After being completely frustrated with an HP tx2000z running Vista 64-bit I decided to try an Apple computer. I have a page about my Mac experience. I decided to get a Mac mini because:

1. It was physically very small. Only about 6 inches square and 2 inches high. Plus a power supply about the same size.
2. I didn't want another lap top. Portablility is their feature but with it comes: charging batteries and un-plugging everything if you use its portability.
3. I have another older DOS computer that I love and wanted to get a flat pannel display that could serve it and an Apple computer. I bought a Samsung 23 inch display with both analog and digital display--it is a gem. I would recommend it to anyone buying a computer monitor.

I plugged the Mac mini's power cord into my "Watts Up". Much to my delight and surprise when it is in "Sleep mode" it is only using a couple tenths of a watt! And it almost immediately comes to life when I turn on the keyboard. I have Apple's cordless mouse and keyboard. The mouse has 2 AA batteries and the keyboard has 3, I find they last 4 to 6 months. The mouse automatically sleeps when the keyboard is off and I have clicked on "Sleep". I virtually never turn the Mac mini off, but I do turn the display and an old Heathkit amplifier when I don't expect to use them for an hour or so. Apple has really gone out to make the Mac mini efficient. A fellow at the Santa Clara Apple store told me the Mac Mini is the most efficient computer in the world today. I wouldn't argue with him!

Last of June 2009 Apple reduced the price of their iMac's and beefed them up a bit. I decided to buy a 24 inch iMac--It is all built into what looks like a rather large monitor. Here is Apple's page about it. Except for a wireless mouse and keyboard I got the standard (cheapest) 24 inch iMac. If you read my experience link above you know I don't think it is perfect.

Here is why I decided to create this page.

I have bought 2 different Western Digital external hard drives to use for back-ups. Apple's Operating system: Leopard & now Snow Leopard, comes with an application they call "Time Machine" which I am not keen on. It wants to have a dedicated external hard drive to make a back-up on once every hour. I don't like that, I know when I have done something I wouldn't want to lose; then and only then I want the new stuff backed up. Apple's software writers think they are God, and force everyone to do what they think is cute and/or nice. Dam it, it is my computer and I should be able to have it do what I want period. But Apple software doesn't work that way! Sorry, I get distracted. http://www.osxfaq.com/Tutorials/LearningCenter/index.ws

I first bought A Western Digital "Passport Essential Portable Hard Drive, 250 GB". It is hardly larger than a deck of playing cards and plugs into a USB port--it gets its power from the USB port. I set it up dedicated to "Time Machine". The initial back up takes about 45 minutes backing up about 532,922 items. I was neither surprised or disappointed the first time it is backing up everything.

But when I put the iMac in sleep mode, instead of taking the 1.6 watts it has always taken before; it is now taking about 6 watts! Yes, the damn WD drive is taking 4 times the power to do nothing than the iMac is taking to keep everything I have been doing and spring into action! The WD drive has no switches so I would be wearing out the USB connector if I wanted my computer to be anyway near as efficient as it was before!

So I decided to get a "Fire-Wire" external drive

I went back to the Apple Store, and bought a Western Digital "My Book Studio Edition" 1 Terabyte. It has its own AC connector, and FireWire 800, plus USB connections. AND, a power Switch. Well, much to my surprise:

• The feeble instruction don't mention the power switch except for the "eSATA" connection. They simple say/show: plug in the power adapter and the USB or FireWire 800 cable. It came with cables for: USB, FireWire 800 to FireWire 800, and FireWire 800 to FireWire 400 cables.

  So, I follow the instructions, and simply plugged it in using the 800 to 800 cable. The iMac see's it and things look fine. So I put the iMac in "Sleep". But wait! The iMac is now using 6 Watts, instead of its typical 1.5

  I call WD technical support. I sort of feel sorry for the guy. He is oblicated to support the product. He tries to convince me the drive will stop spinning when the iMac is in sleep. But, I have observed that. Ultimately, he agrees the Power Switch is ignored!

  On the box it says: "30% more energy efficient than standard systems." Obviously, Marketing Bull; see my experience with an "Adaptec" enclosed drive below.

• I un-plug the WD's AC adapter. The iMac is still drawing 6 Watts.
• I put the iMac in "Shut Down". But with the WD drive plugged in it is still drawing 6 Watts.
• I pull the 800 connector from the WD drive. The iMac power falls to about 0.1 Watt. This is norman when it is "Shut Down". Its' power supply has to supply enough energy to keep its power button alive.

Well folks, that is the end of the story; and the last a Westerm Digital external drive has been plugged into my Apple computers.

I should point out: Before I bought any WD drives, I used a Segate Ultra ATA/100 7200 RPM 300 GB internal hard drive in an Adeptec external enclosure that has FireWire 400 and USB connections. AND a power Switch that works. I had used it with the FireWire 400 connection to the iMac, and when I switched the external drive OFF the iMac power consumption was like it was not there. I bought the WD drives to take with me and leave in Quartzsite, AZ.

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