In our world, there is nothing more annoying then having to rebuild your machine from the OS up.  It is a task I complete about once every 12 months, regardless of operating system (I have been a Windows, Linux and Mac user).  I do not buy into the ideology that certain operating systems will never slow down because they are superior.  We fill our computers with crap, and eventually it needs to be cleaned out.

My 2008 Macbook Pro has had one rebuild already (when I returned from Asia in late 2009).  Recently it has slowed a great deal, and occasional crashes (to which I completely blame the shitpile that is MSOffice2008 for Mac) were starting to cut into work.  So, at 4.30pm on Wednesday, I started three separate backups of may laptop.  One update backup to my ReadyNAS NV+ using Time Machine.  Another to my external 1TB drive using Time machine again, and then a full OS level copy of everything to another drive.

Yes…I’m paranoid.

Once complete, I swapped out the 320GB 7200 drive for a Seagate Momentus XT hybrid drive (500GB) and started a full re-installation.  OSX offers you the ability to restore everything from the time machine, but that just copies the crap back in.  So the laborious task of reinstalling all software begun, followed by copying back my 130GB of personal data onto the machine.  All in all, getting your machine back to where you want it takes at least a full day, as you always forget software or configuration settings.  I still find myself missing software I need, and installing as needed.  I will try to keep this build as clean as possible, so when the new MacBook Pro is released I can purchase and do a simple OS restore.  So far, the rebuild lead to recovery of 40GB of disk space.  I have no idea what that 40GB was used on.  OSX to disk is the cookie monster to .. em.. cookies.

I had a few requests for thoughts on the Hybrid drive and performance.  Installation of the new drive is a breeze and although Kerr Rainey experienced some issues (resolved by a firmware update) my drive has so far been just fine.    So far I have not felt the “80%” performance improvement, but the machine is most definitely substantially quicker.  Cold boot to login prompt now takes  45 seconds.  The machine is fully loaded with startup routines completed 15 seconds later.  Lotus Notes loads in 13.4 seconds.  This, compared to a time of 38 seconds taken from an earlier post is very impressive.  However I would attribute some of this to a fresh OS build too.

My grand plan is to replace this Mac in a few months but I may just keep the drive and put back in the 320GB one.

12.2.7 now available.   Roll on 2010 version.  It couldn’t be any worse.

I beg to differ

Update to Time Machine that came out a few weeks ago had a high likelihood of wanting you to do this….

This is more of a thinking-out-loud post so feel free to move along.  I am asking a question, not posting a solution.

I have a document library.  It’s very old.  In fact I think I built it in 4.0 of Notes and started to chuck in personal stuff and catagorise everything in there (think tagging).  Its been upgraded to the latest design over the years, is encrypted and secure and basically my life is in that little application.  It’s not on a server and not stored in a normal place, and I’m happy with security.

Recently I took a look at Evernote.  A free application with premium features, including offline services on the iPad/iPhone for about $45 per annum.  I like it.  I like how I put stuff in Evernote and it is sync’d with a cloud over an encrypted channel, and then sync’s with my iPad/iPhone on the fly.  The iPad works with offline data too (think replication).  There is an ability to encrypt text so there is added security.  There are mail features and photo features and lots of other cool features I don’t use or need.  I just want tagged information available to me.  I do miss the cleanliness of the Lotus Notes Document Library application and also it’s better attachment management.

Snapps created the Quickr tool for iPad/iPhone.  I really like it.  Today I got thinking how hard would it be to do a document library application with sync capacity on a secure domino server, available on the internet.  No customisation of design allowed, just the one design and requiring internet name/password locally.  No overly complex requirements.  Just something simple.  Then add in the “replication” feature so you have local access on your device.

All of this is available already with the browser on the devices and a http enabled domino server.  But that doesn’t have replication or take advantage of the UI.

Snapps went a long way towards this already.  I may discuss with developers in Bluewave but thought I would ask if

1 – Would there be any interest in using it in the business.

2 – How difficult would it be?

Yes I bought one.

No I can’t afford it right now.

Yes I was more taken by the iPad then bothering with a new iPhone

No I couldn’t resist it

Yes I am left handed

No I haven’t noticed anything yet

Yes please leave a message if I’m wrong on that

The 64Gb 3G iPad is here, finally.  Syncing with iPhoto/iTunes.  Any recommendations on iPad apps now?

The 10.6.4 Update is recommended for all users running Mac OS X Snow Leopard. It includes Safari 5 and general operating system fixes that enhance the stability, compatibility, and security of your Mac, including fixes that:

• resolve an issue that causes the keyboard or trackpad to become unresponsive
• resolve an issue that may prevent some Adobe Creative Suite 3 applications from opening
• address issues copying, renaming, or deleting files on SMB file servers
• improve reliability of VPN connections
• resolve a playback issue in DVD Player when using Good Quality deinterlacing
• resolve an issue editing photos with iPhoto or Aperture in full screen view
• improve compatibility with some braille displays

For detailed information on this update, please visit this website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4150.
For information on the security content of this update, please visit: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222.

My marware iPad cover arrived today.  Rather difficult to give any opinion on the cover, as something is missing, having not arrived yet.