I've written about this before but it doesn't seem to sink in that this sort of activity is not only criminal but so commonplace that society itself seems to support it. A story in the Toronto star tells of the availability and proliferation of the crime. The fact that the pirated media is being sold in such high quanities, high enough and with enough of a profit margin to entice business to committing the crime. is shocking enough, what's worse is that people feel there is no harm to their actions.
In several places I have worked and in social circles that I've been part of, the talk of downloading the latest movies, songs, and books has filled the air and I have always stated my position. I am quite an insistent advocate for observing intellectual property laws, comparing the act of piracy to theft. The comparison is lost on many because they don't see the tangible side of downloading, but others simply don't care. They excuse themselves from the illegality through protesting cost of the DVDs or the trip to the theatre, yet they have a tough time accepting that they could compare their actions to performing own job for free for 20-30 hours a week. People do not understand the impact, or simply don't care.
I'm at the limit of my complacency. When I hear people talking about crime, their own, whether it's some guy on a bus talking about what he's boosted from his company or what someone has downloaded from the Internet, I cringe and often feel nauseated and wonder how long i'll be able to keep my daughters from this crime. After all if everyone does it, how do I keep them from following suit? So far, my daughters understand the concept of piracy is theft. Their early understanding is what I believe the is key to changing this problem as they will have the fortitude to stand up to others when asked for some of their MP3s, or a copy of their CD/movie. It's funny though, we're exceptions.
I have seen people give/receive pirated movies as birthday presents! This is worse than re-gifting! It's the cheapest, most tacky, aside from being illegal, present anyone could offer. My response, if it ever happened to me, hand it back. What my daughters are encouraged to give, is a Puretracks pre-paid/gift card, then the receiver can make their own CD and/or WMA file for transport. Why would I make my daughters criminals by pirating a CD for them to give to someone else? Is that being a responsible parent?
I have heard all of the arguments before and you're free to comment on the legalities of Piracy. I've debated this with others
and they generally can't provide enough support for their argument. It normally ends with their claim that it "doesn't hurt anyone" and I disagree. The one question is, what do the musicians, actors, directors, and writers do to curb the problem? Do they strike? How many people would that hurt?
I use:
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
The New PC...
I wouldn't suggest this is the only personal computing device you'll ever need, though it will satisfy the needs of many of us as convenience when on the road. It is the new format of Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC) and it rocks!There are a couple of these just making it to market or will be soon, my favourite (and it's on my birthday list) is the Samsung Q1. This link to Best Buy (U.S.A.) is the first I've seen online and with the Canadian dollar being so comfortably high, this is the time to buy and may be worth picking up on your next visit to the sunny south.
If you're trying to remain connected, in-touch, or simply looking for something capable but less than a full laptop, this is the toy, er, tool for you. With a 40Gb hard disk, full audio and video capabilities, and wireless features that allow quick connections anywhere, the package is a meet-the-needs solution for the traveller or business user. With on-board USB and media ports there's something there for the Photographer and the presenter too.
The biggest problem I anticipate for this pint-sized wonder is that software has become increasinging developed for larger screens and while this might pack a punch and run a full Windows XP-based OS, not Windows Mobile or Windows CE, How many applications will be problematic with this new standard.
Like a larger variation on the Sony PSP, with the freedom of running Windows applications and not requiring a specialized development platform (as is the case for Windows CE/Mobile) I can see this being popular in-office/workplace mobile tool. Especially at dealerships, service centres, doctor's offices, and other service-related situations.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Intellectual Property and Copyright
RE-WRITE:
This is a rant. I'm sorry this blog is supposed to be here to help you understand technology and while it MAY do this I also believe that you need to understand the impact and purpose of copyright protection and the legal scope of intellectual property law.
I AM NOT A LAWYER, I am a concerned individual who believes in the purpose and foundation of the law. That said, everyone makes a choice regarding their actions and reasoning behind their choices. While the laws are designed to protect the creators, there may be some who feel justified in ignoring those laws because of high prices for software, DVDs, or music. My choice is clear, your choice may be equally as clear, the challenge is whether it is in line with or contrary to the law.
Copyright covers any work that is created by an artist, photographer, writer, musician, or programmer. Really it's the right of ownership that a person had over his creation. It is not like a patent and that's a different beast that's causing problems but the idea is that if you create an original work you own the rights to control the usage. You also have the right to sell it and you have the right to give it away. You have the right to license the work to one or more people for use and this right is protected by Copyright Law.
