Swapping Time Machine files from one HD to the next

I am looking to swap out a new hard drive for my Time Machine and found a 1.5 TB drive for a decent price. I did some research and it seems I can easily swap the Time Machine data using Apple OS X's Disk Utility. Follow the link embedded in the post's title but scroll to the bottom of the page. The commenter's instructions are the way to go. Super simple. I am currently at about 3 hours for 280 Gigs of data.

I saw on multiple other posts that you must follow this method rather than copying and pasting the data. Some of the files will not copy right no matter what you try.


Also, I found out that you can sync up multiple Macs to one Time Machine drive. Look down to the section "Back up the Whole Family". In other words, both Macs will look at the external or network drive and throw backups at it until the drive is full. First one to get get more data wins!! You just point each Time Machine at the drive and the Time Machine install will conveniently manage the two sets of backups. The interesting part will be what happens if I need to actually use the backup to restore my system.

To Apple TV or not to Apple TV

My DVD player started going on the fritz and it was time for me to determine what the next level of video/audio I was going to invest in. My three considerations: a Blu-Ray player such as a PS3, media center such as Apple TV, or a Mac/PC as a media center and full fledged computer connected to my HDTV. My dilemma was do I go with aging tangible data storage or something that can handle IPTV and my photo/video/audio library if possible. I have an extensive itunes library and would love to stream it to the living room, or any other room that is available. With my Mac, there are great options for streaming music through the Airport Express.

[a simple note about me - I am cheap. I buy open box and previous year items when possible. Most of my Mac products were purchased from the Apple refurbished store; my tv, subwoofer, and A/V receiver were open box items]

Option 1: Blu-Ray player/PS3
Now that HD-DVD has fallen aside, the obvious choice for new media is Blu-Ray. I have a new DLP HDTV that I love (Samsung 61") and need HD content. I will admit that my new Denon audio/video receiver upsamples DVDs quite nice but I have seen actions movies in HD and am hooked. I don't play games much but figure if I am going to drop $299 on a Blu-Ray player then I might as well get a PS3 at $399. I am sure I could find a few games to keep me busy.


One problem is that none of my friends have a PS3. They all have XBox 360's. Live play would not be an option.

Also, I would have to buy or rent Blu-Ray disks at a premium from here on out and I am not totally sure BR is here for the long term. My current internet connection is 20 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up....and that is not at an unreasonable cost. I can stream HD content like a champ.

One other advantage is it has an HDMI out. The HDMI out is a bit plus for me as I can run it through my receiver and only have one HDMI cable into my TV for all my video feeds.

Option 2: Apple TV
The Apple TV is a very small, chopped computer with limited functionality. It looks like a boiled down Front Row for Mac users with a handful of basic options. You can connect to Flickr and Youtube but this is the extent of non-iTunes content you can access.


iTunes through Apple TV does offer access to a cadre of TV shows, movies, music videos, and music but that is it. It seemlessly connects to any shared iTunes libraries and can act as a second set of speakers for other local Macs. It comes in two hard drive sizes...40 and 160 Gigs for $229 and $329 respectively. The only value of the local HD is that the content can be synced and played locally rather than streaming over the network. I would have to rip all of my DVDs to make them useable on the Apple TV which means some time will be involved to make this truly useable. I also would forgo any DVD player going forward. If I (or my wife) were to buy or rent a DVD, we would have to rip it, sync it, and then play it. At least a 1.5 hour endeavor for any movie. I have a ton of HD space on my iMac available and don't mind loading it up with copies of my DVDs.

The Apple TV also has an HDMI out that carries audio and video. Just as stated above, this is a big plus.

Option 3: Mac Mini
The current Mac Mini is a full fledged Mac with a bit less video and processing power. Everything else is fully Apple powered. My friend just bought one and I am very impressed with the functionality and size. For 75% of Americans nowadays, this is all a person really needs. Problem is, it does not come with a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. I figure this is why it would work well in my living room.


