Mac Roundtable
2008.02.21 #34
We’re on a roll now – the second in the “Take 2” series of the Mac Roundtable. Just as promised, the crew will be mixing up on every show, you never know who you’ll get but we promise to be interesting! This week’s hosts included:
Don McAllister: ScreenCasts Online
Allison Sheridan: Nosillacast Podcast
David Sparks: MacSparky
Katie: The MacCore
Tim Verpoorten: The Mac ReviewCast
Topics we discuss in this episode:
Positive reactions to all the new features in AppleTV 2, Tim’s WordPress site got hacked and he described how he attacked the problem and advice for others – run those updates when they come out! We also pontificated on what it means that Apple has been shutting down their site every Tuesdsay since MacWorld to make new, but maybe not so amazing announcements. David gave us a good explanation of how Aperture 2 fits into his photo needs. Finally we talked about how Time Machine and SuperDuper! both have their place in a backup strategy. David closed it up with a plug for a contest on his show where he’s giving away Audio Engine AW1 wireless adapters.
Links to things we discussed:
Aperture tutorials: apple.com/aperture/tutorials
SuperDuper! at shirt-pocket.com
AirFoil at rogueamoeba.com
Macsparky AW1 giveaway: macsparky.com
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
I was listening to the latest Mac Roundtable podcast, and as I use both SuperDuper and Time Machine also I thought you might be interested in a product I tried recently. I bought a Buffalo DriveStation Duo hard drive months ago, but due to family issues and SuperDuper not being Leopard compatible until recently, I hadn�t tried it out until just now.
The Duo has 2 hard drives. I was only backing up a Macbook with a 160GB hard drive, so I opted for the smallest model. the 500GB (2 250s) model. They also make 800GB, 1TB, and 1.5TB models. They can be used as a single hard drive, two independent volumes, or a RAID 1 mirrored drive, which is the way I use it, They also make Quattro models with four drives which can also be used as RAID 5 drives.
Their Mac support is primitive. The included backup and encryption software is Windows only, and the RAID setup utility for the Mac only works on Power PC Macs. Fortunately, there is a good workaround. You simply use Disk Utility to format each drive as Mac OS Extended (Journaled), Then click RAID and drag the disks to the window to make the two drives into a RAID set if that is the configuration you want. Works fine with any software, and way cheaper than a Drobo or similar alternative.
The drive is rather large and heavy, but well built (solid metal enclosure) and runs quietly and cool.
What prompted me to write is that the 500GB and 800GB models look like they have been discontinued and are being closed out direct from the manufacturer. Here is a link.
http://www.shopatbuffalotech.com/cart/search.php?mode=search
$99 and $169 for 500/800GB of hard disk space (USB and FireWire connections) seem to me to be a good deal even without the RAID capabilities, and a steal with that option.
I have now been using Super Duper to create a clone backup and Time Machine to back up to a separate hard disk, but I could certainly imagine someone using one of these drives to do both sorts of backups,
Comment by Bob DeGrande — February 23, 2008 @ 11:28 pm
Someone, I think it was Allison, mentioned having trouble exporting to MP3 from Garage Band. If it was an enhanced podcast, the solution is to save your project, export the enhanced version, then delete the enhanced podcast track, DON’T SAVE, then export the MP3 (which you can then do because there is no enhanced track), then close your project without saving.
Comment by Ryan Gray — February 24, 2008 @ 11:11 am
Just posted this on Don’s own site
“As normal enjoyed the round table, thought you might like, if you haven’t already to read this
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/feb/21/apple.marketingandpr
So if Apple start to tell us everything they can will the Guardian be writing how not to do PR in a years time?”
Comment by Gazmaz — February 25, 2008 @ 4:10 am
I’m not sure about this second version of the RoundTable. I like all these folks individually, but together, they just don’t have anything to say that seems interesting. Maybe it’s just me? But, it’s more like just “war stories” with no in-depth substance or discussion. I’ll give it a few more listens. I’m sure it must appeal to others, but I can invite a few friends over and basically have the same conversation.
Comment by Ted — February 26, 2008 @ 2:52 pm
Hey guys-I like the show-but may I suggest that someone leads the show and keeps the pace of the show going along? This makes it a little bit more enjoyable to listen to. Thanks!
Comment by j — March 1, 2008 @ 9:56 pm
J – Maybe that’s it? I honestly didn’t want to be mean, but it does lack something, and maybe some moderation is the key. It does just seem too scattered? Topics are flying all over without any point. I guess that’s what I meant about being like a conservation with my friends which is something most people would find boring, ha-ha! There is no direction.
But thanks guys for resurrecting this podcast! I wasn’t trying to be insulting, just a little constructive criticism!
Take care!
Comment by Ted — March 2, 2008 @ 12:23 pm
What’s the production/publishing schedule for the show?
Comment by Craig — March 5, 2008 @ 12:38 pm
[…] a new episode is released but just a reminder that the latest episode of the Mac Roundtable has just been released. I make another appearance but I’m not sure if I’ll be up to appearing on future mid […]
Pingback by New Mac Roundtable Episode…. at My Own Reality — March 8, 2008 @ 3:14 am
I?m not sure about this second version of the RoundTable. I like all these folks individually, but together, they just don?t have anything to say that seems interesting. Maybe it?s cheap gaia gold? But, it?s more like just ?war stories? with no in-depth substance or discussion. I?ll give it a few more lineage2 adena. I?m sure it must appeal to others, but I can invite a few friends over and basically have the same conversation.
Comment by gaia gold — June 4, 2009 @ 1:10 am