IBM TotalStorage DS300 Model 1701-1RS

Advantages: Quite a fast drive.
Disadvantages: One of the "Deathstar" drives.

...there was a firmware update issued (I certainly didn't until I stumbled onto it by accident - and there's not that much important info that gets past me on the net - nice advertising job there IBM!). So you probably want the firmware update to fix this problem if you have one of these drives. Don't bother searching on IBM's website as it's surprisingly useless. I had to google to a website about how bad the drives were to find a link to the fix back on IBM's site!! So here are the two sites: http://www.pheuron.de/index.htm?deathstar.htm IBM Identification utility (which tells you if an update is needed and how): http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?rs=0&q=DTLA&uid=psg1MIGR-44195 ** SUMMARY ** Maybe only the good or lucky drives are left alive now. Patch the firmware up if you haven't already (it's pretty straightforward, just follow... Read review

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Advantages: Very versatile mid range server
Disadvantages: support web site can be awkward to navigate

...and and 4 143GB 15K disks for the data configured as RAID5 (with the addition of an IBM 7k RAID card) with a hot spare. This gives a 73GB OS partition which should be ample for most SBS installations including the exchange store. I tend to find that most SBS base builds come to about 20GB once everything is installed. This leaves just over 50GB for the exchange store and page file. The data partition would then be about 250GB which should be ample for most SMB's. Inside the server is just as good and as this model has the dual power supplies installed I would imagine it also comes with 6 cooling fans. If you see a cheaper price for the same model make sure it has dual supplies. There is a thick perspex cover directing air from 2 of the fans over the CPU and memory slots whilst two fans at the bottom suck air through the hard drive bays... Read review

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Advantages: Flatpanel : take up little space. Great quality sound.
Disadvantages: Simplistic design, slightly flimsy. Lack of volume/treble/bass switches. Expensive.

...Introduction Late last month, I was asked to build a high quality PC for a friend. I don't just mean high quality internal components either, the guy wanted a high definition monitor, top class keyboard and optical mouse...and yeah you guessed it : brilliant speakers. Being only used to purchasing speakers for under 20 quid, I was rather stumped when he asked for speakers in the 50 pounds and up range. So off I went, scouring the computer fairs of the northwest in search of some super speakers. Eventually I came across a stall which seemed to specialise in input components and speakers. After browsing for awhile I caught sight of the IBM multimedia speaker box. The first thing I noticed was the pricetag, a rather hefty 59.99 pounds. I'm no pro regarding speaker specs, but a quick scan of the back of the box convinced me... Read review

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