GeekSugar

Should There Be Limits on Hard Drive Searches?

Kristen Hawley — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 02:04:07 PDT

Now that we store more and more data on our computers (as opposed to, say, papers in a filing cabinet), something formerly straightforward (like a search warrant) can be opened up to all kinds of gray area. One recent hot debate: if a search warrant is executed on a person's computer, is anything they find fair game?

There are strong supporters on both sides of the issue. One side argues that executing a search warrant on a computer is similar to executing a search warrant on an office; officials will have to sift through plenty of irrelevant files before finding what they're looking for. As such, the same principle should apply to computer hard drives. The other side argues that the scope of what is stored on a person's hard drive should prevent anyone from accessing files not specified in the warrant.

I don't know too much about the legalities behind search warrants, but I'm inclined to think that if a warrant specifies a certain result, then it shouldn't be used for purposes other than that, digital or not. What do you think?

Flash Memory vs. Hard Disk Drives: What's the Difference?

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 11:00:59 PDT

The oohs and ahhs you're hearing over the new MacBook Air aren't just about its looks - gadget geeks are also talking about what's inside. Or more appropriately, what's not. The new MacBook Air comes stocked with a flash memory drive instead of the familiar disk drive.

But what's the big deal, and what kind of a difference does a flash drive make? Find out when you read more.

Is Your Data Stored in a Cloud or on a Drive?

GeekSugar — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 06:00:32 PDT

It only takes one...maybe two...Carrie Bradshaw-like computer-crashing-at-the-worst-possible-moment conundrums to get serious about backing it up. Most of my data lives in the "clouds" - in Gmail, Flickr, and online storage - but there's something to be said for the easy external device setup. How do you back up your data? Picking "I don't" isn't an option here.

Geeky Products Made From Bamboo

GeekSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:50:04 PDT

Not to be confused with our wide selection of wood products, these bamboo products may look like they're derived from the pine tree family, when in fact they are in an entirely different league of their own. Half part tech accessory, half part eco-chic, all of these products have one thing in common - they all feature some bamboo in their construction. Whether you're looking for something that's less plastic, and more natural, my little list will help you find some back-to-bamboo-basic items.

New Sleek LaCie Hard Drives Designed by Philippe Starck

GeekSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:02:00 PDT

Today, the makers behind the glamorous gold hard drive and the rainbow bright flat cables - LaCie - is announcing its new sleek and sexy desktop hard drive and mobile hard drive. By teaming up with world renowned designer Philippe Starck, LaCie was able to create this new collection of drives which incorporate Starck's iconic design philosophy.

What's unique about the desktop hard drive is its touch-sensitive surface, which you can pre-program to open an application of your choice. So say you want to quickly show off videos on your drive, you can press your finger on the front panel and it will instantly pull up the folder with your video files (or launch iTunes). Both the desktop and the mobile drives are made from aluminum, which makes them nice and durable. They are also both Mac and PC friendly, will easily connect to your laptop's USB port and feature a built-in desktop manager, for quick drive formatting and customization. And best of all, the desktop drive is available in 1TB and 2TB capacities and only costs $130, while the mobile drive is available in 320GB and 500GB capacities for only $100. . . That's one heck of a deal.

To check out more photos of the LaCie Starck desktop hard drive and the LaCie Starck mobile hard drive, just

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The New Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive

GeekSugar — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:33:28 PDT

Looks may be deceiving, but don't be fooled: I promise this is a sexier and sleeker version of the eGo drive I reviewed last year.

This much lighter, third generation, 320GB drive offers built-in antivirus software and an impressive rugged aluminum exterior that can withstand a 1.3 meter drop, which you know as well as I do is very important when you're lugging around a device that holds your important data.

Online, this puppy will cost you around $95, which is pretty affordable, considering I've heard of similar devices going for upwards of $150.

After a few months of use, I had some issues with my first eGo drive, so I was pleased to hear Iomega is offering a three-year warranty on the third gen drives. What really irks me, though, is that these drives are primarily built for PCs, not Macs. The included USB cord comes with a cord to plug into your drive and two attached USB cords to plug into your laptop. On many Macs, there are two USB ports (on opposite sides of the laptop), so plugging in both cords is practically impossible. Although your drive may be able to run with only one USB cord plugged in, it isn't sufficient power to experience the high-speed data transfer rates. And sadly, a powered USB bus isn't included, even though there is an auxiliary power port for it. So if you really want to use it on your Mac, you'd have to invest in one.

This is the midnight blue version, but it is also available in red, silver, and black. With the noteworthy upgrades from the last eGo, I think this eGo is worthy of four stars.

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Heal Your PC From Viruses With the Dr. Hard Drive Bag

GeekSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:02:09 PDT

I can give you multiple reasons why I love this concept piece I found on Coroflot. Not only is this hanging hard drive packed with virus-scanning software to help you track down any bugs that may have attacked your computer, but it can also recover any corrupted files, so it's actually a useful piece of equipment.

Plus, it's kinda cute in a totally out-of-left-field kind of way, and it flashes and glows in the dark while it's doing its thing. I'm hoping the concept artist releases these soon, cause I can really see myself picking one up, even if it's just for the fun of it!

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When Size Doesn't Matter: Most Attractive Hard Drives

GeekSugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:01:28 PDT

External hard drives are a big enough market these days that you don't have to settle for some lame-o black or silver box. You can have your pretty and back up, too. Check out some of my favorite, most attractive hard drives that do double duty as desk decor.

[re] drive: The Eco-Geek-Chic Portable Hard Drive

GeekSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:02:26 PDT

Going geeky-green doesn't only mean conserving energy or using solar-powered gadgets, it can also include purchasing devices that are made from renewable and recyclable materials, like this [re] drive, which was designed for Fabrik by Stuart Karten Design, a Los Angeles based industrial design firm. I got the chance to check out this plug n' play 500 GB external hard drive, and it's completely eco-friendly; from the 100 percent recyclable bamboo panels, aluminum case and box it comes in, right down to the low-power design that performs quietly and reliably.

This drive is not only eco on the outside, but it includes auto sensing power (that will turn on or off with your computer) and an energy star power adapter that keeps grid demands to a minimum, and its unique exterior ridges act to keep the drive cool without the use of a fan. The [re] drive is both Mac and PC compatible and costs $130.

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Geek Tip: Freezing Your Hard Drive Is Mythbuster Approved!

GeekSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:00:52 PDT

After a bit of a panic with a seemingly dead hard drive recently, my brother-in-law suggested something I long thought was an urban legend - freezing my hard drive. Yes, he was suggesting I literally put my hard drive into the freezer, next to the frozen bananas and emergency vodka, in hopes that it would come back to life. I was just about to try this trick when my hard drive came back - no cryogenics necessary.

However, I didn't give up on the frozen hard drive theory like that; I went to my favorite urban legend dispellers that I knew I could trust: The Mythbusters! And, of course, they had an answer: Yes, it does work!

How does it work? Just

to see the answer.

Sticking your hard drive in the freezer for a while shrinks the overheated, overexpanded metal parts back into place (you'll know that's the problem if you hear a clicking noise) long enough for you to retrieve your data.

If you want to try this yourself, put the part inside a sealed Ziploc bag and let it sit in there for at least an hour (there are Internet accounts of going for 24 hours to a month, though). What's important to know is that this is your last resort, and that it will only work temporarily. So that means once you've done it, reinstall it, get all the files off and backed up, and then buy yourself a new hard drive.

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