USB External 2.5” Hard drive (2-ish):
Purposes: “File transfer and workhorse” aka ‘The mule’
Caliber: (1) IBM 10GB (2) Western Digital 60GB – Running: Ubuntu 8.10 Desktop: GNOME (Default) Fluxbox (Preferred)
Specifications: (1) The 10GB may be small, but I’ve packed a lot of dynamite into this one. While in class, I can boot it, read Power Points and surf the internet (and slip some time in to play games!) It’s running the latest Crunchbang (9.04) Lite. It’s been stripped of Openbox and now sports a more functional (but still light) XFCE desktop/window manger. There is nothing that cannot be done from this device: Filezilla, Firefox, VLC, OpenOffice.org, Terminator, Irssi, ZSNES, – the defaults, and then ‘the works’! It is my main ‘in-between-work-school-and-home’ Linux device. (2) The 60GB’s main function is to contain my music and movies (and it is rapidly filling up!). If I wasn’t sacred to move the music then I would use it to ‘mirror’/backup my laptop. It was my main laptop drive, but after my Windows OS crashed, I turned it Ubuntu (8.10). It still has most of its defaults, and a few more add ons since (at one point) it was my main device.
Cons: Fragile (DO NOT drop, shake, or expose to moisture). Some computers may not allow/be able to boot from USB. May require extra power and/or two USB ports. The cables: at least one USB cable is needed.
Pros: Lots of space. Allows for all of your home/desktop activities with out much of a compromise. Can be used at as laptop hard drive if ‘decommissioned’. The bigger the hard drive, the more pictures, file, and (legal) music you can save/download while not at home.
'The file-keeper' and 'The Mule'
Totals: (5-6 ) Bootable OS solutions, but why? I must admit, I’m not a Linux ’suicide-bomber’ who must, under no circumstances, ever lay a finger on a Windows (Or Mac) machine.*** I DO however like using an operating system that works and one that I can (easily) carry around with me. I like the freedom of taking my desktop/life/work with me where ever I go. I like the freedom of being able to control and customize every aspect of my OS. And I love having an OS solution for the everyday ‘tech problems’ Mr. Easter (one) might face. Need to configure a router and the host computer is too slow? Pop in the (a) Live Cd. Not finishing typing an essay on your huge, definitely-not-portable desktop computer? Copy said essay (and any other work that might need to get done) over to your USB Flash drive, boot it at a library computer, put the finishing touches on it, and email to teacher. Or, if you prefer the functionality, portability and speed of a laptop, but you don’t prefer lugging it around, invest in a 2.5′ external hard drive. This will allow you to do everything thing you would do at home, with higher speed capacities than a Live Cd or Flash drive (and as a plus, if your external hard drive has enough room, why not bring your home music collection? :-] ).
My Linux Arsenal
Interested in becoming a mobile Linux arsenal? Check out Mr. Easter’s tutorials on, picking the right Live Cd, installing Linux on a USB flash Drive, and tips on making your 2.5” external hard drive mobile.
* Why am I saying ‘urban community’, like I’m of in Hollywood? *Ha*
** The crashing of my old OS (Windows XP) … back then it was sad. Now it’s a little funny Check out the post. :-]
*** I am not a “Linux suicide-bomber,” but I do happen to be committed!
