^^^ Please excuse the Ad. I can thank Shaw for that. ^^^

Ramblings of a Technology Nut

A techno-weenie based in Victoria BC, Canada reveals how he wastes all his time on computers and electronic entertainment.

technut's homepage

Archives

Table of Contents

By Date

Destroying Your Data (intentionally)

If you are truly paranoid about disposing of your data, you might want to take a tip from some US Department of Defense documents. Here are excerpts from their policies for physical destruction of hard drives:

4. Physical Destruction Procedures:
Hard drives should be destroyed when they are defective or cannot be economically repaired or sanitized for reuse. As an added security measure, when practical, operable hard drives no longer deemed economically viable should be overwritten or degaussed prior to destruction. Physical destruction must be accomplished to an extent that precludes any possible further use of the hard drive. The following are acceptable means for destruction of hard disk storage media:

4.1. Physical destruction/impairment beyond reasonable use: Remove the hard drive from the chassis or cabinet. Remove any steel shielding materials, mounting brackets, and cut any electrical connection to the hard drive unit. In a suitable facility with individuals wearing appropriate safety equipment, subject the hard drive to physical force (e.g., pounding with a sledgehammer) that will disfigure, bend, mangle, or otherwise mutilate the hard drive so that it cannot be re-inserted into a functioning computer. Sufficient force should be used directly on top of the hard drive unit to cause shock/damage to the disk surfaces. In addition, any connectors that interface into the computer must be mangled, bent, or otherwise damaged to the point that the hard drive could not be re-connected without significant rework

4.2. Destruction at an approved metal destruction facility, i.e., smelting, disintegration, or pulverization.

4.3. Application of an abrasive substance (emery wheel or disk sander) to a magnetic disk or drum recording surface. Make certain that the entire recording surface is completely removed. Ensure proper safety measures to include protection from inhaling abraded dust and use of protective eyewear.

4.4. Application of concentrated hydriodic acid (55% to 58% solution) to a gamma ferric oxide disk surface. Acid solution use should be done in a well-ventilated area, and personnel must wear eye protection.

4.5. Application of acid activator Dubais Race A (NSN 8010 181 7171) and stripper Dubais Race B (NSN 8010 181 7170) to a magnetic drum recording surface. Technical acetone (NSN 6810 184 4796) should then be applied to remove residue from the drum surface. The above should be done in a well-ventilated area, and personnel must wear eye protection.
NOTE: Extreme caution must be observed when handling acid solutions. The application of chemical substances to remove data should be accomplished only by qualified and approved personnel.

And lest we forget those CDROMs you have lying around, here's their suggestion:

Acceptable means to destroy optical storage media:
Optical mass storage media, including compact disks (CD, CDE, CDR, CDROM), optical disks (DVD), and magneto-optic disks (MO) must be destroyed by burning, pulverizing, or grinding the information bearing surface. When material is pulverized or ground, all residue must be reduced to pieces sized 0.25 millimeter or smaller. Burning shall be performed only in an approved facility certified for the destruction of classified materials.

Yes, I'd concur that pulverizing the CDROM into dust should do the trick. ;-)

posted on Saturday, January 04, 2003 | PermaLink | Comments

TechTV

When I turn on the TV, one of the first channels I check out is TechTV (Canada). I find that watching their programs is a relatively painless way to learn about current and new technology. There is a heavy emphasis on computer hardware and software, but they also cover other areas of technology such as audio and video gear. And there is something of interest for everyone, from the technology novice to geeks like myself.

There are several programs in their lineup that I watch fairly regularly, for example:

Sadly, the worst shows on the channel are the ones provided for Canadian content, which bump off some better shows that are available on the US version of the channel. I sure wish they wouldn't do that. But don't let that put my fellow Canadians off getting this channel, the value of the good stuff still outweighs the bad.

On most cable systems this is a premium digital channel, but if the cost is not too incrementally high (it's less than $2/month extra on Shaw), then I recommend you add it.

posted on Friday, January 03, 2003 | PermaLink | Comments

Stuck Trucks

For something on the lighter side, browse through the Stuck-of-the-Month archives dating back to 1996.

posted on Thursday, January 02, 2003 | PermaLink | Comments

Ziff Davis Media publications and websites

PC Magazine, eWeek and ExtremeTech are a few of my favourites from the list of a dozen publications provided by this media company.

posted on Thursday, January 02, 2003 | PermaLink | Comments

CNET Networks publications and websites

Another large technology media conglomerate (similar to CMP) is the CNET group.

Of particular interest is the CNET website, but there is a lot of other technology-related content to explore, such as News.com and Download.com.

posted on Wednesday, January 01, 2003 | PermaLink | Comments

Ultimate PDA + Cellphone

My search for a cellphone and PDA combination (as one unit or as separate components) has lead me to conclude that my ultimate PDA (something that runs Windows XP) is not yet available, but it is near.

So rather than compromise too much by getting a PDA running Palm OS or Windows CE/Pocket PC right now, I will instead hold off on a new PDA and simply get a new cellphone that will work well with my future PDA.

That means my new cellphone has to support Bluetooth to provide wireless connectivity between my PDA and the cellphone. The cellphone will in turn provide the Internet access (via either GPRS or 1xRTT) for my PDA. Incidentally, both GPRS and 1xRTT will eventually be superceded by even higher speed access protocols, but that is too far away for me to wait for it.

Because I may have to make due with my old PDA (a Palm Vx) for many months still, I want to be able to use my new cellphone to provide Internet access to the Vx. Since the Palm Vx does not support expansion cards (e.g. for Bluetooth), my only connection choices are a cable or IR (InfraRed). My current cellphone (an Ericsson T18d) does the job, but it uses a cable connection to the PDA. I'd rather use IR with my new cellphone.

So my cellphone requirements are shaping up to be:

1) must provide Internet access via either GPRS or 1xRTT
2) must support IR to my Palm Vx
3) must support Bluetooth to my future PDA

Expect another post real soon about some cellphone possibilities.

posted on Monday, December 30, 2002 | PermaLink | Comments

DLP-based Projectors

If you're in the market for a projector for home theater or presentations, you should check out the DLP (Digital Light Processing) technology made by Texas Instruments. Amazingly, it is based on a rather physical model. It builds up a picture by using a chip covered with

miniature swivelling mirrors

and a spinning colour wheel.

Sounds primitive, but apparently it works very well. From what I hear, it provides the brightest and clearest picture available in a consumer projector.

One very nice (expensive) projector that uses DLP is the Marantz VP-12S2 projector, though there are lots of other brands at a variety of pricing levels.

DLP technology is also showing up in some rear-projection TV units, though I think a Plasma TV might be a better choice if you prefer a TV display rather than a projector.

posted on Sunday, December 29, 2002 | PermaLink | Comments

All copyrights and trademarks belong to their respective owners.

HOME