The act of piracy is theft. Whether it's on an ocean or in a store at the Pacific Mall, the impact is the same, theft. The idea that copying music or software is not theft is a perception problem. People provide their own media so they feel they're justified. They suggest that it's okay because they would hear it on the radio anyway. They suggest that they are simply backing up the media and "storing it at a friend's home"...
The excuses are lame and the inalienable right to protect copyright is granted to artists and companies that create! Copyright is more than just the protection of rights regarding redistribution, the work, as created, is protected from modification or augmentation. For years there were a flock of Canadian Geese hanging in the Toronto Eaton Centre, they were a wonderful display of carving and while I'm not sure if they're there anymore, they were a site to see inside a mall, as if in flight. Well, some wise-guy in the mall deceided to decorate them one year (for Christmas) by putting bows around their necks. The artist successfully sued for the defacing of his work. While he was commisioned to create the work for the Toronto Eaton Centre, he did not give up his right to the usage and this decoration was beyond the rights of the TEC.
The same is true of those who modify their XBOX, circumventing the protections put in place, the code delivered inside the sealed unit. This is specifically covered in many License Agreements and is a form of Copyright Infringement.
License Agreement... The permissions the creator of a work gives you, the purchaser of the license, surrounding the appropriate use of their creation. When you buy the Windows XP Upgrade, it is licensed for use on one (1) computer, without modification. You are not authorised to copy it for a friend, circumvent the anti-piracy functionality, or share access to it (through means provided by the OS) over a network with more than 5 other devices.
If you do not agree with this, STOP NOW, don't use the product. There are alternatives to expensive products, but you seem to get what you pay for. The reality is that if you buy a base-model economy vehicle it will not have the same features as its fully-loaded luxury vehicle. You get what you pay for. Likewise, with software, you may consider the low-cost alternatives of open-source software.
Each piece of software has a different License Agreement. Music is covered, generally, by the Copyright Act itself. There's fair use of any work, but the determination of fair use is a little grey. The idea is that you cannot re-create anything in it's entirety or in a significant portion, and if your intended use will generate a profit for you, you may need to enterinto another type of license agreement that covered royalties.
Copyright is protected by the law, breaking this law is commonly referred to as piracy, though other terms are valid as well. Technically it is called Copyright infringement but Bootlegging and plagarism are both in the same realm. In short, it is theft.
When you buy a PC and the operating system is installed, you should receive a license and a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) in the form of a sticker on the side of your PC. COA are not generally transferrable, oddly, from one PC to another. If you bought Microsoft Office with the PC, you should receive a COA and Media. If you don't have a COA you are not licensed, go download OpenOffice.org which is open source and it's survival is based upon your generousity.
Respecting the law means that you read, understand, and respect the license. You don't share software with friends and family unless the Licence Agreement says you can. Software rental is not typically legal so don't consider that option.
Face facts and the reality of it all. If you copy software, DVDs, music, artwork, or even a term paper you are committing copyright infringement. You are liable to be prosecuted under the full extent of the law though you may never be. Your safeguard is the practicality of prosecuting the offenders, big companies simply don't have the time or money to waste targetting individuals. In stead they contribute to organisations that do this for them. BSA and CAAST target companies and resellers that pirate product using an Anton-Pillar order. Police forces assist or enforce in the fight depending on the stakes, but individuals are rarely targetted. The companies invest heavily in software and tools to protect their works. While Windows XP has their registration/activation system, Sony CDs featured a rather unruly software method. People complain about these methods, and Sony's methodology was just a bad idea, but the cause of these uncomfortable efforts are the people who pirate the software and music.
The basic truth here is, regardless of the expense of costs, you are not entitled to commit theft simply because you can't afford the lastest OS, Office Suite, CD or DVD. If you can't find the time to watch pervious seasons on A&E then you do not need to pirate your friend's DVD. If you can't afford the latest CD or Puretracks download of RUSH, you can hear it on the radio.
THEFT IS NOT COOL! PIRACY IS THEFT! If your son or daughter was caught stealing a chocolate bar from the store, what would you do? If they see you downloading music and pirating games, DVDs, or software what the hell are you teaching them?
It's your choice and I admit that paying $300 for a Windows XP Professional upgrade is painful, but is it more painful than installing Linux and haveing compatibility issues. Linux is getting better, begin cheering and supporting that cause if you want to reduce your costs, but think about your choices and your decisions.
