive is just another backup point but it's mainly for transferring
files to other computers etc, as it's much easier and smaller than whipping
out a 2.5" HD! ;)
So given that, thoughts Brian? ;) And any thoughts on the relation b/w the
flash drives and SD/SDHC cards?
BINO
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Weeden
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 11:33 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [H] The straight dope on USB drives...and is SDHC related?!
If you just used Truecrypt on the drive in traveler mode you would see
something like a 1-2% performance hit while getting data security. For
free.
http://www.truecrypt.org/
If you're using it for a backup solution and transferring files locally, I
think maybe a USB hard drive instead of a thumb drive would be a better
solution. Could probably get a much larger size for a better price too.
---------------------------
Brian Weeden
Technical Consultant
Secure World Foundation <http://www.secureworldfoundtion.org>
+1 (514) 466-2756 Canada
+1 (202) 683-8534 US
On Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 2:27 PM, Bino Gopal <[email protected]> wrote:
> Ahh nope, no encryption needed! I know that will impact perf and I just
> want the speediest drive for storing info and even backing stuff up from
my
> laptop and moving files b/w the laptop and desktop, but also keeping
> reliability in mind.
>
> Thx for asking for that clarification! I wouldn't mind having it, but I'd
> totally give it up for better perf/reliability!
>
> BINO
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brian Weeden
> Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 11:09 AM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [H] The straight dope on USB drives...and is SDHC related?!
>
> What are you going to be using it for? Is data encryption on your drive a
> critical feature?
>
> ---------------------------
> Brian
>
>
> On Thu, Jan 8, 2009 at 2:06 PM, Bino Gopal <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Hey guys,
> >
> >
> > So this is a timely return to the collective b/c I've been researching
> (my
> > method of dithering) over the purchase of the "best (and biggest size
for
> > the buck too)" USB flash drive for months now.
> >
> >
> >
> > I've been trying to find speed tests/comparisons and it's been hit or
> miss
> > on getting recent enough reviews as new stuff keeps coming out (and
keeps
> > getting bigger!). And user reviews on newegg and amazon and the like
are
> > also not consistent b/w sites or even within the same site for the same
> > drive, so they're not much help!
> >
> >
> >
> > For example, turns out I've had one of the fastest USB drives for years,
> > the
> > Kingstong DataTraveler Elite 2GB one; so w/o realizing it at the time,
> I'm
> > used to a certain level of performance. Now, especially if I get a
> bigger
> > one, I don't want to deal with waiting for long file transfers b/c it's
a
> > slow drive, so I'd like to get the speediest (and most reliable too of
> > course) one!
> >
> >
> >
> > So anyone been able to find out the straight dope on this? It seems to
> me
> > that reviews need to get into SLC vs MLC (SLC being faster but not as
big
> > as
> > the MLC ones) and maybe even what controller chip they use, as that
might
> > affect performance too, but no one (at least in reviews I've found) seem
> to
> > get into that level of detail on a regular basis.
> >
> >
> >
> > .kind of like when you review computer monitors, it turns out that even
> > though there are hundreds of brands, the panels themselves are made by
> like
> > 3-4 main manufacturers and are just put into different bodies by Dell,
> > Samsung, etc, etc so you really want to know who makes the panel itself;
> so
> > with USB flash drives, would the same thing apply with the type of
memory
> > and the controller chip.?
> >
> >
> >
> > Any recommendations based on what people have and links to back that up?
> > I've considering spending the cash to get up to 32GB, as that becomes a
> > good
> > backup solution, and could be persuaded to 64GB if there's some
> significant
> > performance gain to it.
> >
> >
> >
> > And on a similar note about getting into the details and perf tests, can
> > the
> > same thing be said about SDHC cards nowadays, or do the class ratings
> tell
> > you everything, so just buy a class 6 SDHC card as big as you can afford
> > and
> > you're set? If not, is there any relation b/w the parts in an SDHC card
> > and
> > a USB drive, as it seems like in a lot of cases, the USB drives are SDHC
> or
> > even mini or micro SDHC cards in a case?!
> >
> >
> > See where I'm going with this? Thoughts/expertise on this? TIA!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > BINO
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 12:40:55 -0800
From: "Bino Gopal" <[email protected]>
Subject: [H] USB hubs?
To: <[email protected]>
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
So as you guys can see from my previous two questions, I'm mainly using my
laptop (it's an IBM T42 with only two USB ports, though I have a Lenovo T61
that I'm switching to at some point, even though I've had it over an year!
:P) and I've got a lot of USB devices now (USB 2.0 2.5" HD, USB mouse and
then USB flash drive, so I'm already over the two ports that it comes with)!
So I'm in need of a good USB hub, more portable than not methinks.
Now, obviously non-powered is more portable, but I worry as I hear there are
issues powering the HD from a single USB port at times, though the weird
thing is that I have a Rocketfish enclosure that happens run to fine off a
single USB port (the enclosure didn't come with a double USB port cord like
some do that I've seen; reference my previous post on USB 2.0 2.5"
enclosures for more details), so that seems to be nice.
.anyway, non-powered would be smaller/more portable, but I'm thinking I
should get a powered one just to be safe (I do carry a 7-port power strip
with me and a 15' extension cord in my laptop bag to make sure I can
*ALWAYS* reach the power if needed! ;). So any links to the "best" USB hub
and or personal recommendations are welcomed! TIA!
