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Re: Rethinking recovery and re-installing macOS (linked article) - Yesterday

Rich, It isn’t a silly question at all. Backing up is one of the most importance practices when it comes to computers. It’s timeless. That you’re unwilling to answer my question and/or at least explain the reasoning behind your claim speaks loudly to me. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: Rethinking recovery and re-installing macOS (linked article) - Yesterday

Rich, Wishful thinking. We’re not remotely close to that yet. That and while you wrote much, you didn’t answer the question posed to you. Rather, you skipped it entirely. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: Rethinking recovery and re-installing macOS (linked article) - Yesterday

Rich, Nope. You’re wrong about cloning in my opinion. Cloning is a backup system. Time Machine is a backup system. Neither is a complete system on its own but they are definitely backup system. They compliment each other nicely. If cloning isn't a backup then what do you consider a backup? Archives by themselves aren't backups. In that you're correct in my opinion. A copy of the archived

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: Rethinking recovery and re-installing macOS (linked article) - Yesterday

JPK, Exactly. The ability to make an external bootable clone backup is a game changer. Losing the ability to do this will definitely create problems. It isn't even just for use in case a computer is down. I use it to keep multiple machines configured in a near identical manner. Using my off-site or backup machines is just like using my primary machine. If I need to backup the primary machine,

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: Rethinking recovery and re-installing macOS (linked article) - Yesterday

Rich, I have an issue with it. My work flow and system configuration is such that if the primary boot drive of my machine fails, I can switch to an alternative boot drive, spend a few minutes updating data and returning to work. Minimal downtime. Apple latest steps are making this more difficult and time consuming. That doesn't work for me and is one of the reasons I'll be staying with an Inte

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: Prime Day - SanDisk SSD - Yesterday

Buzz, Sounds like that iMac is a model with Thunderbolt 2. Assuming I'm correct, an adapter and a cable will not do the trick. The Thunderbolt adapter doesn't pass power and won't power the Sandisk. You may as well leave well enough alone. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: Prime Day - SanDisk SSD - 2 days ago

jdc, Saw the Inland but didn't know how it compared to the Inland Premium series, which is a great SSD. Not the Inland Professional series, which is meh. Didnt' see the XPS8200 PRO 2TB, though. I've got the 1TB flavor with the older controller at my office in a USB 3.1 Gen 2 box (a box you recommended, actually!). Great combination! Makes for a solid, reliable boot drive. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: Your Prime Day Buys - 2 days ago

Ombligo, Definitely a good time to buy a Ring alarm system if you're in the market for one. Very steep discounts. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: Prime Day - SanDisk SSD - 2 days ago

jdc, Yups. Not awful. Not shabby for a complete solution. 2TB NVME SSDs tend to be very pricey. Just the stick itself can range from $225 to well over $300. Factor in a quality NVME box and it's definitely much more expensive than this Sandisk solution. This is actually a solid deal if you're willing to forgo the option of future proofing. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: todays short rant - emails with links - 2 days ago

Fritz, Some of the scammers are so good at disguising garbage email that it can be difficult to tell their crap from the real thing. I never click on a link in an email even if it is from a confirmed legitimate source. I copy the link and paste it into the browser and see what it is before actively jumping to it. That allows me to differentiate between scammers and the real thing. Even then, I

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: LastPass - any users here? - 4 days ago

Tuqqer, Long time 1Password user. Stayed at v6 with perpetual license. Syncs across my macs and idevices via dropbox. For me, 1Password6 just works. No need to upgrade to different version fir now and definitely no need switch to anything else. Makes me wonder which version you’re using and what about it doesn’t work for you or makes you want to switch to a different password manager, R

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: snot without my daughter?!.....have you heard of asian face mask with snail mucus.....?? - 5 days ago

Hi everyone, Mucus pucus. Why use snails when human snot is just as readily available? Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: recommend a wireless charger for iPhone 12? - 5 days ago

Wurm, I've got three of these and they work very well with iPhones, Apple Airpods Pro charging case and anything else that I can drop on it. Not cheap but it worth the bucks. It includes the stand and the AC adapter for the wall outlet. Many chargers, especially the uber cheap models, don't include the adapter for the wall outlet. So, if you get a cheap one, you may also need to invest

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: The iMac is too thin for needed ports - 5 days ago

Filliam, It looks like I misread the question. I answered it not realizing you said the ipad running the Mac OS. I answered as if you said the iPad running the iPadOS. I apologize for misreading it. Since the iPad doesn’t run the MacOS, i can’t answer the question as stated. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: The iMac is too thin for needed ports - 5 days ago

Markintosh, I think the issue is that you think there is a norm when in fact, the norm is that how people configure their desktop machines varies tremendously. Some follow what you and your son consider a norm. Others are more like me and N-OS. Still more range somewhere between both of us. That's why you can't make assumptions based on how you do things. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: The iMac is too thin for needed ports - 5 days ago

jdc, You demonstrated my point exactly. People buying that base model iMac could very well need one of those devices and it will cost them. A quality USB-C dock can range from $50 or so for a hub to close to $200 for a powered dock. A Thunderbolt 3 dock is $129 to $279 easily. And, no, I don't like leaving items disconnected because USB and Thunderbolt can both be flakey. Many a time I've h