This is a rant. I'm sorry this blog is supposed to be here to help you understand technology and while it MAY do this I also believe that you need to understand the impact and purpose of copyright protection and the legal scope of intellectual property law.
I AM NOT A LAWYER, I am a concerned individual who believes in the purpose and foundation of the law. That said, everyone makes a choice regarding their actions and reasoning behind their choices. While the laws are designed to protect the creators, there may be some who feel justified in ignoring those laws because of high prices for software, DVDs, or music. My choice is clear, your choice may be equally as clear, the challenge is whether it is in line with or contrary to the law.
Copyright covers any work that is created by an artist, photographer, writer, musician, or programmer. Really it's the right of ownership that a person had over his creation. It is not like a patent and that's a different beast that's causing problems but the idea is that if you create an original work you own the rights to control the usage. You also have the right to sell it and you have the right to give it away. You have the right to license the work to one or more people for use and this right is protected by Copyright Law.
The act of piracy is theft. Whether it's on an ocean or in a store at the Pacific Mall, the impact is the same, theft. The idea that copying music or software is not theft is a perception problem. People provide their own media so they feel they're justified. They suggest that it's okay because they would hear it on the radio anyway. They suggest that they are simply backing up the media and "storing it at a friend's home"...
The excuses are lame and the inalienable right to protect copyright is granted to artists and companies that create! Copyright is more than just the protection of rights regarding redistribution, the work, as created, is protected from modification or augmentation. For years there were a flock of Canadian Geese hanging in the Toronto Eaton Centre, they were a wonderful display of carving and while I'm not sure if they're there anymore, they were a site to see inside a mall, as if in flight. Well, some wise-guy in the mall deceided to decorate them one year (for Christmas) by putting bows around their necks. The artist successfully sued for the defacing of his work. While he was commisioned to create the work for the Toronto Eaton Centre, he did not give up his right to the usage and this decoration was beyond the rights of the TEC.
The same is true of those who modify their XBOX, circumventing the protections put in place, the code delivered inside the sealed unit. This is specifically covered in many License Agreements and is a form of Copyright Infringement.
License Agreement... The permissions the creator of a work gives you, the purchaser of the license, surrounding the appropriate use of their creation. When you buy the Windows XP Upgrade, it is licensed for use on one (1) computer, without modification. You are not authorised to copy it for a friend, circumvent the anti-piracy functionality, or share access to it (through means provided by the OS) over a network with more than 5 other devices.
If you do not agree with this, STOP NOW, don't use the product. There are alternatives to expensive products, but you seem to get what you pay for. The reality is that if you buy a base-model economy vehicle it will not have the same features as its fully-loaded luxury vehicle. You get what you pay for. Likewise, with software, you may consider the low-cost alternatives of open-source software.
Each piece of software has a different License Agreement. Music is covered, generally, by the Copyright Act itself. There's fair use of any work, but the determination of fair use is a little grey. The idea is that you cannot re-create anything in it's entirety or in a significant portion, and if your intended use will generate a profit for you, you may need to enterinto another type of license agreement that covered royalties.
Copyright is protected by the law, breaking this law is commonly referred to as piracy, though other terms are valid as well. Technically it is called Copyright infringement but Bootlegging and plagarism are both in the same realm. In short, it is theft.
When you buy a PC and the operating system is installed, you should receive a license and a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) in the form of a sticker on the side of your PC. COA are not generally transferrable, oddly, from one PC to another. If you bought Microsoft Office with the PC, you should receive a COA and Media. If you don't have a COA you are not licensed, go download OpenOffice.org which is open source and it's survival is based upon your generousity.
Respecting the law means that you read, understand, and respect the license. You don't share software with friends and family unless the Licence Agreement says you can. Software rental is not typically legal so don't consider that option.
Face facts and the reality of it all. If you copy software, DVDs, music, artwork, or even a term paper you are committing copyright infringement. You are liable to be prosecuted under the full extent of the law though you may never be. Your safeguard is the practicality of prosecuting the offenders, big companies simply don't have the time or money to waste targetting individuals. In stead they contribute to organisations that do this for them. BSA and CAAST target companies and resellers that pirate product using an Anton-Pillar order. Police forces assist or enforce in the fight depending on the stakes, but individuals are rarely targetted. The companies invest heavily in software and tools to protect their works. While Windows XP has their registration/activation system, Sony CDs featured a rather unruly software method. People complain about these methods, and Sony's methodology was just a bad idea, but the cause of these uncomfortable efforts are the people who pirate the software and music.