BINO
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 12:42:05 -0800
From: "Bino Gopal" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [H] Re-introduction for Bino Gopal...
To: <[email protected]>
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Ahh; good to know! Guess I'll see when they de-lurk! Thanks for the
response and welcome Joe!
BINO
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Joe User
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 5:15 AM
To: Keltraine
Subject: Re: [H] Re-introduction for Bino Gopal...
Hello Keltraine,
Thursday, January 8, 2009, 1:26:51 AM, you wrote:
> Thanks Duncan! Good to see you're still here! So on my nostalgic note,
> whatever happened to Lopaka? Remember him? I met up with him and one
other
> guy at E3 in LA ~summer 2001...haven't seen him posting though!
He's still here, Jim is also - they lurk and post on and off.
Welcome back.
--
Regards,
joeuser - Still looking for the 'any' key...
"...now these points of data make a beautiful line..."
------------------------------
Message: 5
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 12:49:16 -0800
From: "Bino Gopal" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [H] Re-introduction for Bino Gopal...
To: <[email protected]>
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Thanks Steve! Nice to know I made some sort of impression! ;P
Yeah, traffic does seems much lower (not necessarily a bad thing; SNR seems
higher!), but I'm helping up it a little with my recent posts methinks, as
I've been dithering over buying a lot of tech, and this seems like the
perfect time to return here and gather some info! ;)
As far as what I'm running, I mentioned in my first post that I *hanging
head in shame* don't really use my desktop much anymore...it's mainly for
games and I bought it late 2004 when Dell had a sale (Dell Dimension XPS Gen
4 system with a P4 34Ghz, 2GB RAM, 2 WD 10k Raptors in RAID 0, ATI Radeon
X800XT [not the Plat! :P], 3 20" Dell monitors and a nice Klipsch 5.1
speaker system) so I could play Half-Life2 (which I'm still only halfway
through btw! :P) and I haven't upgraded it since...mainly b/c of work
(traveling a lot) and the GF; so there's not much time for games lol!
I've thought about getting a better vid card (I do have a PCI-X x16 slot so
I could get something decent in there) and maybe souping it up a little with
a slightly faster proc and RAM (mainly to see if I can get Oblivion to run
at a higher framerate since I bought the game but haven't really played it
yet), but it's probably not worth it anymore, so I'll be sure to start a
thread on that shortly once I get my other (mainly USB device-related)
questions answered. Thanks for asking! ;)
BINO
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Steve Tomporowski
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 5:29 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [H] Re-introduction for Bino Gopal...
Welcome back Bino.
I remember the name if only from the fact that it looked like a word
with some letters missing ;-)
Traffic is much lower than in the old days.
What are you running these days?
Steve
On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 8:51 PM, Bino Gopal <[email protected]> wrote:
> </unlurking after ~1 week>
>
>
>
> Hey folks, just wanted to take a minute and say "Hi!" as it's been a
while;
> so long in fact that I can't even figure out how long it's been since I've
> been on the list, but I'm finally back!
>
>
>
> It's good to see all the old familiar names in my email inbox, like
> DHSinclair, and Steinie, and James Boswell, and Thane S, and Steve T, and
> Jim McCraw, and Christopher Fisk, and Eli Allen and Harry McGregor and the
> Brians (Weeden and Seitz)! Who said you can't go home again! ;) And the
> list is still here and it's the same-old discussion with DH and all his
> *OLD* toys and Thane still dealing with fixing other people's problems and
> everyone asking what's the best; it's so cool!
>
>
>
> Anyway, just wanted to say hi and hello and all that! Hope to be posting
> more soon as I've had thoughts on a few threads I wanted to start, but
just
> no time right now (in addition to just getting sick this week), but you'll
> see some soon! ;)
>
>
>
> Now some nostalgia/history-related questions: is Jim still around as I see
> that the mailman page says it's run by jedwards, but I haven't seen him
post
> on here yet.any others of the old guard around that I haven't seen post
> either? Does someone have a history and the evolution of the group,
either
> btw? Maybe I'm just being nostalgic, but wanted to know how things
> progressed while I was off saving the internet (ok just working on helping
> the big dotcoms build out their websites) and find out what happened. Did
> we ever have any other cons/meetups after 2001 or so, or has it all just
> stayed virtual? I guess I must have lost track after I lost my
Columbia.edu
> email account, when I left NYC and moved to LA.anyone with better archives
> than me know?! :P
>
>
>
> Anyway, great to be back, and great to see that the "collective" (at least
> this one, as I'm a member of at least three others) is still here!
Cheers,
> and Happy New Year 2009 btw!
>
>
>
>
> BINO (Bino Gopal, aka keltraine online most places now)
>
>
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 12:50:26 -0800
From: "Bino Gopal" <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [H] Re-introduction for Bino Gopal...
To: <[email protected]>
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hehe, thanks for the welcome Thane! So seen enough posts from me recently
to qualify me as active?! ;P Feel free to jump into the fray if you have
any useful info/thoughts! Cheers!
BINO
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Thane Sherrington
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 7:58 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [H] Re-introduction for Bino Gopal...
Hey Bino! It's been a LONG time. Glad to see you back, and I hope
all is well with you. I hope you'll be active again, because it's
always nice to get the old guard back again.
T
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Hardware mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.hardwaregroup.com/listinfo.cgi/hardware-hardwaregroup.com
End of Hardware Digest, Vol 15, Issue 22
****************************************
