jay dryden dot net

Our sources have recently discovered that Apple is quietly preparing to introduce a low-cost backup solution for Mac users. Pictured below is the tentatively-titled “iSave” hard drive.

Targeted at the laptop-user, the iSave contains a 60 GB, 5200 rpm IBM/Hitachi 2.5″ hard drive with an 8 MB cache. Most likely, Apple decided to use a 2.5″ drive to conserve the pricier 1.8″ drives manufactured by Toshiba for the higher-margin iPod line. As would be expected, the device features LRF support. The iSave’s street price is estimated to be $125.

At 0.5 x 2.9 x5.0 in., the iSave (shown below with Cruzer thumb drive and keys for size comparison) is slightly larger than an iPod.

Before Apple’s attorneys get too excited and start filing more lawsuits, I have a confession to make: the “iSave” was created in my tech lab garage. While the case does contain the above-descibed hard drive, Apple’s only involvement was to provide inspiration through my iBook G4.

The project started life as a purple powder-coated magnesium/aluminum alloy case that I found for $12 through Pricewatch. Transforming it to the iSave required the following steps:

1. Sanding the case to remove the powder-coated finish,
2. Applying 2 coats of spray primer and 3 coats of white spray paint, with a wet sanding using 600 grit sandpaper between each application,
3. Cutting a template of the Apple logo into Frisket masking film. Many thanks to my brother-in-law, Roy, whose advice was invaluable both at this stage and when I was trying to clean up pictures of my project using PhotoShop. An early (rejected) example of the template is here:

4. Painting the logo with dove grey paint, then wet sanding with 2,000 grit sandpaper,
5. Applying 2 coats of clear spray enamel, then wet sanding with 2,000 grit sandpaper, and
6. Polishing the case with polishing compound. Once the case has cured for a few weeks, I will finish the polishing process with some cleaner wax.

The drive has 2 partitions: a 10 GB FAT32 partition for sharing files with Windoze machines and a 47 GB HFS+J partition for backing up the iBook.

For those of you who have made it this far (hi, Dad!), here is a view of the case in its original purple form:

Call me one of the crazy ones for “thinking different“, but I think the iSave was a project well worth the time spent.