The basic truth here is, regardless of the expense of costs, you are not entitled to commit theft simply because you can't afford the lastest OS, Office Suite, CD or DVD. If you can't find the time to watch pervious seasons on A&E then you do not need to pirate your friend's DVD. If you can't afford the latest CD or Puretracks download of RUSH, you can hear it on the radio.
THEFT IS NOT COOL! PIRACY IS THEFT! If your son or daughter was caught stealing a chocolate bar from the store, what would you do? If they see you downloading music and pirating games, DVDs, or software what the hell are you teaching them?
It's your choice and I admit that paying $300 for a Windows XP Professional upgrade is painful, but is it more painful than installing Linux and haveing compatibility issues. Linux is getting better, begin cheering and supporting that cause if you want to reduce your costs, but think about your choices and your decisions.
Monday, March 06, 2006
The PC Upgrade Myth: New is Better.
While the NEWEST technology may be able to run the latest games, the cost of being an early adopter - living on the bleeding edge - is simply a waste of money. Buying off-lease or end of cycle PCs can save you hundreds if you're willing to do your homework.
Windows Vista may change the world but even they can't knock a well-equiped PC you can buy today. The requirements published to date suggest that you will require 512Mb of RAM, a Pentium 4 processor (CPU) and a reasonable graphics card (link), but these requirements are enhancements on what your base WindowsXP box would be. If you're considering your options for a home system to suit your needs for the next 5 years, plan on buying hardware that meets the needs of Vista but surpasses the minimum requirements.
My Recommended Base System for 2007:
You might be thinking, "You said a new system isn't required." You're right, and I am not suggesting that bleeding edge is required. My own home system is a P4 1.6GHz with 1Gb of RAM, 60 Gb Hard Disk. I have an external 60Gb USB hard disk. I have added a PCI USB 2.0 card (adding 4 external ports to my 4 existing standard ports) and use USB to connect my UPS, external hard disks, Pointing device(s), an extra serial port, my PDA (HP iPAQ), and a couple of USB Keys (2x512 and 1x128Mb). THIS IS EXTREME! My point is that this system is actually old, 3-4 years old and will handle Windows Vista reasonably.
There are systems with much more capacity than mine available from places like TigerDirect.ca, FactoryDirect.ca, or even the end-of-line systems at Best Buy. You can take home a system for $500 that will do, you can invest $1000 and not require an upgrade for 4 years. Get the warranty. Some people may cringe when I say this but, unless you're a techie, seriously consider a DELL with the extended warranty. They'll support you well and you will have few concerns about down-time for the duration of the warranty. When the warranty is up, start planning for the replacement.
BTW: When looking to get rid of of old hardware, talk to your local schools, churches, and volunteer organisations. They will appreciate being offered the hardware itself at no cost.
Windows Vista may change the world but even they can't knock a well-equiped PC you can buy today. The requirements published to date suggest that you will require 512Mb of RAM, a Pentium 4 processor (CPU) and a reasonable graphics card (link), but these requirements are enhancements on what your base WindowsXP box would be. If you're considering your options for a home system to suit your needs for the next 5 years, plan on buying hardware that meets the needs of Vista but surpasses the minimum requirements.
My Recommended Base System for 2007:
Some of these requirements are high, now, but I expect the user experience to be improved and demands upon your system to increase greatly in the next 5 years and it's always good to have head-room rather than frustration with a slow system. You may also notice that there is a USB connected hard disk. This is for your safety and comes with this message, "BACK UP YOUR SYSTEM!" If not your OS, your data. These can be had for $150 (Canadian) and will save you much time and frustration. Combined with a tool like Acronis TrueImage you will find your peace of mind is well above the high-water mark of the Sea of Peril.Pentium 4, 3GHz (preferrably with Dual-Core or Hyper-Threading).
1Gb of RAM
80Gb Hard Disk
80Gb USB External Hard Disk
4-6 USB Ports
Ethernet On-Board (100Mbit capable)
Dual-Layer DVD-RW
64-128Mb AGP Video Card
A UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply)
You might be thinking, "You said a new system isn't required." You're right, and I am not suggesting that bleeding edge is required. My own home system is a P4 1.6GHz with 1Gb of RAM, 60 Gb Hard Disk. I have an external 60Gb USB hard disk. I have added a PCI USB 2.0 card (adding 4 external ports to my 4 existing standard ports) and use USB to connect my UPS, external hard disks, Pointing device(s), an extra serial port, my PDA (HP iPAQ), and a couple of USB Keys (2x512 and 1x128Mb). THIS IS EXTREME! My point is that this system is actually old, 3-4 years old and will handle Windows Vista reasonably.
