In 2004, a blogger explored creating a striped RAID array using four USB floppy drives under OS X. Driven by curiosity and a desire for slightly faster floppy access, they used the then-available Disk Utility to create a RAID 0 set. While the resulting "RAID" technically worked and offered a minor performance boost over a single floppy, the setup was complex, prone to errors due to the floppies' unreliability, and ultimately impractical. The author concluded the experiment was more of a fun exploration of system capabilities than a genuinely useful storage solution.
Perma.cc is a web archiving service designed to create permanent, verifiable links to online content. It combats link rot by archiving web pages and generating short, stable URLs that redirect to the captured version. This ensures cited material remains accessible even if the original source disappears or is altered. Perma.cc prioritizes authenticity and verifiability, allowing users to view archived page metadata and confirm its integrity. The service is primarily aimed at legal professionals, academics, and journalists who need reliable citations, but is available to anyone concerned with preserving web content.
Hacker News commenters generally praised Perma.cc for its mission of preserving web links. Several pointed out the crucial role such a service plays in academic citations and legal contexts where link rot can severely hamper research and due diligence. Some expressed concerns about the cost and closed-source nature of the platform, suggesting alternatives like archive.today or IPFS. A few users discussed the technical aspects of Perma.cc, touching upon its architecture and storage mechanisms, while others debated the efficacy and long-term sustainability of centralized archiving solutions. The closed-source nature was a recurring theme, with commenters wishing for more transparency or a community-driven alternative. Finally, some discussed the legal implications of web archiving and the potential for copyright disputes.
Trevor Traynor's photo series "Newsstands, 2012-2019" documents the disappearing presence of New York City newsstands over seven years. The photos capture the diverse and often cluttered character of these small businesses, showcasing their role as a microcosm of city life. The project subtly highlights the changing urban landscape and the decline of print media as many of the featured stands eventually vanish, leaving behind empty sidewalks. The series serves as a visual elegy for a fading piece of New York's cultural fabric.
Hacker News users generally praised the photography and nostalgic feel of the "Newsstands" project. Several commenters shared personal anecdotes about their experiences with newsstands, highlighting their role as community hubs and lamenting their decline. Some discussed the changing media landscape and the impact of digital news on print publications, which contributed to the disappearance of these businesses. A few users pointed out technical aspects of the photographs, like the consistent framing and lighting, while others appreciated the project's focus on a specific, vanishing piece of urban life. A couple of New Yorkers offered insights into the continued existence (albeit diminished) of newsstands in the city, noting their evolution towards selling snacks and beverages.
Summary of Comments ( 7 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43699301
Hacker News users reacted with a mix of nostalgia and amusement to the 2004 article about creating a striped RAID array from USB floppy drives. Several commenters reminisced about the era's slow transfer speeds and the impracticality of the setup, highlighting the significant advancements in storage technology since then. Some appreciated the ingenuity and "mad science" aspect of the project, while others questioned its real-world usefulness. A few pointed out the potential data integrity issues with floppy disks, making the RAID setup even less reliable. The dominant sentiment was one of lighthearted appreciation for a bygone era of computing.
The Hacker News post titled "USB Floppy Disk Striped RAID Under OS X (2004)" links to a archived blog post about creating a striped RAID array using USB floppy drives. The discussion on Hacker News is fairly brief, consisting of only a few comments, and doesn't delve deeply into the technical aspects.
One commenter expresses amusement and nostalgia, calling it "peak 2000s," highlighting the era's fascination with pushing the boundaries of then-current technology, even if the results were impractical. They also mention how the project embodies the hacker spirit of playful experimentation.
Another comment points out the absurdity of the setup in terms of performance, noting that the combined throughput of multiple floppy drives would still be incredibly slow compared to even a single hard drive of the time. This comment underscores the impracticality of the project while still acknowledging the ingenuity and entertainment value.
Finally, a commenter reminisces about the era of modifying and experimenting with hardware, contrasting it with the more locked-down nature of modern devices. This comment adds a layer of reflection on how technology has evolved and the changing landscape of user involvement with hardware.
In summary, the comments are primarily focused on the nostalgic and humorous aspects of the original blog post, reflecting on the ingenuity and sometimes impractical nature of early 2000s tech experimentation. There is no substantial technical discussion or debate in the comments.