Gary Kjos
garykjos at gmail.com
Tue Jun 14 13:29:42 CDT 2011
I LOVE Dropbox. GK On Tue, Jun 14, 2011 at 1:07 PM, Rusty Hammond <rusty.hammond at cpiqpc.com> wrote: > Rocky, > > For backing up mdb's have you ever thought about a dropbox account > (www.dropbox.com). Works just like your used to doing, drop a file in a > folder and it automatically backs it up to your account. Then it's > accessible anywhere you can get an internet connection. > > Rusty > > -----Original Message----- > From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Rocky Smolin > Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 11:25 AM > To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving' > Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Shopping for a new comp > > I have a sort of "manual raid" system. Machine #2 is ready to take > over if machine #1 fails. I have shortcuts on #1's desktop to folders > on #2 as well as a shortcut to the EHD. Whenever I finish with an MDB I > just drag and drop the file to the EHD shortcut and the shortcut on #2. > > So I always have 3 copies of everything. > > In addition I ghost both systems once a month and store the ghost images > on the EHD. > > Every so often I zip all the client stuff and FTP it to an outside > server as well. Redundant backup is all well and good until the house > burns down - or the burglars take all my stuff. > > Crude, I know, but effective. > > Rocky > > > -----Original Message----- > From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of jwcolby > Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 9:20 AM > To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving > Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Shopping for a new comp > > That is probably a pretty good deal. > > Go with the i7 if you have the money for Dell as you will get > hyperthreading for another 20% performance boost. i5 does not do > hyperthreading. > > I don't see where they will install an SSD as a boot drive. You can do > it yourself but you will end up with warranty issues I'm guessing. > > If it is "mission critical" then a raid 1 boot drive is the ticket. > This thing will be so fast that you will not really notice the lack of a > SSD - for awhile. > > John W. Colby > www.ColbyConsulting.com > > On 6/14/2011 11:57 AM, Bill Patten wrote: >> Rocky, >> >> Boot and reboot times went from about 3 or 4 minutes to well under 1 >> minute and have remained for over a year. I went with raid 0 so that >> my 2 80's would create a 160 G C: drive. At the time 2 80G cost much >> less than the 120 available. Sizes and prices have changed, but I >> figure if it isn't broken why fix it. >> >> Also if your using windows 7 they make it very easy to move >> directories like My Docs, Downloads and have the OS know where they >> are located. This allows you to use smaller C drives for OS and in my >> case I put my development directory on the SSD. >> >> I think the monitor was included in the $989 package with an i7 but of > >> course my memory isn't what it used to be. >> >> I don't know if you followed the URL's but below is the site where the > >> deal actually resides, and it appears that you actually buy from Dell >> and apply discount codes to drop the price down. >> >> >> http://www.logicbuy.com/deals/dell-xps-8300/28882.aspx >> >> I'm sure others will be able to add to this to assist you. >> >> Bill >> -------------------------------------------------- >> From: "Rocky Smolin"<rockysmolin at bchacc.com> >> Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 8:38 AM >> To: "'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'" >> <accessd at databaseadvisors.com> >> Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Shopping for a new comp >> >> Thanks Bill. Actually everyone else is considering that I build one. >> :) I'm still a bit reluctant. >> >> I've done my share of hardware but don't get much charge out of it. >> If the box wasn't so mission critical I might be tempted to play with >> it. But I'm jealous of the time. I'm switching from software\e >> developer to upright jazz bass player and would rather spend the time > doing that. My 14 y.o. >> needs a new box and he's tech mad so maybe I'll let him build one. >> >> I've always bought Dell because of the charm of not having to leave my > >> chair, a few clicks and walla! Someone brings the comp to my door! I >> plug and play. >> >> Upgrading to the SSD seems like a good thing. How's that working for > you? >> Does it really boost the response time? >> >> One of the things that's driving me to this new comp is the increasing > >> delay when opening Access, Excel, Word, sometimes opening emails. I >> think it's because there's more processes now than there was 4-5 years > >> ago when I got this box and I've only got 2BG RAM. In it. >> >> The deal looks good except I don't need another monitor. I suppose >> it's not a refurb and the Dell warranty applies. >> >> Hopefully, BTW, this thread is useful enough to the AccessD community >> that the moderator will let it play out. >> >> And my thanks to all who responded. It's been educational. >> >> Best to all, >> >> Rocky >> >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com >> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Bill Patten >> Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 8:25 AM >> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving >> Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Shopping for a new comp >> >> Hi Rocky, >> >> I know you are now considering building your own, and as many have >> suggested that can be fun, though sometime's not when the some of the >> pieces don't work together and you get to exchange for some that will. >> >> You mentioned that you were considering Dell, I bought a Dell XPS 410 >> a few years ago, and as time went on, changed the processor to a Quad >> Core, increased Ram to 8G, even though the book said only 4. I >> replaced the 2 250G Raid 0 hard drives with 2 80 G SSD's Raid 0 and a >> 500G drive D: etc to keep it fairly fast and current and am quite >> happy > with it. >> >> Anyway I saw this Gear Deal on Gear Diary and thought it might >> interest > you. >> They have Dell XPS 8300 with I5 Quad Sandy Bridge , 8G Ram 1.5 TB etc > >> for $699.99. The normal Dell price is $1202. They also offer I7 and >> other upgrades. >> >> I have never purchased anything from them so I cannot make a >> recommendation but thought you might want to take a few minutes to >> check > it out. >> >> http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/14/gear-deal-dell-xps-8300-quad-core- >> deskto >> ps-core-i5-and-i7/ >> >> >> >> Bill >> >> -------------------------------------------------- >> From: "Rocky Smolin"<rockysmolin at bchacc.com> >> Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 1:58 PM >> To: "'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'" >> <accessd at databaseadvisors.com> >> Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Shopping for a new comp >> >> So what's the processor of choice? >> >> Rocky >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com >> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of jwcolby >> Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 10:22 AM >> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving >> Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Shopping for a new comp >> >> I concur with John too! ;) >> >> I know that for folks who have never built a machine it is scary but >> once you get over that (unless something goes wrong... it is trivial >> to build) the ability to upgrade and the future lack of fear makes it >> well worth doing. >> >> I routinely upgrade my existing systems. Dual core to quad, to hex, 2 > >> gigs to 4 to 8, 320g hd to tbyte etc. It costs waaaaaay less that >> buying a whole new machine and you can continually have fast systems >> instead of systems that are always old / slow (after the first year >> you > have them). >> >> I built a dual socket server with 16 dim slots. >> >> I populated one side with the old opteron 8 core and 32 gigs of ram. >> The mb/proc/memory was around $1700. I am (im)patiently waiting for >> the bulldozer chip to arrive and drop in price, but when it does I can > >> drop in one or two of those chips and bump my server from 8 cores to >> as many as 32, with faster processors to boot and update my memory up >> to > 128 gigs as well. >> >> I can't even tell you how much I saved by not going the dell/hp route, > >> but it would be at *least* >> 3-4 times as much and 4-5 times as much for future upgrades. >> >> And... I used my old server hardware to build a Virtual Machine >> server. I got a 16GB quad core VM for *free* because I reused my old >> SQL Server hardware for that after the upgrade. >> >> BTW I am using SSDs both for boot drives as well as for storing >> database files for SQL Server and they are awesome (if expensive). >> >> John W. Colby >> www.ColbyConsulting.com >> >> On 6/13/2011 12:22 PM, Drew Wutka wrote: >>> I concur with John here. From a business standpoint, if you are >>> supporting a large network, you can't afford to build each machine. >>> But in a single or only a few environment, you will get better prices > >>> with building your own machine, then a single purchase from a >>> manufacturer like Dell. >>> >>> The machine I built in January, that I posted about on OT, cost me >>> about a grand, and similar hardware, actually.... lower level >>> hardware (my machine has more ram and bigger hard drives), cost about > >>> 1,600 from Dell. >>> >>> Originally, the machine I built only cost $650. That was the case, >>> the motherboard, an i5 Quad Core, 8 gigs of RAM, video card, and two >>> 500 gig hard drives. I already had a 500 watt power supply, only >>> component I didn't originally buy. A few days later I bought three >>> terabyte drives, >>> 8 gigs more of RAM (maxing out that motherboard). That was almost > $300. >>> And more recently I popped another terabyte drive in (making my > 'data' >>> drive a RAID 10, vs a RAID 5), bought a new 850 Watt power supply, >>> and a nice UPS (put the total closer to 1300, the ups was almost > 200). >>> >>> There has already been suggestions to use a SSD OS drive, I >>> personally have not done that. The mirrored drives for the OS are >>> pretty > fast. >>> While SSD drive are definitely faster than their mechanical >>> counterparts, they are still limited by the bus they operate on. >>> Plus, SSD drives do have longevity issues, and are not recommended >>> for >> RAID's. >>> I always prefer RAIDS for safety reasons.... ;) >>> >>> Drew >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com >>> [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of jwcolby >>> Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2011 12:12 PM >>> To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving >>> Subject: Re: [AccessD] OT: Shopping for a new comp >>> >>> I would advise building your own. You may or may not save money but >>> you learn what is required to do so (it is easy) and you are no >>> longer afraid of digging in and upgrading. I have not purchased a >>> desktop since 1988. I build my own and upgrade them to keep them >>> fast > enough. >>> >>> I recommend AMD because the motherboards tend to be usable for many >>> years with just a processor upgrade. >>> >>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo. >>> 6 >>> 67 >>> 457 >>> >>> >>> Intel processors are fine but there are just too many different >>> processor sockets etc. Upgrading to a faster processor may or may >>> not even be possible. >>> >>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboBundleDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo. >>> 6 >>> 61 >>> 393 >>> >>> http://www.newegg.com/Store/MasterComboStore.aspx?StoreID=7&name=DIY- >>> P >>> C- >>> Combos >>> >>> John W. Colby >>> www.ColbyConsulting.com >> -- >> AccessD mailing list >> AccessD at databaseadvisors.com >> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd >> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >> >> -- >> AccessD mailing list >> AccessD at databaseadvisors.com >> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd >> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >> -- >> AccessD mailing list >> AccessD at databaseadvisors.com >> http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd >> Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >> > -- > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > -- > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > ********************************************************************** > WARNING: All e-mail sent to and from this address will be received, > scanned or otherwise recorded by the CPI Qualified Plan Consultants, Inc. > corporate e-mail system and is subject to archival, monitoring or review > by, and/or disclosure to, someone other than the recipient. > ********************************************************************** > > -- > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd > Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > -- Gary Kjos garykjos at gmail.com