Personal

Drobo Error Code -36 problems solved with new firmware

I've been trying to copy my iPhone Library (80Gb) and iTunes folder (130Gb) from my Drobo to another external drive for backup purposes but it keeps failing with an "Error Code -36" while reading the files. Very annoying and worrying.

I bought Disk Warrior and it found nothing wrong. The same day, I decided to install the new V1.3.4 firmware for my Drobo 2nd Gen drive. This went pretty smoothly and when I tried to copy the files again then it worked just fine, no errors, it just copied the files. Big smile on my face.

So, bottom line, install V1.3.4 of the Drobo firmware. The release notes don't mention many bugs fixed but clearly there is more in this update than meets the eye.

Upgrading the hard drive of my UniBody MacBook to a 500Gb drive

My UniBody MacBook has 4Gb of RAM now and runs Snow Leopard but I bought it with the 160Gb disk option which is now pretty full, I'm down to < 30Gb free. I saw a 500Gb Seagate Momentus drive for 139 dollars in BestBuy and decided to upgrade. The drive is supposed to be easy to change on the MacBook.

The drive is a 7200RPM drive with a lower power requirement than the builtin 160GB unit. It's 450ma versus 700. Replacing the drive is explained elsewhere on the web. You need a T6 torx and a T00 philips screwdriver. It's a #00 NOT a #0. Pop off the battery panel, remove the battery, loosen the screw holding the drive in, swap the studs on the sides of the old drive to the new drive using the T6 and then attach the SATA cable, and put the new drive in using the existing hardware.

Copying the drive contents across works like this. BEFORE replacing the drive, I used superduper to create a copy of the builtin drive on an external USB pocket drive, I'd a 250Gb handy. This took about 2.5 hours to copy the 115Gb or so. Next, replace the drive. When you reboot, make sure the 'backup' drive is attached to USB and hold down OPTION while restarting. It should show one drive, the external one. Hit ENTER and the MacBook boots from the backup on the external USB drive. It's worth keeping this handy regardless in case one day the MacBook won't boot.

Once it's booted then start up the Disk Utility and tell it to create a single partition on the new 500Gb drive. Make sure it uses a GUID partition table (should be the default). Exit disk utility and then start superduper. Tell it to copy the USB drive to the 500Gb drive. Again, wait 2 hours or so and then shut it down. Remove the external drive and boot up on to your 500Gb MacBook.

It feels faster than before, booting is quicker and Snow Leopard further increases boot speed. One thing I notice is that you can sense the drive spinning. If you put it on your lap or rest a hand on it then you can feel the drive spinning. I don't remember feeling the old drive the same way. It wasn't as noticeable but I guess thats the difference between the old one and a 7200rpm drive.

Installing complete Charter bundle: Internet/Cable/HDDVR/Telephone

I had the following setup in my house up to now. I had a 16MB/sec Charter internet link which cost 69 a month, qwest for local telephone which was 35, Charter Cable Basic/Extended which was 69 and Tivo which was 13. All plus tax. So, before tax that was 69+35+69+13 or 186 a month.

I was edging towards switching to DirectTV which cost about 100 bucks a month for HDDVR/Cable but then I'd still need qwest and Charter for internet as Qwest DSL is very slow here (5Mb). So, that would be about 200 bucks all in (Charter internet+directtv+qwest). I would have more channels with directtv but we have enough channels...

The charter guy came today to install the HDDVR equipment and that went smoothly. The signals were low in the two rooms for the HDDVRs so he fixed that to get an acceptable signal by changing the way the cable splitters were configured downstairs.

I attached the main room cable box using component video to my Yamaha Receiver and used a Digital optical audio connector (bought at Target for 12 bucks compared with 30 at Best Buy). The picture looks very good on my 720p LCD set and the sound is very good. Most shows/movies are using Dolby digital and the sound is very good as a result. Charter provided the component video cables and they don't hook up to receivers, just TVs but that wasn't hard to finish off.

On the whole, the Motorola HDDVR boxes are ok. The Tivo series 2 I had before is much easier to use I think. But, this could be just getting used to a different system. The multi-way remote control for the Motorola can be programmed to control the TV/DVD and receiver but I don't like it. I'm going to end up with a Harmony remote I think in the end but thats another day.

So, it's a few hours of using it but I'm enjoying the improved picture quality and sound from the new setup. The Charter Telephone is getting installed on Thursday because Qwest requires 5 days notice and its 5 days on Thursday. The only option for that was a UPS or not for the telephone which I bought (40 bucks) otherwise if the power goes then you have no phone.

