Concerned

"GS" wrote

| I put my desktop in the closet after I was forced into the wheelchair
because
| it's not portableg.
|

I didn't know about the ALS. I guess it's lucky,
in some sense, that you enjoy computer work.

"GS" wrote

I put my desktop in the closet after I was forced into the wheelchair
because it's not portableg.


I didn't know about the ALS. I guess it's lucky,
in some sense, that you enjoy computer work.

Well, that was a resort since I'm a journeyman machinist/tool&die maker by
profession. I had to think of something I could do sitting on my ass all day. A
cousin IBM programmer talked me into it!

January starts my 26th year living with this. (I'm giving Steven Hawking a run
for his $$...g)

--
Garry

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comp.lang.basic.visual.misc
microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion

On Tue, 26 Dec 2017 19:36:26 -0500, GS wrote:


On Tue, 26 Dec 2017 16:52:56 -0700, Ken Blake
wrote:


On Tue, 26 Dec 2017 16:25:04 -0600, Mark Lloyd
wrote:

On 12/26/2017 12:44 PM, Mayayana wrote:

[snip]

I don't see why it's better than internal. Because
it's mobile? I can see it if you need to transport your
data to work. Otherwise, why pay more for an external
case and slower connection? You probably get no
protection from surges if it's always connected.
A backup drive should be external, so it can be disconnected and can be
safe from anything (malware, user errors, bad software, etc...)


And that "etc." includes nearby lightning strikes and theft of the
computer.


that
could affect your computer.


A strong ditto!



If can also be used on multiple computers.

Also, have at least TWO backup drives and never connect both of them at
the same time.


Another ditto!

But note that Wayne said "I am thinking of placing most, if not all,
my data on an external hard drive which can then be manually switched
on and off - on only when used," and GS said "I think using an
external drive for data storage is a great idea! My newest laptop
doesn't have a hard drive, only SSD and so this works perfect."

GS thinks it's a great idea; I think it's a *terrible* idea. Those
quotes suggest that neither if them have any external backups, just
the single external drive they use for data, and they think that its
being external provides them with adequate protection. It doesn't;
they are both playing with fire.



And let me add another point to that: as far as I'm concerned, a
laptop may be great for traveling, but it's a very poor choice to be
used as a main home computer. It's more expensive than a desktop, more
expensive and harder to upgrade, more susceptible to being dropped and
destroyed, more susceptible to being stolen, etc.

And if it is used for traveling, having to take an external drive
along with it is a major pain.


Generally, I agree! Exception...

Given my situation (stuck in a power wheelchair) my pocket size external drive
is velcro'd to the laptop's lid and so no pain at all taking it along. The
laptop velcros to a computer tray attached to the chair; all is very well
secured.

I put my desktop in the closet after I was forced into the wheelchair because
it's not portableg.



I'm sorry to hear about your problems, but you are an exception to the
general point I was making.

On Tue, 26 Dec 2017 19:03:11 -0600, Mark Lloyd
wrote:


On 12/26/2017 06:16 PM, Ken Blake wrote:

[snip]


And let me add another point to that: as far as I'm concerned, a
laptop may be great for traveling, but it's a very poor choice to be
used as a main home computer. It's more expensive than a desktop, more
expensive and harder to upgrade, more susceptible to being dropped and
destroyed, more susceptible to being stolen, etc.


Also a laptop may have inadequate cooling for continuous use.




I knew someone would add another reason. That's why I put the "etc."
at the end of the last sentence above. g

Many years ago, I burned out the hard drive in a laptop by using it on
a table with a tablecloth. The tablecloth must have bunched up under
it, so the fan didn't cool it.

On 12/27/2017 09:07 AM, Ken Blake wrote:
[snip]

Many years ago, I burned out the hard drive in a laptop by using it on
a table with a tablecloth. The tablecloth must have bunched up under
it, so the fan didn't cool it.

IIRC , I haven't burned one out, but I have had several that turned
themselves off unexpectedly.

--
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

The Pope has just declared that Jesus is now an infinitely long tube of
white paste.

On 2017-12-27 01:58, GS wrote:
"GS" wrote

I put my desktop in the closet after I was forced into the wheelchair
because it's not portableg.


* I didn't know about the ALS. I guess it's lucky,
in some sense, that you enjoy computer work.

Well, that was a resort since I'm a journeyman machinist/tool&die maker by
profession. I had to think of something I could do sitting on my ass all
day. A cousin IBM programmer talked me into it!

January starts my 26th year living with this. (I'm giving Steven Hawking a
run for his $$...g)

Good for you, and best wishes for continued beating the odds.

Thanks!

--
Garry

Free usenet access at http://www.eternal-september.org
Classic VB Users Regroup!
comp.lang.basic.visual.misc
microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion

On Tue, 26 Dec 2017 19:03:11 -0600, Mark Lloyd
wrote:

On 12/26/2017 06:16 PM, Ken Blake wrote:

[snip]

And let me add another point to that: as far as I'm concerned, a
laptop may be great for traveling, but it's a very poor choice to be
used as a main home computer. It's more expensive than a desktop, more
expensive and harder to upgrade, more susceptible to being dropped and
destroyed, more susceptible to being stolen, etc.

Also a laptop may have inadequate cooling for continuous use.



I knew someone would add another reason. That's why I put the "etc."
at the end of the last sentence above. g

Many years ago, I burned out the hard drive in a laptop by using it on
a table with a tablecloth. The tablecloth must have bunched up under
it, so the fan didn't cool it.

I never turn mine off unless a reboot is required after updates. The newer
units have much better cooling fans than the older ones had. I've always used a
Targus CoolPad underneath (when used on any surface other than my wheelchair
tray) and so never had any overheating issues. Now that doesn't mean fans can't
break down; -my Dell workstation's fan[s] started running continuous and so I
had to shut it down frequently so the fan[s] wouldn't burn out.

Otherwise, making sure removeable batteries are out after they're charged is
the only maintenance 'chore' I've encountered with having the laptops on 24/7!

--
Garry

Free usenet access at http://www.eternal-september.org
Classic VB Users Regroup!
comp.lang.basic.visual.misc
microsoft.public.vb.general.discussion

On 26/12/2017 18:33, wrote:

Ever wonder if somehow, the content of your hard drive could be
being 'tapped' to the outside world (cloud) via the router in the
background? Maybe in brief, small, snatches so you wouldn't notice
it? Maybe during a Macrium backup?

You should worry more about Cloud storage clients like OneDrive, Dropbox
and iTunes.

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