Data Storage

Full Featured Pocket Hard Drives? 101

Lifix asks: "I've recently been asked to be caregiver to about 150 Apple desktops. While building my software kit to handle these machines, I realized that I would need a good portable hard drive to restore the machines from when they crashed. Cost really isn't an issue but I only need enough room for 3 partitions each with restore images of less than 10 gigs, so a 40g drive would be fine. It doesn't have to be designer, it just has to work. Does anyone have any suggestions/experience with a drive thats going to be a small form factor (throw it in my messenger bag/toolkit), reliable, bootable, 7200 rpm (!important!) and support Firewire400/800 and USB 2.0?"
Programming

When Should You Stop Support for Software? 438

hahafaha asks: "I am currently working on a website for a small organization. We (I am not alone in this) have a beta version ready, and are currently testing the site on browsers. We have tried all of the big browsers (Firefox, IE, opera), as well as other browsers, such as lynx, links, w3m and even NetFront. So, when can one decide that they will stop supporting a system. Obviously, going (for example) down to IE 1 is crazy, but is IE 3 crazy? This is not only relevant to web design but to any programming at all. When, for example, can you say that I will *not* support a certain version of Windows. Can you say that now about Windows 98? How about 95?"
Data Storage

Offline Storage for Hard Drives? 47

rrsipov asks: "I work at a small company that processes a good deal of DV (mainly) format video. After trying a number of different technologies we have settled down to using removable hard drives for file storage and backup. When a set of projects are complete, the hard disk they are stored on can be removed and stored offline so that the material is available in for possible future use. The problem is that unlike tapes, etc... we haven't been able to find any good storage cabinet type solutions, and have resorted to a pretty much ad-hoc system of filing the drives. Does Slashdot know of any such system? Ideally we'd like to start with something small, and scale from there if we like the system."
Security

Getting Fingerprint Readers to Read Your Prints? 88

crypticgeek asks: "I recently obtained a new job, and I'm already at my wit's end. Many of the doors in our facility have finger print readers because they are high security areas. No matter how hard I've tried, I can't get the system to read my prints very well, since they aren't well 'defined'. This means I don't have access to the areas I need to. I have to have someone else let me in to secure areas. I've tried using lotion thinking they were too dry, but that didn't work. In fact, most of the time my hands are really sweaty. Someone suggested I use nail polish remover and that would 'raise' the print, however I'm skeptical. Has anyone else had problems with finger print devices, or know of some possible ways of getting a better read?"

Pluto Probe Launches 312

Artem S. Tashkinov writes "The US space agency, Nasa, has successfully launched its New Horizons mission to Pluto. The $700m probe will gather information on Pluto and its moons before - it is hoped - pressing on to explore other objects in the outer Solar System. Pluto is the only remaining planet that has never been visited by a spacecraft."
Businesses

Is There Still Racism in IT Hiring Practices? 1085

noahz asks: "Today [now three days ago] in the United States marks Martin Luther King Day, remembering the birthday - and legacy - of the great civil rights leader. It's been over 40 years since his march on Washington, back when IT was still in its infancy and was exclusively a white, male field. But, how much progress has been made in the IT world? I recently had a recruiter tell me that I would have no problem finding a job in the current economy - not because I am enthusastic, well-educated and have good experience - but because I am caucasian - 'white'. This particular recruiter insisted that his years experience has led him to this conclusion - but I wonder: what the collective experience of the Slashdot readership has found?"

SSH Tunnels How-to? 98

The_Spider asks: "I periodically browse the net and check web-mail at work, when I have the opportunity. I was wondering if anyone had a nice walkthrough on how to set-up an SSH tunnel. I'm not 100% newbish to Linux but I don't know where to start. (I have a Fedora Core box at home for NAT & DHCP) I'm hoping to combine this for use with portable Firefox. I'm not to worried about security, but I love the notion of taking a portable and encrypted browser with me from place to place. Can Slashdot help?" While this might be a bit FAQ, I figure Slashdot anecdotes on the use of SSH tunnels might be a bit more user-friendly than say, the several task-specific HOWTOs one can find via a Google search. ALso, I'm sure that there are a few of you out there who have discovered interesting ways of using SSH tunnels, not covered by said HOWTOs. So, how are you using SSH tunnels, and can you explain them to those who have not yet discovered the value of their use?
Programming

Desperately Seeking Documentation? 67

Interrobang asks: "I'm a longtime Slashdot reader, who isn't a programmer. I'm one of programmers' symbiotic (parasitic?) life-forms -- a freelance technical writer. I'd like to know from the programmers, IT managers, and similar others in the crowd: If you were searching the Internet for a technical writer, what kinds of search terms would you use? What sites would you check? Where and how would you start looking?"

