SSD drives - worth the cost for emf-reduction?

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

First of all - I just want to apologize for not being able to contribute to the

group as much as I'd like to. I'm just swamped with energy-draining problems,

it seems - for starters, my " brain fog " has been a nightmare to live with, and

there are signs that my anemia has gotten worse.

Oh well, enough " woe is me " for now. I've seen where a couple of people in the

e.s. community ( Conrad of the Conrad Biologic website for one) has

recommended SSD drives for computers (especially laptops) - because they

supposedly give off less emr emissions than conventional hard-disk drives. I'm

just wondering how signficant these emr reductions are. Is there a big

difference in emr emissions between, say, a 500GB hard drive and a 500GB SSD?

Apple offers SSD options for their Macbook Pros - but the prices for these SSDS

are ridiculously expensive. (It's something like an extra $650 for their 250GB

SSD, and whopping $1,300 for their 500 GB SSD.) For the prices to be so steep,

Apple gives almost *no* information on their SSDs and their supposed advantages

- they only offer the vague phrase that SSDs give " enhanced durability " . That's

it - no statement on increased battery life and/or lower power consumption, no

statement on how SSDs may keep the laptop cooler, or anything. I don't know

what to make of Apple's near-silence on this bank-breaking component - you'd

think that they'd " talk up " such an expensive device more.

I'm just wondering if these " mysterious " SSD drives would lead to a big

difference in my e.s. symptoms. Of all of the laptop components that give off

(bothersome) emissions - how much does a spinning hard drive contribute to this

" electrosmog " ? Are hard drives constantly spinning as long as the

computer/laptop is on - or do they " rest " or stop spinning when they aren't

needed? Is the hard drive even active during Internet activity?

What are the biggest contributers to electrosmog emissions - the wireless card,

CPU, GPU, hard drive, or fans? (It would be nice if each computer component

could be " ranked " according to how much they contribute to bothersome

emissions.)

Btw, I've noticed that there really hasn't been much discussion of SSDs on here

at all - I don't know if that's a sign that people haven't found them that

helpful in terms of e.s. symptoms, or simply because the technology is still in

the " obscure " stages (not to mention the cos$t!).

~Svetaswan

[Guest guest]

I have found 's advice to be excellent.

I have an SSD in one laptop, and I like it.

It is quite small, like 48GB. If you need more

just get an external drive for when you need it.

If you get a non-apple one, make sure it is

the fast kind... I think " single level " or whatever it's called

or the OS will have problems.

If it's for a computer that is going to be more than

5 feet away it may be less of a concern, but

it's not just the motor but also the controller to

be worried about, and that will affect other components.

My machine does not need the fan except with

heavy cpu loads like indexing, so I have spotlight

disabled.

If you've ever had a hard drive fail, an SSD also seems

attractive, although apparently they do wear out over time.

Bill

On Wed, May 5, 2010 at 5:14 AM, svetaswan <svetaswan@...> wrote:

>

>

> Hi all,

>

> First of all - I just want to apologize for not being able to contribute to

> the group as much as I'd like to. I'm just swamped with energy-draining

> problems, it seems - for starters, my " brain fog " has been a nightmare to

> live with, and there are signs that my anemia has gotten worse.

>

> Oh well, enough " woe is me " for now. I've seen where a couple of people in

> the e.s. community ( Conrad of the Conrad Biologic website for one)

> has recommended SSD drives for computers (especially laptops) - because they

> supposedly give off less emr emissions than conventional hard-disk drives.

> I'm just wondering how signficant these emr reductions are. Is there a big

> difference in emr emissions between, say, a 500GB hard drive and a 500GB

> SSD?

>

> Apple offers SSD options for their Macbook Pros - but the prices for these

> SSDS are ridiculously expensive. (It's something like an extra $650 for

> their 250GB SSD, and whopping $1,300 for their 500 GB SSD.) For the prices

> to be so steep, Apple gives almost *no* information on their SSDs and their

> supposed advantages - they only offer the vague phrase that SSDs give

> " enhanced durability " . That's it - no statement on increased battery life

> and/or lower power consumption, no statement on how SSDs may keep the laptop

> cooler, or anything. I don't know what to make of Apple's near-silence on

> this bank-breaking component - you'd think that they'd " talk up " such an

> expensive device more.

