[ale] Linux alternative recommendation ?

[Scott Castaline]

On 10/24/2011 10:26 AM, Ron Frazier wrote:
> Courtney
>
> In regard to a fast small (mechanical) hard drive, the Seagate Momentus
> XT SSD Hybrid drive is nice.  (See my next reply regarding HDD vs
> Flash.)  The part number I'm going to mention is a 2.5" model, has a 4
> GB SSD cache, has a 7200 RPM spindle, will fit nicely into a compact USB
> enclosure, carries a 5 year warranty, has a SATA interface, and 500 GB
> capacity.  I literally use this as the main drive on two of my laptops,
> and dual boot between Windows and Linux.  Note that, at some point, your
> speed limit is going to be the  USB connection, not the drive.  Running
> your PC from an external USB drive, not matter what the technology, will
> not be as fast as running the drive internally.  The part number for the
> drive is ST95005620AS.  Note that this number is NOT on the retail box.
> I don't know why.  If you save the boxes, like I do, you may wish to
> write the number on the box once you get it.  This number is the one
> that the operating system will report for the drive once it's
> installed.  If your computer has USB v3, you'll need a USB v3 SATA
> enclosure and cable to get maximum speed.  The internal interface for
> the enclosure (ie SATA) must match the interface for the drive.  All but
> the newest computers have USB v2, which is slower.  In this case, you
> can get a USB v2 enclosure, which will probably just say USB on the
> label.  I really like the Vantec line of enclosures, although there are
> other good ones as well.  The enclosure box should say USB and SATA (if
> you get a SATA HDD) and 2.5".  The nicer enclosures come with a pouch to
> keep the drive in.  Be aware that an external USB drive usually requires
> the use of TWO USB ports on your PC, because it has to draw extra
> power.  The enclosures generally come with a cable where one end has two
> plugs for this purpose.  If your PC has only one USB port, or if it has
> two but they are spaced far apart, you may not be able to run an
> external mechanical HDD, or you may have to run a smaller, low power drive.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ron
>
Vantec makes a nice SATA-USB chassis that only needs 1 USB cable, but 
does use a wall mole for power.
> On 10/24/2011 3:24 AM, Courtney Thomas wrote:
>> Thanks for replying.
>>
>> Probably small size, fast and flexibility...are the most desirable
>> qualities. I'd like to be able to expand it's capabilities later as
>> drives keep dropping in price and size.
>>
>> What would be the fastest small drive ? I don't plan on it initially
>> being a main repository of data but don't want to so confine myself that
>> I wind up soon replacing.
>>
>> This seems a bit nebulous but quite so  :-)   That's why I'm asking.
>>
>> Appreciatively,
>>
>> C.Thomas
>>
>>
>> On 10/23/2011 9:39 AM, Richard Faulkner wrote:
>>
>>> What is the most important feature of the OS? Security? Media support?
>>> Something basic or something w/everything not nailed down?
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> *From*: Richard Bronosky<Richard at Bronosky.com
>>> <mailto:Richard%20Bronosky%20%3cRichard at Bronosky.com%3e>>
>>> *Reply-to*: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts<ale at ale.org>
>>> *To*: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts<ale at ale.org
>>> <mailto:Atlanta%20Linux%20Enthusiasts%20%3cale at ale.org%3e>>
>>> *Subject*: Re: [ale] Linux alternative recommendation ?
>>> *Date*: Sun, 23 Oct 2011 09:02:53 -0400
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> How much storage do you need? Could a flash drive work? 32G or 64G?
>>>
>>> On Oct 23, 2011 8:27 AM, "Courtney Thomas"
>>> <courtneycthomas at bellsouth.net<mailto:courtneycthomas at bellsouth.net>>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>       I'd like to carry a portable Linux USB HD installation for traveling
>>>       with my laptop and would appreciate suggestions, not only for which
>>>       Linux flavor but also which drive.
>>>
>>>       Thanks,
>>>       C.Thomas
>>>
>>>
>>>       --
>>>       "Any people anywhere, being inclined and having the power, have the
>>>       right to rise up, and shake off the existing government, and form a new
>>>       one that suits them better.This is a most valuable - a most sacred right
>>>       - a right, which we hope and believe, is to liberate the world."
>>>       Abraham Lincoln
>>>       "Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire,
>>>       it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."
>>>       George Washington
>>>
>>>