The "To Keep Up" Wiki

Potpourri: Portable Software, Fast 1TB Thumb Drive, BackMarket for refurb equipment, and more

The team discussed the way to use portable apps, a website for monitoring website availability. They also explored the use of refurbished devices, free movie streaming sites, and the importance of choosing reliable brands for storage devices. Lastly, they touched on the potential for data loss with certain internal components and the need for surge protection.

Drew presented a dynamic presentation on portable apps, which are applications that can be run from a flash drive without being installed on a computer. He demonstrated how to add a new app to the portable apps directory and how to use it. Seth raised concerns about running sensitive information on other people's computers, to which Drew responded that he doesn't run password managers on unfamiliar devices. Peter suggested that the installer must have some sort of flags in it that talks with the portable apps, understands, and organizes it. The team also discussed the use of antivirus programs in portable apps.

Drew shared a Microsoft app called Mouse Highlight that enlarges the cursor for better visibility during presentations. Steve discussed a website called Uptime Robot https://uptimerobot.com that monitors website availability and sends alerts when a site goes down. He also introduced a 1TB USB drive for faster data transfer (Amazon B0DCJMK9SN), emphasizing the need for a USB 3.2 port for optimal performance. Seth questioned the speed of the USB drive compared to an internal SSD, but Steve suggested comparing the speeds to determine the best option.

Steve discussed the performance and pricing of a the 1TB USB drive, noting that the price had dropped from $100 to $84.99. Drew shared his experience with the device, stating that the new one was significantly faster than the old one. Steve also mentioned the possibility of holding off on buying the device if prices continue to drop. Drew emphasized the value of time when transferring data, suggesting that the device could save time compared to an old-fashioned flash drive. Steve mentioned the Camel Camel Camel website https://camelcamelcamel.com that tracks the history of pricing of Amazon products; all you need to track a product is Amazon's B code that you extract from the Amazon URL (e.g., the B0DCJMK9SN from an Amazon URL like https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCJMK9SN/)

Steve discussed the possibility of purchasing refurbished devices from various sources, including the manufacturer's site (e.g, for Apple, https://www.apple.com/shop/refurbished), Amazon https://amazon.com, and Back Market https://backmarket.com. He highlighted the benefits of these options; Amazon offers 30 day return policy and a paid “protection plan”, and both Back Market and Apple also offer 30 day return and 1 year warranty. Peter and Seth shared their experiences and opinions on the quality of refurbished devices, emphasizing the importance of choosing a reputable source. They also discussed the potential risks and the need for caution when purchasing refurbished items.

Steve discussed various free movie streaming sites (from MakeUseOf https://www.makeuseof.com/no-login-no-fees-free-movie-sites/ and a website called Proto Page https://protopage.com that allows users to customize their homepage with widgets and bookmarks. Peter suggested caution with ad-supported sites and mentioned that Proto Page is not portable [ProtoPage is indeed available for all browsers]. Seth agreed with Peter's point about ad-supported sites and suggested that the list of sites might include some less legitimate options.

The team discussed the use of dynamic widgets and the importance of choosing reliable brands for storage devices. They also discussed the potential for data loss with certain internal components and the need for surge protection.