My Blog

Tag: Gadgets

  • unRAID 6 from Lime Technology is simply amazing

    I’ve managed to play around with unRAID 6.1.7 from Lime Technology a little further and I cannot describe just how good this product appears to be.

    The fact that you can install plugins, enable Virtualization (uses KVM) and enable/install Docker (and have access to a large number of Docker images). This impresses me so much. This software gives you so much flexibility in what a computer running unRAID can be allowed to do and perform.

    While I do think a traditional NAS appliance still has it’s place in the market, if you want something a bit more, unRAID is certainly the goods in that department.

    Below is a few screen grabs from my demo/test install which I am using a trial key/license.

    unRAID 6.1.7 - Dashboard

    unRAID 6.1.7 - Main

    unRAID 6.1.7 - Plugins

    unRAID 6.1.7 - Docker

    unRAID 6.1.7 - Docker - Manage Docker Images

    The way in which you can manage the Docker images when installed and enabled via the Web UI is simply amazing (as shown above). It seems to work so very well and a user with very little experience can be running these within a very short amount of time.

    Highly recommend you check out the follow thread here on the Lime Technology forums on what community contributed Docker templates have been made available.

  • Apple MacBook Air 13 BTO available for pickup

    I got a call today to say that my Apple MacBook Air 13 BTO machine was available for pickup, as it arrived.

    As you can guess it, tomorrow I will go into JB Hifi to pick it up.

  • Noontec N5 Gigalink

    My wife bought me a Noontec N5 Gigalink NAS unit as I wanted a simple cifs based file share for our home network.

    Unit is packaged really well and I will be very interested in seeing how it operates. Will be plug it in and set it up later in the week and post back my thoughts.

  • Intel Ivy i3 3225

    I recently bought an Intel Ivy i3 3225 processor, along with a few other items. Will expand on the other items towards the end of the post.

    The reason for the purchase is I wished to build another machine for some lighter duties, as I had been using my nearly 2 year old Intel Sandy i5 2400 for such work, however since it’s primary role is for gaming, it tends to generate a bit of heat. It does after all have a GTX670 video card in it.

    I did want to get one of the new low power processors, but the i3 3225 came up for a good price. Glad I purchased it as the machine when built is operating nicely, the processor with the on-board Intel HD 4000 video does everything I need.

    Purchased items;

    • Asus P8H77-I Mini-ITX mainboard
    • Corsair CMPSU-430CXv3 (430W power supply)
    • Liteon IHAS124 DVD burner (cause optical drives are still handy to have)
    • BitFenix Prodigy Mini-ITX case (in Fire Red)
    • Microsoft Windows 7 64bit Home Premium

     

  • New machine – Intel i5 2400

    Purchased new bits to build an Intel i5 2400, as I wanted to get a reasonable good machine put together that will allow me to purchase and play battlefield3 when available in October.

    Not only that it will allow me a bit more grunt for some of the virtual machines I been building to demonstrate CommVault Simpana features etc.

    I am using an old Video card at the moment, but plan on spending the last $330 or so dollars on a ATI 6970 as they start to drop in price, probably in a months time (or two).

    Got a few pictures of the bits and the case showing the cable routing I did to try and make things tidy. That way the only cables over the place will be the sata ones etc.

  • I have an iPad v2

    Decided to purchase an iPad v2. Thought it was a good time to purchase after skipping the first generation.

    Initial thoughts? Impressed, browser is so fast when using it. It takes some getting use too when typing. So far very happy with it. My son also likes tapping away at one or two games on it. I think I need to pick up a programming to see what I can throw together for him. As I can think of some additions that would help him, sure they exist too, but from what I seen the various implementations are terrible.

  • Purchases from Dell Outlet site

    Was going to build up a machine to use for the Hyper-V labs I need to do later this year, when I finally get up to the books dealing with it. However kept looking around at other options.

    I purchased a Dell Desktop Opitplex 760 over 12 months ago, and have been extremely happy with it. It’s powerful, quiet and does everything I need it to do.

    Noticed a number of Dell Desktop Optiplex 780’s show up on the Dell Outlet site, so after due consideration decided to buy one. In addition, I also bought a netbook too, mainly brought on by the loss of my iPhone. Bought an Inspiron 1012 from the same Dell Outlet site. Got both items for under 1K delivered, so pretty happy about that. Under my budget I had planned.

    Now we just have to wait for them to ship and then arrive.

  • First time for everything

    I lost my mobile last week, and unfortunately nobody handed it in. I believe I lost it outside of work in public area. Lots of foot traffic, but nobody seems to have handed in the phone.

    Like they say, first time for everything. First time I have ever lost a mobile phone ever. Not overly happy, but what can you do. So iPhone 3GS is no more. It’s gone.

    Now delegated to using a Nokia E71 until the completion of the contract. Oh well. The iPhone has since become a brick to whom ever found it, as it has been provider blocked by the code of the phone.

  • Canon Ixus camera dies

    After what has seemed to be about 7 years, our Canon Ixus camera suddenly died. It started to produce lines in the pictures, which is common with the CCD failure.

    We replaced it with a Pentax E80, as found here. It’s a sweet little camera, and the 720p HD recording feature is nice.

  • Apple Time Capsule Failure

    Arrived home from holidays to find my Apple Time Capsule which was purchased in April 08 to be dead. It has no functional L.E.D.S.

    Not impressed at all, as the didn’t last long. It was purchased with 2 machines that both had extended warranty, so my theory is it too should be covered, as Apple Displays purchased with machines that have extended warranty is typically covered.

    Will soon find out, once I call Apple Australia tomorrow. If the unit is NOT replaced, then I won’t be replacing it. As I am not impressed that the next one would last outside an 18 month period.

    EDIT: I am told it’s not covered. So a $700 item purchased in Apr 2008 has died outside of the 12 months warranty. Not impressed. Won’t be buying another.