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Amiga News and Community Announcements => Amiga News and Community Announcements => Announcements and Press Releases => Topic started by: kwoodall on December 18, 2003, 07:01:49 AM
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Case modders rejoice! The analogue hard drive activity meter, MoJoMeter, is on sale for the holidays!
The MoJoMeter is a analogue panel meter that can be added by anyone with a minor amount of skill to their computer case. The 'meter gives you an analogue display of your hard drive activity and is self-illuminating with a cool-blue glow. When drive activity is heavy, a red 'warning' light will also illuminate!
You can buy the MoJoMeter's from the web site of the co-inventor at www.retrosystem.com anytime during the holidays. Kermit Woodall, of Nova Design fame, and Joe Torre - electronics wizard, are the men behind the meter.
Resellers may contact kermit@novadesign.com for information on quantity purchases.
Kermit Woodall
www.retrosystem.com
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Here is a working link to the site and the meter thanks to Google!
http://www.retrosystem.com/hdmeter.shtml
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Very geekish and stylish but a tad expensive for my liking :-).
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It is definitely a great geek gadget and I would love to get it if it was cheaper.
I spent $60 for each of my 120 Gb HD. it is unlikely I will spend $30 for each drive + $10 shipping ...
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Much to much for something that is easy to make yourself i have seen these things on a pc modding site with details on how to build. :-?
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;-) Some fellow was selling these at AmiWest last summer. Frivolous, but fun.
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(http://www.ocwarehouse.com/reviews/tach/tach_03_small.jpg)
This CPU tachometer would also be fun and frivilous $60. USD
CPU Tachometer (http://www.ocwarehouse.com/reviews/tach.htm)
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The Mojometer is far more sophisticated than the do-it-yourself projects on other sites.
Most of the meters documented on other sites are DIGITAL meters - not analogue. They're not easy to build unless you're very VERY handy with electronics overall.
This is a professional project - don't underestimate the gadget. Joe had the circuit board professionally made and assembled them all.
Then try pricing out the parts. Unless you buy in bulk, like we did, (or find a lucky surplus find) you'll pay about $15 for the meter itself plus $5 more for the superbright LEDs and components. Not mention wiring, solder, connectors, etc. Then you're going to have lots of fun tryin got adjust everything to get it to work right. Again - it's analogue and every one of these meters is slightly different.
Kermit
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Most of the meters documented on other sites are DIGITAL meters - not analogue. They're not easy to build unless you're very VERY handy with electronics overall.
I see an analogue one a few years ago .
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@Amigamad & kwoodall
Off the top of my head...
1. Get an old analog panel Amp-meter, stylish as hell (http://www.simpsonelectric.com/anaind.htm). A 25mA DC one should work.
2. Remove the HDactivity light from your computer, replace it with the meter connected in series with a 300ohm resistor.
3. Voila, a fancy smancy analog hd activity meter. It may not be "professionally made" but who cares.
Some tuning may be necesary, ie add a capacitor to get it to integreate the HD activity over a longer time hence giving a slower respons.
In Kwoodalls defence though, considering the cost of panel meters his product has a pretty reasonable price.
For scandinavian readers, I noticed that Elfa has a very atractive VU-meter (http://www.elfa.se/elfa/produkter/se/2016222.htm) for a low price, however use a 30k resistor for that one.
-Peggus
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Nice link Peggus; Simpson rules. I have an old Simpson multimeter
from '73 (yes that's before I was born;-)), 30 years old now and
still operates like new.