There are systems with much more capacity than mine available from places like TigerDirect.ca, FactoryDirect.ca, or even the end-of-line systems at Best Buy. You can take home a system for $500 that will do, you can invest $1000 and not require an upgrade for 4 years. Get the warranty. Some people may cringe when I say this but, unless you're a techie, seriously consider a DELL with the extended warranty. They'll support you well and you will have few concerns about down-time for the duration of the warranty. When the warranty is up, start planning for the replacement.
BTW: When looking to get rid of of old hardware, talk to your local schools, churches, and volunteer organisations. They will appreciate being offered the hardware itself at no cost.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Tools, Tools, Tools... 2 for now.
I have been introduced to a number of cool tools recently that may help you get along better with your PC. I have tested them and can verify that as they were provided to me they are safe. You should always take due care in downloading files that they are scanned once downloaded.
#1. SpaceMonger (link)
A wonderful guy named Sean Werkema decided to give some cool software away, one of these things is SpaceMonger. This tool will analyze your hard disk, the space it has and how it's used, and show you the big picture. You can navigate through the interface looking for files that are a true waste of space. You can open them to see what they are, but you can also delete whole folders to free up space.
#2. IrfanView (link)
If you're working with pictures and need a quick and dirty tool to crop, change, convert, or re-size them, this is the tool.
#1. SpaceMonger (link)A wonderful guy named Sean Werkema decided to give some cool software away, one of these things is SpaceMonger. This tool will analyze your hard disk, the space it has and how it's used, and show you the big picture. You can navigate through the interface looking for files that are a true waste of space. You can open them to see what they are, but you can also delete whole folders to free up space.
#2. IrfanView (link)
If you're working with pictures and need a quick and dirty tool to crop, change, convert, or re-size them, this is the tool.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Programmers: The Next Generation
Kids are the next generation and they can learn so much better than us "old folks". Here's a tool to help those with the brains to learn and use this talent.
A Tool to help: KPL
KPL stands for Kid’s Programming Language. KPL makes it easy for kids to learn computer programming. KPL makes it fun, too, by making it especially easy to program computer games, with cool graphics and sound.
Check it out: http://www.kidsprogramminglanguage.com
A Tool to help: KPL
KPL stands for Kid’s Programming Language. KPL makes it easy for kids to learn computer programming. KPL makes it fun, too, by making it especially easy to program computer games, with cool graphics and sound.
Check it out: http://www.kidsprogramminglanguage.com
Friday, February 03, 2006
Changes In Order for PC Storage
My usage of drives and hardware is outgrowing the design of the typical PC. I use an extremely broad range of software and it is all installed on my hard disk. My 60 Gb drive is partitioned for convenience and performance, but there is a huge amount of risk in the use of a single drive. I do have a second, USB-connected, drive that I perform regular backups to but it has become so essential that it tends to end up plugged in and serving an almost permanent role.
Recently I have acquired a 2.5" Drive enclosure from TigerDirect.ca and it has become my new backup device. It is 40Gb and USB-powered and it's sole purpose is to keep my data safe. The challenge is that data backup is only half of the problem or concern.
My secondary concern and biggest inconvenience is keeping a working backup of my PC, my operating system and applications. For me it takes days to rebuild my particular system, the effort is extreme and when it happens I react as if I'd lost a pet. The use of Symantec Ghost, available with Norton Systemworks or seperately, is time-consuming but very worth it. Acronis TrueImage is an alternative that performs the backup without the down-time, I commend them for this advancement and this will be my next purchase.
There's more that can be done to improve the experience and safeguard our digital lives. The development of Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices is a wise choice and they can replace the requirement for a big drive on your PC, serving everyone in your home or office, but do not use these for application storage, keep it down to data. They don't eliminate the risk of data loss, they centralize it. For a small business or private person these are a an alternative, but you need to protect your data and find a method of backup that serves you.