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: RavPower got kicked off of Amazon... - 6 days ago

Buzz, That's the thing. RAVpower makes good, well regarded products. They don't need to buy reviews. Definitely frustrating. I was just looking buying another one of the RAVpower charging stands. Will get the Anker model instead. Can't go wrong with either. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: The iMac is too thin for needed ports - 6 days ago

Markintosh, Again, this isn't just about how _you_ use the machine. People still hardwire printers and print at home regularly. Just because you don't use a printer that is hardwired doesn't mean that is the norm. Heck, much of what I see used and how things are done by the people in the forum isn't the norm for many people. Interesting perspective from your son. What is his age bracket? It

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: TIMBERRRRR !!! Lumber prices are finally dropping.... - 6 days ago

Bazooka, The increases are going to keep on coming, too. It used to be, RFQ, get a quote with a price, done. Now, it is so bad that a price quote gives you an idea of the price but you won't actual get the final price until delivery of the material. And, that's assumes they'll deliver the material to you. And, that doesn't account for longer and longer lead times and out of stock situations. B

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: TIMBERRRRR !!! Lumber prices are finally dropping.... - 6 days ago

cbelt, Metal prices are obscene. The instability and increases are a nightmare and some of the issues started long before the pandemic. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: The iMac is too thin for needed ports - 6 days ago

Markintosh, We'll definitely have to agree to disagree. You're making assumptions that don't necessarily hold water. Here's an example: how many people who have a desktop computer and a printer (of any kind) has that printer connected via wireless? I'm betting most households have it within the immediate vicinity of the computer and it's connected with a USB cable. The base model iMac M1

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: The iMac is too thin for needed ports - 6 days ago

Filliam, Run software that isn't necessarily available in Apple's App store. Print in a reliable manner. Easily manage the files. Run more than one version of the OS on it. Easily handle multiple users on one machine. Easily connect a slew of peripherals ranging from printers to scanners to external storage to optical drives and do that simultaneously if necessary. I can do all of that easily

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: RavPower got kicked off of Amazon... - 6 days ago

Carnos, Good for Amazon. I've no doubt that there is texted in the agreement between Amazon and the seller that tells them incentivized reviews are forbidden. Assuming this is the case and I've no doubt it is, then a warning is unnecessary (unless Amazon says it'll provide a warning before de-platforming a seller. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: The iMac is too thin for needed ports - 6 days ago

Hi everyone, I own both laptops and desktops. I wouldn't go near the base model iMac M1. two Thunderbolt ports doesn't cut it. Once I'm using both of those ports for, say, a printer and an external storage device (for Time Machine), how am I supposed to connect another external device (of any kind) without playing cable swapping games? I know the idea is that everyone should move to devices

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: The iMac is too thin for needed ports - 6 days ago

Filliam, Not sure what you mean. iPads and desktop/laptop Macs are very different beasts. There are things I can do on desktop/laptop with ease that is exceedingly difficult to do on an iPad. On the other hand, the vast majority of the things I can do on an iPad are just as easy to do on my desktop/laptop machine. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: RavPower got kicked off of Amazon... - 6 days ago

Space, No. Amazon Vine is an official program and is more than just a vendor providing someone a product free of charge in exchange for a review. i have a RAVPower Qi charging stand. It's a solid piece of equipment. Here's a link, which will might work when RAVPower is allowed back on Amazon. Very similar to a model from Anker, which I highly recommend. Not cheap but rock solid.

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: ICYMI: incredibly cute pups - 7 days ago

PeterB, I've never seen a cat show. If he handlers treat cats in a manner that is similar to how they treat dogs at dog shows, then I'll have the same issues with them. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: ICYMI: incredibly cute pups - 7 days ago

Hi everyone, Can't stand dog shows. I watch the handlers pull at the leash high enough that it's almost as if the dog is choking. I also hate when they're taking a small dog off the podium, they hold the front of the pooch and then the base of its tail. Seems cruel. Then the grooming styles. Oy! I want a dog to look like a dog, not a dust mop. Robert

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: Like Stepping On A Lego? - 7 days ago

Davester, And what you don't see in the video because it's just a second or two looped is the idiot I mean gentleman rolling around on the ground, howling in agony! 'course, after a while, he'll be curled up in a ball, whimpering and calling for his momma but that's a different matter entirely. Robert P.S. It's called prepping for fatherhood! I can vouch for how painful it is to step on

by Robert M - Tips and Deals

Re: Who are we liking for UPS's? - 8 days ago

PeterB, I didn't look at reviews. I switched to PFC friendly UPSs back when I had a Mac Pro. That's when the PFC power supplies became abundant and Apple itself recommended I use only a UPS that produced pure sine wave output. I followed Apple's advice and bought an APC SMARTups series model. It served me well for a long time. Then it came time to replace the batteries. Very expensive! That

by Robert M - Tips and Deals