My major issue with the Mac Mini is cost. It is almost twice as expensive at $599 for the base model. I have found nearly new ones on eBay for $400 but that is still as expensive as a PS3. It will do so much more, but do I need something that requires a keyboard and mouse as an interface? Do I want to deal with a keyboard and mouse in my living room, along with my current TV remote? Not really...at least not as the main navigation tool.

I love the idea of a fully functional computer in my living room on my big screen. But then again, what does my work laptop do in my lap that I need my TV to do?

The Mini does have a DVD drive built in which would save my problems with playing my old DVDs and new rentals. This would also be much more friendly for my wife playing DVDs as she is not as willing to work through ripping and transferring a DVD as I am.

Also, there is no HDMI connection. I would have to buy a display port or DVI port to HDMI adapter to run it into my receiver. Even then I would have to run the 1/8" audio out to RCA and then into my receiver. I have read on multiple posts that it takes some messsing around with the settings to get the picture just right on an 1080p screen.

Conclusion
After a lot of soul searching and research, I decided on the low cost solution. The 40 Gig Apple TV can be purchased on Apple's refurbished site for $200. What a deal. I decided to 2-day ship it out of giddiness. The HDMI port and cost were the two biggest deciding factors. I want simplicity of wires...that is where the HDMI port helps. I currently have a power plug and HMDI cable coming out of the Apple TV. The size is fantastic. It is less than half the width of my FiOS receiver and barely an 1.5" tall. I figure the $200 price point was right for me as I don't need to buy any new games, Blu-Ray disks, keyboards, etc to make this work.

It easily synced with my iMac iTunes libraries, iPhoto, and acts as a groovy hi-fi set of external speakers for my iMac or MacBook Air. It is a bit boring of an interface but fairly easy to master. The remote is a bit weak when it comes to entering text, but if you have an iPhone or iPod Touch you can download a free app to turn them into remotes. I wish I had an iPhone or iPod Touch, but alas do not need one currently. My iPod 5G works just fine.

My Mac afficionado friend in Austin has an Apple TV and another friend in College Station has multiple Apple TVs. They use them to stream their iTunes libraries to big TVs and better sounding audio systems with ease. They love the functionality and ease of integration. For me, I love the fact that it can integrate with my iMac, my wife's MacBook Air, and my Airport Extreme....which recently were upgraded to 802.11 draft N with a simple firmware upgrade!!!! I also like the idea of using the ATV flash hack to add funtionality.

This isn't an exhaustive review of the Apple TV but I figured someone out there is going through this thought process and I figured I would give my 2 cents. Hope it helps and I will post updates as I delve deeper into the Apple TV.

Interesting discourse from previous CIA operative on release of "torture memos"

Fantastic perspective on the recent release of "torture memos"

Boston Globe article

CELEBRITY CRUSH: Serinda Swan

Did anyone catch this past week's episode of "Smallville"? No? Then you missed out on a rare find. Canadian actress / model Serinda Swan, who played the magician Zatanna on the show.

Needless to say, wearing the Zatanna outfit, complete with fishnet stockings, got my attention. But it was also her eyes. Powerful, they seemed to suck you in. I'm not saying she's the world's greatest actress, but the show's not known for it's Shakespearean work.

She's done work for Guess, and is one of the spokespersons for Absolute Poker, but I'm thinking that she's going to pop up somewhere else, and soon. I'm not the only person that's watching "Smallville," am I?

She's got a really exotic look, even though she's from Canada. What is it with all these gorgeous models and actresses coming out of Canada? Must be the Molson beer.

Anyway, I'm definitely going to keep her on my radar and see what she'll be up to in the future.

Abracadabra, I'm in love

TV: Friday Night Lights....the BEST show on TV

If anyone from outside of Texas ever asks me what it's like living in the Lone Star State, all I have to do is give them my Seasons 1 & 2 of Friday Night Lights and say, "Watch this. This is what living in Texas is like."

Ever since the very first season, critics have called this one of the best shows on TV. The great thing about it is that while football is at the core of this show, it's not what the show's about. The show is about people.

The characters in the show are so well written, even minor, on-the-side characters are given story arcs that are meaningful and poignant. You end up really caring for what happens in these people's lives.

