| Pages in topic: < [1 2] | Computer for a starting translator Thread poster: Rasa Mikalauskaite
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Oliver Walter 
United Kingdom
Local time: 23:12
German to English
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Making backups is essential because of what would otherwise happen if you accidentally delete something important, the computer's storage device (hard disk, or perhaps solid-state drive) fails, or the computer is stolen. A further reason could be so that you can recover if your computer becomes infected with a virus of the type that encrypts the drive contents, but of course you use your skeptical brain when looking at emails (and perhaps anti-virus software) to ensure that no such virus ever in... See more Making backups is essential because of what would otherwise happen if you accidentally delete something important, the computer's storage device (hard disk, or perhaps solid-state drive) fails, or the computer is stolen. A further reason could be so that you can recover if your computer becomes infected with a virus of the type that encrypts the drive contents, but of course you use your skeptical brain when looking at emails (and perhaps anti-virus software) to ensure that no such virus ever infects your computer.
Because of the possible problems with local external disks and cloud backups mentioned in the earlier posts, the answer is obvious: have both types!
Backup to the "cloud" can be made automatic, but it won't happen when you're not Internet-connected (e.g. your router fails or you're working on a laptop in an underground train).
Backup to a plug-in drive can, I suppose be automatic (but I haven't investigated) or you can do it manually or semi-automatically with a program such as FreeFileSync. If you want to be extra sure and/or not use the cloud, you can have two drives (each of which can be either a hard disk or a flash memory stick - they are both cheaper per GB than they were a few years ago). You can then back up to them both or in alternation, and I would suggest keeping them in separate locations (at least, different rooms). To guard against theft when you're not at home, use a flash memory stick and keep it in your pocket, and then back up to the hard disk (if you use one of each) when you return home.
Oliver ▲ Collapse
| | | | Heinrich Pesch
Finland
Local time: 01:12
Member (2003)
Finnish to German
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| HP ProBook 4720s and Win7 | Aug 25, 2014 |
Usually I buy a new laptop every three years, but this I intend to use longer. I exchanged the hard disc with a 500 GB SSD drive, which presently is listed for about 200 Euro. In any case I recommend to switch to SSD completely, it is so much faster in all situations. I added also RAM to 8 GB. It is in fact easy to exchange components on a laptop, there are very detailed instructions on the HP support site.
For us translators ergonomy is most important. I use an external keyboard together ... See more Usually I buy a new laptop every three years, but this I intend to use longer. I exchanged the hard disc with a 500 GB SSD drive, which presently is listed for about 200 Euro. In any case I recommend to switch to SSD completely, it is so much faster in all situations. I added also RAM to 8 GB. It is in fact easy to exchange components on a laptop, there are very detailed instructions on the HP support site.
For us translators ergonomy is most important. I use an external keyboard together with a RollerMouse Pro pointing device attached under my desc (on a computer tray from Ikea, 19 Euro). I also have a second monitor, but use it only sparsely.
I only backup twice a year. I never had any computer breakdown, and with SSD a hard disc crash is out of the question. I store images and backups on an external hard disc drive. My system information tells me drive C 326 GB free of 465 GB.
The virus issue is overstated, I have AVG AntiVirus Free edition and never any problem with viruses. ▲ Collapse
| | | | Rasa Mikalauskaite
Belgium
Local time: 00:12
Member (2016)
Dutch to Lithuanian
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TOPIC STARTER | Thank you all | Aug 28, 2014 |
More than I expected, I thank you all:)
I will remember that RAM size is important (I do use CAT software) as well as backup capacity. I guess I will check out Lenovo (I'm probably too old to switch to Mac...:)
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 00:12
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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Samuel Murray wrote: And since my "professional" laptop broke a while ago and I haven't bought a new one yet, I took an old "charity shop" laptop with me on my month-long holiday recently: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ua_dZ7WhcXQ (and the only problem was that Trados 2007 thought that it was a demo version).
Not much of a holiday if have to use Trados, is it...
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 00:12
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
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| Much of a holiday | Aug 29, 2014 |
Orrin Cummins wrote: Samuel Murray wrote:
And since my "professional" laptop broke a while ago and I haven't bought a new one yet, I took an old "charity shop" laptop with me on my month-long holiday recently ... (and the only problem was that Trados 2007 thought that it was a demo version). Not much of a holiday if have to use Trados, is it...
"Month-long holiday" for freelancers means "moving the office to an exotic location for a while".
| | | | Samuel Murray
Netherlands
Local time: 00:12
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
Heinrich Pesch wrote:
I only backup twice a year. I never had any computer breakdown, and with SSD a hard disc crash is out of the question.
The "disk" part of the SSD may be less prone to breaking, but the controller circuit board can short out, and then the SSD is a paperweight. I used to back up twice a year... until the disk crashed.
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