[Tfug] Small-ish (capacity + size) disk alternatives

[Bexley Hall]

Hi John,

On 2/1/2013 1:37 PM, John Hubbard wrote:
> On Friday, February 1, 2013 12:31 PM Bexley Hall wrote
>
> [snip]
>>
>> I.e., I have no desire to write drivers and design hardware interfaces
>> for every model of weather station, garage door opener, PZT camera
>> base, etc. on the market!  I'll design for what *I* have and let
>> others peer over my shoulder to see *how* I approached the task in
>> the hope that they can "tinker" with my *existing* design instead of
>> having to start from scratch.
>>
>> [Over the years, I have noticed that very few folks can sit with
>> a blank piece of paper and "create" -- most need a framework that
>> someone else has already implemented... that they can "modify"]
>>
>> [snip]
>>
>> Users are already familiar with external USB drives.  And, as
>> long as I avoid proprietary filesystem formats, they can
>> "maintain" that media inventory using COTS tools -- a Mac,
>> a PC, etc. (so I don't have to create tools to do this work)
>>
>> If such a drive *fails*, the user can go to Costco and purchase
>> a replacement.  If they lose their media inventory,<shrug>
>> Next time, buy *two* drives and make a copy (using your PC)
>> onto the backup drive.
>>
>> [Why not have a "copy media" utility built into the system?
>> Because then you'll go to Costco with a defective drive and
>> try to explain to them how your Frajistat9000 gave you an
>> "error 27:  replace drive" message.  And they will look at
>> you with a blank stare:  "Is that a Mac or a PC?"]
>
> Let me get this straight: your system is a framework for tinkerers
> who are going to write their own *nix weather station driver, but
> aren't smart enough to understand what a defective drive is?  This

No.  I am *allowing* people who have that level of expertise to
tailor a system to their needs -- instead of relying on some
commercial entity to develop an interface to *their* particular
set of "devices" (and hoping they will continue to support it
regardless of how few instances were "sold").

[Ask yourselves how many of you *benefit* from free software.
I.e., USE it.  Then, ask yourself (honestly) what you have done
to contribute back to that effort.  Hey, if you don't have the
skills to contribute patches, why not send a cash donation?
Or, purchase some equipment for a developer to work with?  Or,
do some rigorous testing (carefully documenting your findings)?]

> is a bit of an exageration but it sounds like you are kind of
> targeting the small subset of the population that is both mentally
> retarded and a member of MENSA.  That might end up being a very
> small target market...

Have you never "assembled" a computer system for a spouse?
Child?  Friend down the street?  I.e., because *they* were not
capable of doing so?

[I guess they must be the "retards" in your analogy and you the
MENSA geek?]

Were you *glad* that the design of the system was "open" enough
that you could tailor it to their needs (the size case that they
would accept, a power supply of sufficient capacity for the case's
contents?  A disk large enough to store what they were LIKELY to
store?  Applications that fit their needs?  Program options
configured the way *they* would want them??)?

*You* can do these things because the systems are "open" to
the extent that you can make these changes (you don't see many
folks building their own iPhones!)

Or, would you have rathered they wait until some commercial entity
offered the system that was "perfect" for their needs?  And, point
them at the local "Geek Squad" whenever they have a problem with
that system?

[Does your spouse, mother/father do their own support?]

I can't design "state of the art" power supplies.  When I need one
in a design, I rely on a friend or colleague to bail me out.  They,
OTOH, might not be able to design a key piece of high speed logic
for one of *their* designs.  Or, an operating system.  Should
we each proceed as if the benefits of the other's skillsets were
not available for our use?  CLOSED off from us?

If that were the case, we'd all be running Windows or OSX...