What I would like to suggest to the PC and NAS manufacturers is a change in design. The corporate environment has the option of Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) configured servers with multiple drives that provide redundancy to safeguard data. This would be a welcome addition to the SOHO environment. What I propose is that in PCs, desktop systems, that the single drive arrangement (a 3.5" drive) be replaced with 2 2.5" drives which can be configured in a simple manner to provide data-storage and redundant data backup. While this might be utilized as a RAID 0 solution, a relatively simple mirroring of one drive to the other, the user may opt for the second drive to be a be a safe storage location for a manual backup (such as TrueImage or Ghost), optimizing the space used. Laptop users would be able to compromise weight for storage in a similar design, but they might prefer to go for the current solutions, an external USB-connected drive. The RAID design could be implemented with NAS devices as well with relative simplicity.
There's another suggestion I might make for performance reasons. Build drives with the capability to have on-board antivirus protection and scanning. Yes, ON-THE-DRIVE. My system has been checking my system since midnight last night and is up-to 426,000 files. It is not done. Under this design the drive itself would perform anti-virus scans while the user is not actively using the device. There would be a manner by which the user's antivirus application could post updates to the drive and the drive would use this information to protect the system. This would also boost performance as the channel that is used to communicate with the drive would not be used to perform the scan.
It might be suggested that these complications to the design might be adding to the costs, it will. This is inevidible. The unfortunate truth is that as the agression of the virus creators and the resulting attacks is on the rise and the anarchy involved threatens our enjoyment of technology. The Internet was created to be an improvement on sharing information and resources around the world. It is a valuable tool to the life and liberty of many. It is also the source of risk. Protect yourself.
Recommended Tools:
IOGear ION Drive (USB-Connected): link
Acronis TrueImage: link
Symantec/Norton Products: link
Recently I have acquired a 2.5" Drive enclosure from TigerDirect.ca and it has become my new backup device. It is 40Gb and USB-powered and it's sole purpose is to keep my data safe. The challenge is that data backup is only half of the problem or concern.
My secondary concern and biggest inconvenience is keeping a working backup of my PC, my operating system and applications. For me it takes days to rebuild my particular system, the effort is extreme and when it happens I react as if I'd lost a pet. The use of Symantec Ghost, available with Norton Systemworks or seperately, is time-consuming but very worth it. Acronis TrueImage is an alternative that performs the backup without the down-time, I commend them for this advancement and this will be my next purchase.
There's more that can be done to improve the experience and safeguard our digital lives. The development of Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices is a wise choice and they can replace the requirement for a big drive on your PC, serving everyone in your home or office, but do not use these for application storage, keep it down to data. They don't eliminate the risk of data loss, they centralize it. For a small business or private person these are a an alternative, but you need to protect your data and find a method of backup that serves you.
What I would like to suggest to the PC and NAS manufacturers is a change in design. The corporate environment has the option of Redundant Array of Independent Disks (RAID) configured servers with multiple drives that provide redundancy to safeguard data. This would be a welcome addition to the SOHO environment. What I propose is that in PCs, desktop systems, that the single drive arrangement (a 3.5" drive) be replaced with 2 2.5" drives which can be configured in a simple manner to provide data-storage and redundant data backup. While this might be utilized as a RAID 0 solution, a relatively simple mirroring of one drive to the other, the user may opt for the second drive to be a be a safe storage location for a manual backup (such as TrueImage or Ghost), optimizing the space used. Laptop users would be able to compromise weight for storage in a similar design, but they might prefer to go for the current solutions, an external USB-connected drive. The RAID design could be implemented with NAS devices as well with relative simplicity.
There's another suggestion I might make for performance reasons. Build drives with the capability to have on-board antivirus protection and scanning. Yes, ON-THE-DRIVE. My system has been checking my system since midnight last night and is up-to 426,000 files. It is not done. Under this design the drive itself would perform anti-virus scans while the user is not actively using the device. There would be a manner by which the user's antivirus application could post updates to the drive and the drive would use this information to protect the system. This would also boost performance as the channel that is used to communicate with the drive would not be used to perform the scan.
It might be suggested that these complications to the design might be adding to the costs, it will. This is inevidible. The unfortunate truth is that as the agression of the virus creators and the resulting attacks is on the rise and the anarchy involved threatens our enjoyment of technology. The Internet was created to be an improvement on sharing information and resources around the world. It is a valuable tool to the life and liberty of many. It is also the source of risk. Protect yourself.
Recommended Tools:
IOGear ION Drive (USB-Connected): link
Acronis TrueImage: link
Symantec/Norton Products: link
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)