Simple Update

Not much at all. Removed that dreaded restriction.

New Year

Getting around to updating site. Too long.

Note

Giving Note a go.

Mac Pro Input Device

What if the "iPad mini" hardware turns out to instead supplement a new Mac Pro as an input device?

Tim Cook said that they would have "something really great" for Mac Pro users. If along with a new Mac Pro they released this as a input and take away management device, I for one would consider it really great.

I don't plan to get my hopes up. I just wanted to point out the possibility of a different device instead of just a smaller iPad.

First thoughts on using TimeMachine backups and external HDDs as archives.

No matter how big the internal drive your Mac comes with, reduce its partition size to 320 GB.

Choose fast external drive arrangement, FW 800 (Thunderbolt!), fast disks, etc. Create 500 GB partition(s) for TimeMachine use and for use on a constant basis for SuperDuper backup daily. To avoid using the extra partitions, create them only when needed. As a partition fills, switch to another 500 GB partition.

Note: SuperDuper Smart Update will require a slightly larger drive than the original after the first run. This difference will depend on the size and order SuperDuper Smart Update scans and updates changes from the original drive compared to the older duplicates. The 500 GB partition should supply more than enough space for this process. Once the Smart Update completes, the actual space used will occupy less than the original drive requires.

Using 2 TB or larger external green drives for cost savings or black drives for future Drobo expansion use (if you plan to wipe them), create 500 GB partitions (2 per TB).

Using green drives for archive, you don't suffer their slow speed or spin-up times for your regular daily use, yet save money since these generally cost less than the black ones.

At the same time as switching the drive partition TiimeMachine uses, have SuperDuper duplicate the older TimeMachine archive on the external green drive 500 GB partition.

The overhead will consist of the installed OS, applications, and whatever data you see fit to always have at the ready on the internal drive. Every once in a while (especially around time to point to a new TimeMachine partition), use DaisyDisk to scan your files and see which ones you have taking a lot of space. If you still want them around, no big deal, but remember they increase the overhead on your archive partitions. Overhead also consists of the time it takes to shift between partitions and the frequency you have to do so with smaller partition schemes.

Computer
Installed HD
320 GB - OS and Apps
rest of GB available - temporary data or alternate install images
External HD (constant connection) (2 TB)
500 GB - SuperDuper duplicate of OS and Apps partition
500 GB - TimeMachine part 1
500 GB - TimeMachine part 2 (not created until part 1 full)
500 GB - TimeMachine part 3 (not created until part 2 full)
External HD (occasional connection for archives)(2 TB)
500 GB - SuperDuper duplicate of OS and Apps partition
500 GB - SuperDuper duplicate of TimeMachine part 1
500 GB - SuperDuper duplicate of TimeMachine part 2
500 GB - SuperDuper duplicate of TimeMachine part 3

(Alternatively, dedicate the whole fast external drive to TimeMachine except for one other partition for SuperDuper backups. This reduces the overhead. Partition the green drives similarly and have SuperDuper duplicate both the running partition and TimeMachine partition for archive.)