Merginging iTunes libraries from multiple Macs with SuperSync

I have an iMac with a Drobo where we need all the family media. We have a single iPhoto Library and iTunes library on that. My MacBook however uses its own iTunes Library and it syncs with my iPhone. I've bought some stuff on that and my family bought some songs/videos on the iMac. We need to merge them so we don't buy stuff twice.

iTunes doesn't support merging two libraries together and others on the web suggest using rsync or similar utilities. I found a 30 dollar program called supersync which works very well. You run it on two computers (30 bucks gets you two license) and then you can use it to sync all files matching a filter, for example, don't sync movies or tv shows.

It was slow copying (600kb/sec if you're lucky) but it finished and did the job so I'm happy with it.

Connecting a Unibody MacBook to a HDTV

/i want to wtch Hulu shows and the like on my 42 inch LCD 1080p display. The TV takes HDMI so I have a DVI to HDMI cable and just needed to buy a minidisplayport to dvi cable which cost 30 bucks. After connecting the mac to the TV, I needed to move the menu across to the TV display and then full screen etc all worked on the TV. The display is very clear. Don't mirror the displays as then the picture displays on the TV at the Mac resolution not the native TV resolution.

The big issue now is that Apple don't output sound on the MiniDisplay port so the sound comes from the Mac, not the TV. Trying to figure a solution to that now

Apple wireless keyboard

I bought an Apple wireless keyboard today because our desk forces the USB cable over the top of it and it keeps getting in the way typing. The Apple keyboard is nice, it's smaller, no numeric keypad. It takes 3 AA batteries for power and setting it up was pretty easy. Turn on bluetooth on the Mac, it displays a number which you type on the keyboard and you are done.

I've no idea how long the battery lasts but we'll find out.

Herman Miller Embody chair review

I bought myself a Herman Miller Embody chair yesterday from smartfurniture.com They delivered one they had in stock with the old style fabric and a polished aluminum base, carpet/hard casters and black fabric with white frame and adjustable arms. I paid 1199 for it delivered.

It's a small chair. At first, I didn't think it adjusted much but after playing with it, it has everything. You can adjust seat height and depth. How much it tilts back, the tilt tension, the width and height of the arm tests.

Sitting in it is very comfortable. Its always supporting your back and the arm rests are always close to rest your arms on. The back is flexible so if you twist slightly then it follows you. So far, 24 hours later, I'm happy with it. I'm keeping it in the office as thats where I do most of my sitting.

I'll post more information later as I use it more.

Drobo 2nd gen review, 6 months in

It's about 6 months since I bought my 2nd gen Drobo and I'm mixed on it. I upgraded the storage during that time, and now I have 3 x 1Tb and a 1 x 750Gb drive in it. The next upgrade will be to 2Tb drives but I'll need to do two to see a benefit and it'll take about a week to do it. Pull the 750 and pop in a 2Tb then wait for it to finish. Once I'm all green then pull a 1Tb and push in a 2Tb.

The biggest issue with the drive is performance. It's brutally slow. I'm hosting iMovie and iPhoto libraries directly on it and they are slow to start and use. I may move the iPhoto Library back to the main drive and rely on the Drobo as a time machine device. For video I've no choice but to use it given the size of the library.

So, all in all. It's ok. As my libraries get bigger, I can't see myself using this as a main drive. I can see myself using normal 2Tb or RAID-0 arrays and use the Drobo as a tape device for backups. It's not getting any faster as more data goes on to it.

Vibram Five Finger KSO review

I'd had my pair for 3 days now and have worn them as much as I could. I got them for 85 bucks at Mid West Mountaineering in Minneapolis. Despite the glove shape, they are pretty easy to put on. I was sized at a 42 using the large super foot with the sizing information on it.

They are pretty comfortable to wear, my feet don't sweat in them without socks (you'll need special sockets which Mid West didn't sell for some bizaar reason). I have no chaffing etc at all after the three days but...

I get a burning sensation in a point on both heels after walking. I think it's a pressure thing. I switched to normal shoes in the evenings and this goes away. I tried to run in them last night and that lasted about 100 feet before my achilles tendon in my right foot got sore real fast so I'm not ready to run in these.

Still happy with them but there is obviously some adjustment needed before these are safe to wear for long periods for me. My foot/calf etc needs to get stronger before I can risk switching over to these full time.