>

> I'm just wondering if these " mysterious " SSD drives would lead to a big

> difference in my e.s. symptoms. Of all of the laptop components that give

> off (bothersome) emissions - how much does a spinning hard drive contribute

> to this " electrosmog " ? Are hard drives constantly spinning as long as the

> computer/laptop is on - or do they " rest " or stop spinning when they aren't

> needed? Is the hard drive even active during Internet activity?

>

> What are the biggest contributers to electrosmog emissions - the wireless

> card, CPU, GPU, hard drive, or fans? (It would be nice if each computer

> component could be " ranked " according to how much they contribute to

> bothersome emissions.)

>

> Btw, I've noticed that there really hasn't been much discussion of SSDs on

> here at all - I don't know if that's a sign that people haven't found them

> that helpful in terms of e.s. symptoms, or simply because the technology is

> still in the " obscure " stages (not to mention the cos$t!).

>

> ~Svetaswan

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I know exactly how you feel Svetaswan, I have Lyme disease and the lyme fog I

get from it makes it so hard to do anything.

I think the dell mini 9 I used to own had a ssd drive, Im not 100% sure though

because there were two versions of this computer, one with an ssd and one with a

regular hd, it also had an atom processor. I tried like 9-10 different computers

and this computer like the 3-4th worst one, but again its very possible mine had

a regular HD. Ive read s Conrads website, he also takes the rf noise

into consideration not just the magnetic feild, almost every other website just

talks about and takes the magnetic fields into considerations which IMO is not

what really cause our symptoms its the RF noise.

Im looking into getting a small form factor PC with a SSD drive to replace my

macbook pro. Check out this one which you can get with a SSD

http://us.shuttle.com/x2700.aspx , the only thing for me is that It uses an ATX

connection to attach the power supply I want one with a regular connector so I

can attach a linear power supply

-Cris

[Guest guest]

What about some of the software mentioned not too long ago?  Have you tried

that?  Loni

From: cris_aov <cris_aov@...>

Subject: Re: SSD drives - worth the cost for emf-reduction?

Date: Wednesday, May 5, 2010, 10:16 PM

 

I know exactly how you feel Svetaswan, I have Lyme disease and the lyme fog I

get from it makes it so hard to do anything.

I think the dell mini 9 I used to own had a ssd drive, Im not 100% sure though

because there were two versions of this computer, one with an ssd and one with a

regular hd, it also had an atom processor. I tried like 9-10 different computers

and this computer like the 3-4th worst one, but again its very possible mine had

a regular HD. Ive read s Conrads website, he also takes the rf noise into

consideration not just the magnetic feild, almost every other website just talks

about and takes the magnetic fields into considerations which IMO is not what

really cause our symptoms its the RF noise.

Im looking into getting a small form factor PC with a SSD drive to replace my

macbook pro. Check out this one which you can get with a SSD http://us.shuttle.

com/x2700. aspx , the only thing for me is that It uses an ATX connection to

attach the power supply I want one with a regular connector so I can attach a

linear power supply

-Cris

[Guest guest]

I can't say I have a good understanding of components like disk " controllers " -

but from the little I've read, don't all types of disk drives - not just HDDs -

have controllers? Or do HDD controllers produce more emr than SSD controllers?

And I hope SSDs are good for at least 6 years of use - preferably more (I got 7

good years out of my 2001 Gateway, and I expect an Apple to last at least that

long). I guess that's the downside of a SSD (besides the cost) - after a

lifetime of HDDs, you're entering the great unknown of how SSDs perform

(especially over the long-term). But I hope their long-term durability would

not be an issue for me - after all, the only two words that Apple utters about

its SSDs are " enhanced durability " , lol.