The acting by leads Kyle Chandler (of "Early Edition" fame) and Connie Britton (of "Spin City" and The Brothers McMullen fame, and also the woman of my dreams) is spot on. Britton, who is one of two returning actors from the Friday Night Lights movie, fits into the role of coach's wife perfectly, and she and Chandler have that rare onscreen chemistry that seems like these two have been married for years. Chandler, as Coach Eric Taylor, comes across as devoted father and hardass coach, while never changing his character one bit. The rest of the cast is full of mostly unknowns who are now getting the attention they deserve, because they're fantastic actors. Even those that I wasn't too keen on at the beginning have started to grow on me.

The thing that I really love about this show isn't the acting, the writing, or the gorgeous women (though I do LOVE the gorgeous women on this show). It's the fact that for the first time on television, it shows how Texas really is, not some Hollywood version of Texas, but Texas as a real place with real people...who have real problems. The second season had some WTF moments, but the show weathered the storm and never jumped the shark. I think that one of the reasons this show appeals to people and tugs at their heartstrings is because the majority of people who watch it come from small towns themselves, and this show reminds them of home.

It reminds them of people saying "hi" or "howdy" to you on the street. Of carnivals on the town square. And of Friday night football games. Whenever the main theme of the show starts playing, it takes me back to my adopted hometown, a small little place north of Houston, population around 4,000 people, and the comfort that I found there. That's what this show means to me.

If you don't watch this show, you should. Watch it online, or DVR it, or catch it on iTunes. Don't let this be one of those shows that you pick up the DVD in a few years and fall in love with. This is a show that you need to love NOW...because it might not be around very much longer. And that will be the greatest shame.


PS - for your information the gorgeous women are the aforementioned Connie Britton, Minka Kelly, Adrienne Palicki, and Aimee Teegarden.

Bunter's dream girls come to life and star on an NBC tv show.

Windows 7 Beta

Microsoft just released a beta for Windows 7 that is good through August of this year. You can find it here. I had trouble getting the site to work. It kept hanging. Various news sources have stated they are overwhelmed with the interest. I googled the topic and found the Wired Blog which gave additional details. I clicked on the included link and downloaded the 64 bit version.

Tried installing it in VMWare Fusion 2.x on my iMac w/Leopard and after a nearly successful install the system said it couldn't recognize my hardware. The install process was fairly quick on my 2.8 Ghz Extreme iMac. Also looks nice and didn't have a ton of dialog boxes that needed input.

Frustrating but could be an attempt by Microsoft to thwart Mac users? Maybe Fusion is having issues with the virtualization for this beta install. Who knows. I will try the 32 bit version and see what happens.

TV: The Eleventh Doctor Revealed!!!

I know that TK was at some point a Dr. Who fan, and I've become a fan in the recent six months or so. David Tennant will always be what I consider the quintessential Doctor, and it saddened me when I found out that he was going to be retiring in 2009.

However, I was also excited, because that meant I would see a changing of the guard! A new Doctor would be introduced to the world, and the more I read the interweb about who would replace David, the more excited I got. Would it be the always fantastic (and sorta Tennant-looking) Robert Carlyle? Or would they finally have a Doctor of color with Dr. Who alum Colin Salmon? Or would they go an even different direction with the first female Doctor, played by my current English crush Billie Piper?

News came down today that the Eleventh Doctor would be played by English newcomer Matt Smith. This is an interesting take on the Doctor, and I think the new producers are hoping to bring in a younger demographic.



Dr. Who has always been on the periphery of my sci-fi geekdom. I never got into it before I started watching the new series on the Sci Fi channel, and that was only because the show came on right before Battlestar Galactica. With Tennant as the Doctor, I was hooked. I even went back and watched the first season, with Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor. He wasn't really my cup of tea (insert English joke here), but his companion was the lovely Rose Tyler, played by the before mentioned Billie Piper. If you haven't seen the current seasons of Dr. Who, try and catch them on BBC America or on the Sci Fi Channel. They are fantastic, with equal parts humor and adventure.