Konica Minolta Quits Photography Market 239

halenger writes "Japanese photographic equipment maker Konica Minolta has announced plans to withdraw from the camera business. Konica Minolta said the market had become too competitive, and added it would sell its digital camera business to Japanese electronics giant Sony." From the article: "Its decision to ditch the camera business altogether includes the cessation of its colour film and photo paper business, in which it has trailed Eastman Kodak of the US and Japan's Fuji Photo Film. Instead, it plans to focus on products such as colour office photocopiers and medical imaging equipment." We just recently reported on the decision by Nikon to go completely digital.

MythBusters - The Lost Experiments 362

theLorax writes "From Discovery: "If you like the MythBusters here are some videos they just posted of some of the out takes and things that didn't appear on the show. Cola bits (cleaning things with cola), water torture, otter ping pong, live power lines, cement build up and plywood flight." Here is the interview we did with these guys in December.
Security

Has Corporate Info Security Gotten Out of Hand? 466

KoshClassic asks: "What is the right balance between security and productivity, in the corporate IT environment? Looking back at my company, 10 years ago, our machines were connected directly to the Internet, no proxy, no firewall, no antivirus software. Today, my company's proxy server blocks access to: 'bad' web sites (such as Google Groups; our 'antivirus' software prevents our machines (even machines that host production applications) from carrying out legitimate functions, such as the sending of email via SMTP; and individual employees are forced to apply security patches with little or no notice, under threat of their machines loosing network access, if they do not comply by the deadline. On one hand, you can never be too secure, however on the other hand, have we become so secure that we're stifling our own ability to get things done? What is the situation like at other companies?"
Privacy

Safe Options for Surfing While on the Road? 54

Sooner Boomer asks: "My oldest brother is an over-the-road truck driver. He subscribes to several wireless services at truck stops (Flying J, Pilot, etc.). I've tried to help him and educate him as much as possible, but he still has two problems; connectivity (poor signal strength) and security. His truck has a fiberglass shell, so that is not the problem. He has to run IE because this is the only browser supported for the log-in process. We've talked about wireless routers with reflectors on the antennas to boost signal strength, and to help with security. I'm still looking for better security though. Are there "live" linux browsers that can be run once a connection is made in windows? It's really gotten annoying because he has to reformat/reinstall about every two-three months. Ideas? Good trucker jokes?"

You Brought The Birds You're Evil! 21

Gamasutra has a highly amusing postmortem of a highly unusual game. Today on Gamasutra: The Making of 'Age of Ornithology'. From the article: "We were sitting around the conference table trying to come up with a unique concept for a real-time strategy game. Otto's (our lead programmer) new Porsche convertible was just outside the conference room window. Suddenly a small flock of birds flew over the parking area and, in unison, relieved themselves on his car. Otto was very angry... he had left the roof down. We laughed and laughed! Otto did not laugh - he kicked over the whiteboard and stormed out (he does this once or twice a week, it is no longer very shocking). Anyway, this got us thinking about birds, and their capacity for strategic attack and destruction. " I love tern-based strategy games.
Databases

MySQL on Windows - Good Idea? 61

mikeballer asks: "We currently run our website from a shared hosting environment, with ASP and MS SQL Server. We will be moving to a dedicated host, and to save money, we are considering transitioning to MySQL while remaining in a Windows environment. I had read the Windows-vs-Unix section of the MYSQL documentation, but what is Slashdot's perspective on the performance of MySQL in a Windows environment?"

Pluto Probe Delayed 23

setirw writes "Due to high wind conditions at the launching site, the launch of the NASA's probe to Pluto has been delayed for 24 hours. "The wind limit at the pad is 33 knots [and] we have exceeded that limit several times today," said NASA spokesman Bruce Buckingham." From the article: "Glitches with an Atlas 5 vent valve, a ground tracking station in Antigua and NASA's Deep Space Network also led to launch delays, though the wind concerns were omnipresent throughout those issues."

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