Eric_in_CT

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Eric_in_CT
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  • Plugable Thunderbolt 3 NVMe SSD review: Just as fast as your MacBook Pro storage

    Just looked at the US Apple store base MacBook Pro 13". 

    Going from 128GB of SSD storage to 2TB is $1000.

    Assumptions:
    Both what's in the Mac and this external enclosure are fast & high-quality.
    The "Pluggable" people need to pay for the R&D, design, enclosure, packaging, marketing, etc etc. 
    They charge $500 for all of it.  Are the 2TB chips....$250 for them to buy?  $200?

    To me, having the 2TB internal, right from Apple, is way WAY better for all the obvious reasons, but how much is fair to pay?

    If Apple charged $750, that would be an easy $-stretch for me, from $500/ext to $750/internal,  to NOT have to deal with an external item.

    If Apple charged $500 to go from 128GB to 2TB, then doesn't this product immediately disappear? (not counting sharing large files with others by loaning the drive [will T2 allow that?], or using the files on two different computers [2 laptops, external-drive has movies?]....).

    Hard to develop a fair opinion on what's fair to pay....
    forgot usernamewatto_cobra
  • AirPods Pro use custom silicone ear-tip, basically non-repairable

    iFixit is great.

    I used them to replace the batteries on two old 64GB iPhone 4S's.  Battery-Kit with tools:  $17.  Battery:  $14.  Revived two ancient devices from a drawer, added $6 amazon rubber cases, and now they're iPods for our 4-year-old.

    I've used it to replace the harddrive->SSD & RAM & system-battery on 2007/2008 iMacs.  Every screw, size, location, wire-clip, EVERYthing.
    Plus comments from users DOING the procedures?  Great.

    The iMac idea was to gain confidence to put a 2TB SSD into my 2009 27" iMac, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet. 
    It's our primary home machine, and if I accidentally kill it, it's new iMac time.

    When I browse Craigslist for old iMacs & Mini's, I use everymac to make sure it can run El Cap, then iFixit to see about upgrades should I buy.

    If you search iFixit for "2006 Dodge Caravan Brakes" I uploaded instructions for doing pads & rotors. 
    Kind of pay-it-forward.  A buddy of mine showed me on two cars how to do the easy job, and I wanted to help others, which it has.

    iFixit it started with mac stuff, now they seem to really want to repair the world.

    I think they even had a step-by-step on peeling a banana or something, so they have a sense of fun too.

    Happy Halloween all.

    E.
    muthuk_vanalingamking editor the grateCloudTalkinfastasleep
  • Editorial: Why the Apple A13 Bionic blows past Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 Plus

    Years ago I had this piece of SW installed on a desktop that would download a chunk of data, process it, and upload the answer.  I think it was for S.E.T.I or something.  Distributed (donated) computing.

    Thinking of the A13, and Apple's advances into medical with Apple Watch:  Perhaps pretty soon we'll be able to donate some of the IMMENSE computational computing to protein-modelling or some other amazing medical-research (Billions of $ worth of computing power......free), and cure cancer or other such wonder....

    Really really cool.

    E.
    rob bonnercincymacn2itivguywilliamlondonlolliverwatto_cobra
  • Apple website hints macOS Catalina to launch on Oct. 4

    Apple Arcade has me wanting all-new everything.

    Our basic home needs are so simple (internet e-mail and photos) that we're still on a 2009 iMac, a 2008 & 2009 Macbook, and iPad mini 2's (iOS-12!).

    Still brings joy every day that such old HW was supported so well by Apple with the new OSs, even when they stopped taking updates.  Still use-able for the basics.

    But Apple Arcade makes me want to have all new everything, including an Apple TV, and a PS-4 controller.  Man!   Daddy-Likes!

    Is the best-guess that next year could/would/might-be all-new chassis for iMac?  I love the 5mm sides (friction-stir welding!), but I'd be bummed to wait 10 years, buy, THEN the bezel-less future-one comes out.

    Have a good weekend all.

    Eric.
    lkruppwatto_cobra
  • Google Chrome update corrupting some macOS installs -- but there's a fix

    The internet is pretty wonderful in its ability to disseminate useful information, obscure or not.

    I was re-imaging a 2007 & 2008 iMac that I put little SSDs in (still beautiful, basic internet terminal).  I replaced the little button-cell battery on both, but only one lost the date (which I didn't know).

    Upon trying to load the O/S, it said something about not finding "valid packages", even though I had done the same process as on the first one. 
    Total "wtf" right? 
    I re-imaged my little USB-2.0 thumb drive with the O/S to re-copy the "packages", but no luck.

    Internet search found a forum entry:  "Oh yeah, it lost the date, open terminal and type this command in this format...."

    Done.

    I barely remember my first-PC life with my 1989-era Austin 286 PC, 16Mhz, 40MB Hard drive, where a game wouldn't work unless you manually set IRQ and DMA channels. 
    Sometimes waiting on a phone for 40 minutes for tech-support, or talking to "that guy at work" that just knew everything...

    E.

    PS:  I still have the little 0.75"-square chip from that 286, (it's from AMD), 
    It's in a desk drawer with my sD cards, thumb-drives, and old RAM sticks.
    zoetmbjeffythequickmuthuk_vanalingamJWSCwatto_cobra