What I really wish is that Apple offered the SSD option for their Mac Minis - as

I've been considering this computer more than the Macbook Pro, actually. A Mac

Mini would seemingly better foster the option of attaching a (tolerable)

external display, plus the separate keyboard/mouse (w/ USB extender cables) - so

I can sit at a greater distance from the computer. (Not sure if I would be able

to get 5 feet from it, though.) And I don't like that Macbook Pros only have 2

USB drives (3 if you opt for the back-breakingly expensive 17 " model).

Perhaps there is a way in which I can get a SSD inside of a Mac Mini without

voiding the warranty. I wonder how flexible Apple would be if I spoke with them

about my situation and whether or not they could put a SSD inside of a Mac Mini

for me?

~Svetaswan

>

> >

> >

> > Hi all,

> >

> > First of all - I just want to apologize for not being able to contribute to

> > the group as much as I'd like to. I'm just swamped with energy-draining

> > problems, it seems - for starters, my " brain fog " has been a nightmare to

> > live with, and there are signs that my anemia has gotten worse.

> >

> > Oh well, enough " woe is me " for now. I've seen where a couple of people in

> > the e.s. community ( Conrad of the Conrad Biologic website for one)

> > has recommended SSD drives for computers (especially laptops) - because they

> > supposedly give off less emr emissions than conventional hard-disk drives.

> > I'm just wondering how signficant these emr reductions are. Is there a big

> > difference in emr emissions between, say, a 500GB hard drive and a 500GB

> > SSD?

> >

> > Apple offers SSD options for their Macbook Pros - but the prices for these

> > SSDS are ridiculously expensive. (It's something like an extra $650 for

> > their 250GB SSD, and whopping $1,300 for their 500 GB SSD.) For the prices

> > to be so steep, Apple gives almost *no* information on their SSDs and their

> > supposed advantages - they only offer the vague phrase that SSDs give

> > " enhanced durability " . That's it - no statement on increased battery life

> > and/or lower power consumption, no statement on how SSDs may keep the laptop

> > cooler, or anything. I don't know what to make of Apple's near-silence on

> > this bank-breaking component - you'd think that they'd " talk up " such an

> > expensive device more.

> >

> > I'm just wondering if these " mysterious " SSD drives would lead to a big

> > difference in my e.s. symptoms. Of all of the laptop components that give

> > off (bothersome) emissions - how much does a spinning hard drive contribute

> > to this " electrosmog " ? Are hard drives constantly spinning as long as the

> > computer/laptop is on - or do they " rest " or stop spinning when they aren't

> > needed? Is the hard drive even active during Internet activity?

> >

> > What are the biggest contributers to electrosmog emissions - the wireless

> > card, CPU, GPU, hard drive, or fans? (It would be nice if each computer

> > component could be " ranked " according to how much they contribute to

> > bothersome emissions.)

> >

> > Btw, I've noticed that there really hasn't been much discussion of SSDs on

> > here at all - I don't know if that's a sign that people haven't found them

> > that helpful in terms of e.s. symptoms, or simply because the technology is

> > still in the " obscure " stages (not to mention the cos$t!).

> >

> > ~Svetaswan

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi - sorry to hear about your Lyme disease. I can certainly empathize.

That computer you provided a link to looks good - it reminds me of the Asrock

Nettop Ion 330 small-form-factor computers....which at least one person on

has found quite satisfactory from an emf-standpoint.

One of the issues for me would be the unfamiliar operating system - but you are

probably a lot more computer savvy than I am so it may not be a problem for you.

Also, I don't have enough knowledge and savviness to be confident that that

computer would remain " enough computer " several years down the road. You may be

knowledgable enough to work within that " tight window " and get the most

performance out of that Intel Atom processor for years to come. Me, I'm so

unsure and uncertain that I would feel more secure with a faster processor, etc.

And I just don't know enough about graphics/GPUs to be able to tightly balance

voltage with performance.

