My Backup Failed and It Wasn't My Fault

[caption id="attachment_136" align="alignnone" width="242" caption="Penguin added for festivity bonus "][/caption]

One of my two recently purchased 1TB Seagate 7200.11 drives (model: ST31000340AS, firmware: SD15) decided to join the IBM deathstar family. Otherwise known as the deskstar, it's apparently #18 on the list of worst tech products of all time.

This time, the drive decided to stop powering up fully instead spinning up and down like a yo-yo. Quick internet research revealed they are failing en mass due to a firmware bug. RMAing the sucker tomorrow for a reflashed one. This is just the latest proof regarding my knack for buying defective storage intended for backups.

Go Figure.

Read full article at:
The Register

Anyone else got one of these duds?

Dell Mini 10 - My Next Toy Purchase

[caption id="attachment_119" align="alignnone" width="397" caption="Dell Mini 10 - Thanks Engadget!"][/caption]

Specs:

• 1280x720 glass screen


• Z530 1.6 GHz Atom


• 3G


• GPS


• 802.11n


• multitouch/gesture trackpad


• A decent sized netbook keyboard

Read the full post

Fedora 10 Released

Check out what's new!

<Download Link>

Minority Report Computer is Real

No really. Watch here.

Now they just need to finish up Jarvis from the Iron Man movie and we're all set for RL to become obsolete.

Free OSX Tools I Use Everyday

Since a lot of my friends have been "converting" over to Apple machines, they often ask about programs I have running that they don't recognize. Here's a (fully linked) partial list of applications I use daily either at work or when at home:

• Firefox


• Adium


• Chicken of the VNC


• Remote Desktop Connection


• Smultron


• Visual NetTools


• iStumbler


• iTool


• Skitch


• TrueCrypt


• TinyAlarm


• Carbon Copy Cloner


• 7Zip


• AppTrap


• Growl


• VLC


• GeekTool


• iStat Menus


• MacLoc

Now I know I said free software, but I had to include the following paid software I couldn't live without:

• Little Snitch


• Vmware Fusion


• Things

Update: Want more? Here's one list and another list.

What did I miss? Comments.

BSD has it's own Magazine!

http://www.bsdmag.org/

Woot!

Spam is unpredictable

Does anyone remember when the FBI busted a major spam ring? Bravo to those boys for what must have been a tough job.

Here's a pic of what a huge difference it made according to submissions to spamcop.net:



Hmmm, not much to see here.

Today I saw an article in the Washington Post talking about how Web Host McColo was shutdown after being accused with spam activity. Here's this week's spamcop.net pic:



I leave it up to you the reader to determine which day and at what time McColo was voted off the island.