Author: Mike Cline, T/X Resources
I’m sure by now, most of our blog visitors have heard about external hard drives. However, if you aren’t familiar with them, they simply allow you to add a hard drive to a computer by attaching it externally (via a plugin socket), instead of having to take the computer apart, and installing the drive internally.
This technology, which is commonly used for storing data, or backup files, has essentially replaced most tape drives. It has been around for quite a while, so I would also guess that many have even purchased “ready-built” enclosures, or like me, built their own.
See the larger Adobe Reader pdf file.
Author: Mike Cline, T/X Resources
There are just two kinds of computer users in the world: those who have lost data, and those who are going to lose data.
I fall into the first group, and here’s why. About 10 years ago, I was working for a client (in their office, before I got a workstation), and came in one morning to find that they had lost a year and a half of my seismic interpre- tation. Believe me, that is a sinking feeling. However, after a few days of much consternation by all, they were able to eventually restore all but about a months worth of my work—still unbelievable, but much better than the alternative.
Is your important data being backed up regularly (if ever)? I thought so. Data backup is one of those things that often gets pushed down to the bottom of the to-do list (or completely off the list). With as busy as everyone is these days, the last thing that you want to do is to spend extra time at the computer doing what is seemingly time-wasting work.
If you don’t regularly backup your data, I would recommend that you consider these suggestions, or you will surely join me soon, in that first group:
- Only backup the data that you don’t want to lose.
- Keep at least one copy of a recent backup at an offsite location.
- Only do backup restoration tests on the data that you don’t want to lose.
- Have your computer attached to an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS).
- Regulary defragment your hard disk(s).
- Regularly test your hard disk(s) for errors and problems.
Here’s what I do:
Author: Mike Cline, T/X Resources
If you’re like me you probably spend long hours at the computer. Because of this, it’s easy to develop Repetative Stress Injuries (RSI) if you’ve improperly positioned yourself, your computer equipment, or your office furniture.
I just ran across a few websites that may be helpful and informative as to the proper, ergonomic placement of these items.
The U.S. Governments Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) website provides a lot of useful information concerning Computer Workstations, and provides a Workstation Checklist, and Workstation Purchasing Checklist, Good Working Positions, and Selecting Workstation Components .
Even with the correct design and placement of the workstation, RSI can become a problem unless the risk factors are reduced by Work Process and Recognition, and the Workstation Environment.
Author: Mike Cline, T/X Resources
Do you already have a fast computer, but wished it were faster? Redundant Arrays of Independent Drives (RAID) is one way to accomplish this. Since hard drives are, by far, the slowest piece of equipment in a computer, a RAID hard drive configuration can dramatically increase the apparent speed of the computer.
A RAID hard disk array is simply a collection of a number of hard drives—ranging anywhere from two, to several—combined in a way to increase speed, maintain data protection, or both. The type of RAID array is annotated with numbers such as RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5, RAID 6, etc.
Author: Mike Cline, T/X Resources
Continuing the hardware theme for today, flash-based solid state drives (SSD’s) are making great headway towards eventually displacing the conventional hard disk drive. Contrary to the conventional hard drives now used for program and data storage, SSD’s store data in non-volatile, “always on” memory chips (see the graph of a comparison test below).
Author: Mike Cline, T/X Resources
For those of you who may be interested in computer hardware technology, read on and I’ll explain:
Most of us use computers in our current jobs, right (duhh…, we are SMT users after all)? It’s also well established that the continual advances in computer hardware technology allows us to crunch more geoscience data, and do it easier, faster and cheaper by the day. However, what may be less well known by some, is that video gamers are currently helping to drive much of the hardware advances in their quest for faster computers, and video cards. Being able to display more realistic scenes, and action, in their games may be helping keep many of us employed (for now)!
Author: Mike Cline, T/X Resources
Since the first posting, I’ve gotten nothing but encouraging comments. Here are a few:
“Good work Mike.” (Michael M.)
“This is very interesting!” (David W.)
“Excellent idea.” (Teri B.)
“I think it’s a great idea.” (Sara V.)
“Works!” (Yvon H.)
“Wow! You did it.” (Mark C.)
“Thanks a lot for your blog, brilliant idea.” (Julien F.)
From the sound of it, visitors may be starting to realize the potential usefulness of the blog (at least I hope so), and how the old SMT User email forum might mesh with it. I also just checked my website stats, and the number of “hits” is up by orders of magnitude–so I know it has gotten some interest from viewers.