You mentioned that you had pretty bad luck with a certain Dell computer - I've

had my own problems with a Dell laptop, so I can relate there. But could this

Dell computer lead to a better experience? Dell has come out with its Optiplex

980 (desktop) line - it's a " business " line, but I suppose individuals could

purchase them for home use as well. These towers are pretty large - but there

is a relatively " small " version available. These computers are supposedly the

first to comply with the latest, strictest " TCO " standards - TCO is a

Swedish-based certification system that supposedly (among other things) sets

limits on the electromagnetic emissions of a device:

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/tcodevelopment/40807/

I wonder how helpful these TCO standards are for e.s.'ers? Does TCO take into

account radio-frequency emissions along with the more commonly-measured

low-frequency electromagnetic emmissions?

Anyway, it seems fairly promising. And I noticed that, on the Dell website, a

vast array of configurable options are offered for the Optiplex 980 computers.

You can get not only one, but two, 128GB SSDs put into these computers. And

Dell gives more info on the supposed benefits of their SSDs than Apple does -

specfically mentioning that they are cooler-running, use 96% less power than

regular 3.5 " HDDs, etc.:

http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?c=us & cs=555 & l=en & oc=MLB1911 & s\

=biz

These are higher-powered systems than the " true " small-form factor computers

such as the one you linked - but then again, my 2001 Gateway tower was

" high-power " compared to my Dell laptop, and it didn't seem to give me anywhere

near the problems that this laptop has.

I just wish there was a way I could walk into a " Dell Store " and test these

computers in person.

~Svetaswan

>

> I know exactly how you feel Svetaswan, I have Lyme disease and the lyme fog I

get from it makes it so hard to do anything.

>

> I think the dell mini 9 I used to own had a ssd drive, Im not 100% sure though

because there were two versions of this computer, one with an ssd and one with a

regular hd, it also had an atom processor. I tried like 9-10 different computers

and this computer like the 3-4th worst one, but again its very possible mine had

a regular HD. Ive read s Conrads website, he also takes the rf noise

into consideration not just the magnetic feild, almost every other website just

talks about and takes the magnetic fields into considerations which IMO is not

what really cause our symptoms its the RF noise.

>

> Im looking into getting a small form factor PC with a SSD drive to replace my

macbook pro. Check out this one which you can get with a SSD

http://us.shuttle.com/x2700.aspx , the only thing for me is that It uses an ATX

connection to attach the power supply I want one with a regular connector so I

can attach a linear power supply

>

> -Cris

>

[Guest guest]

Oh, and I also like the fact that the " Shuttle " small form factor p.c. uses PS/2

connectors for the keyboard/mouse - you hardly ever see that anymore.

~Svetaswan

>

> I know exactly how you feel Svetaswan, I have Lyme disease and the lyme fog I

get from it makes it so hard to do anything.

>

> I think the dell mini 9 I used to own had a ssd drive, Im not 100% sure though

because there were two versions of this computer, one with an ssd and one with a

regular hd, it also had an atom processor. I tried like 9-10 different computers

and this computer like the 3-4th worst one, but again its very possible mine had

a regular HD. Ive read s Conrads website, he also takes the rf noise

into consideration not just the magnetic feild, almost every other website just

talks about and takes the magnetic fields into considerations which IMO is not

what really cause our symptoms its the RF noise.

>

> Im looking into getting a small form factor PC with a SSD drive to replace my

macbook pro. Check out this one which you can get with a SSD

http://us.shuttle.com/x2700.aspx , the only thing for me is that It uses an ATX

connection to attach the power supply I want one with a regular connector so I

can attach a linear power supply

>

> -Cris

>

[Guest guest]

There are actually multiple controllers, but dc motors have controllers (or

possibly worse, brushes) and those are the ones worth avoiding in this case

with a HD.

I'm a bit surprised they don't offer a SSD on the mini by now.

Bill

On Fri, May 7, 2010 at 3:05 AM, svetaswan <svetaswan@...> wrote:

>

>

>

>

> I can't say I have a good understanding of components like disk

> " controllers " - but from the little I've read, don't all types of disk

> drives - not just HDDs - have controllers? Or do HDD controllers produce

> more emr than SSD controllers?

>

> And I hope SSDs are good for at least 6 years of use - preferably more (I

> got 7 good years out of my 2001 Gateway, and I expect an Apple to last at

> least that long). I guess that's the downside of a SSD (besides the cost) -

> after a lifetime of HDDs, you're entering the great unknown of how SSDs

> perform (especially over the long-term). But I hope their long-term

> durability would not be an issue for me - after all, the only two words that

> Apple utters about its SSDs are " enhanced durability " , lol.

>

> What I really wish is that Apple offered the SSD option for their Mac Minis

> - as I've been considering this computer more than the Macbook Pro,

> actually. A Mac Mini would seemingly better foster the option of attaching a

> (tolerable) external display, plus the separate keyboard/mouse (w/ USB

> extender cables) - so I can sit at a greater distance from the computer.

> (Not sure if I would be able to get 5 feet from it, though.) And I don't

> like that Macbook Pros only have 2 USB drives (3 if you opt for the

> back-breakingly expensive 17 " model).

>

> Perhaps there is a way in which I can get a SSD inside of a Mac Mini

> without voiding the warranty. I wonder how flexible Apple would be if I

> spoke with them about my situation and whether or not they could put a SSD

> inside of a Mac Mini for me?

>

> ~Svetaswan

>

>

>

> >

> > >

> > >

> > > Hi all,

> > >

> > > First of all - I just want to apologize for not being able to

> contribute to

> > > the group as much as I'd like to. I'm just swamped with energy-draining

> > > problems, it seems - for starters, my " brain fog " has been a nightmare

> to

> > > live with, and there are signs that my anemia has gotten worse.

> > >

> > > Oh well, enough " woe is me " for now. I've seen where a couple of people

> in

> > > the e.s. community ( Conrad of the Conrad Biologic website for

> one)

> > > has recommended SSD drives for computers (especially laptops) - because

> they

> > > supposedly give off less emr emissions than conventional hard-disk

> drives.

> > > I'm just wondering how signficant these emr reductions are. Is there a

> big

> > > difference in emr emissions between, say, a 500GB hard drive and a

> 500GB

> > > SSD?

> > >

> > > Apple offers SSD options for their Macbook Pros - but the prices for

> these

> > > SSDS are ridiculously expensive. (It's something like an extra $650 for

> > > their 250GB SSD, and whopping $1,300 for their 500 GB SSD.) For the

> prices

> > > to be so steep, Apple gives almost *no* information on their SSDs and

> their

> > > supposed advantages - they only offer the vague phrase that SSDs give

> > > " enhanced durability " . That's it - no statement on increased battery

> life

> > > and/or lower power consumption, no statement on how SSDs may keep the

> laptop

> > > cooler, or anything. I don't know what to make of Apple's near-silence

> on

> > > this bank-breaking component - you'd think that they'd " talk up " such

> an

> > > expensive device more.

> > >

> > > I'm just wondering if these " mysterious " SSD drives would lead to a big

> > > difference in my e.s. symptoms. Of all of the laptop components that

> give

> > > off (bothersome) emissions - how much does a spinning hard drive

> contribute

> > > to this " electrosmog " ? Are hard drives constantly spinning as long as

> the

> > > computer/laptop is on - or do they " rest " or stop spinning when they

> aren't

> > > needed? Is the hard drive even active during Internet activity?

> > >

> > > What are the biggest contributers to electrosmog emissions - the

> wireless

> > > card, CPU, GPU, hard drive, or fans? (It would be nice if each computer

> > > component could be " ranked " according to how much they contribute to

> > > bothersome emissions.)

> > >

> > > Btw, I've noticed that there really hasn't been much discussion of SSDs

> on

> > > here at all - I don't know if that's a sign that people haven't found

> them

> > > that helpful in terms of e.s. symptoms, or simply because the

> technology is

> > > still in the " obscure " stages (not to mention the cos$t!).

> > >

> > > ~Svetaswan

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >