Your Own Disaster!
We like our stuff here at Mac|Life. You see, we have a lot of it, and we’re not going to risk losing it all at any expense. But we’re also not hip to lugging around heaps of stuff if a building floods or catches on fire. But we want to know about our readers, so comment below with the one thing you’d grab before hightailin’ it outside in a worst-case scenario. There’s no extra points for creativity, but we’d much rather read interesting responses.
This month the winner will win an ioSafe Solo disaster proof external hard drive. It’s the perfect computer accessory to store and protect all your cherished files, as 2012 looms ever closer on our iCals.
If you doubt the power of the ioSafe Solo, check out our video testing the device.
The fine print:
Mac|Life "Your Own Disaster!” Contest rules: One entry per person. The winner will be chosen at random from qualified entries. All entries must be received no later than November 30, 2010, with the winner announced in the Feb/11 issue. By entering this contest, you agree that Future US, Inc. may use your name, likeness, and website for promotional purposes without further payment. Employees of Sponsor, its respective parent, subsidiaries, affiliated companies, and agents, and foregoing employees¹ household or immediate family members (defined as parent, spouse, child, sibling, or grandparent) are NOT eligible to enter Contest. All prizes will be awarded, and no minimum number of entries is required. If two or more people enter identical designs and that entry is selected as the winner, the entry received first will be awarded the contest prize. Prizes won by minors will be awarded to their parents or legal guardians. Future US, Inc. is not responsible for damages or expenses the winners might incur as a result of this contest or the receipt of a prize, and winners are responsible for income taxes based on the value of the prize received. A list of winners may also be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Future US, Inc. c/o Mac|Life Contest, 4000 Shoreline Court, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080. This contest is limited to residents of the United States. No purchase necessary; void in Arizona, Maryland, Vermont, Puerto Rico, and where prohibited by law.
sjdsmile
October 14, 2010 at 9:29am
I would bring my back-up drive. Although with this hard-drive I could leave the one I have now, grab some popcorn, and watch as the house crumbles.
wlrayburn
October 14, 2010 at 8:21am
Wife, dogs and laptop. Hopefully in that order, but I could switch it up if need be.
borntoread
October 13, 2010 at 7:29pm
because there's never enough time to scan all the old photos. maybe this would inspire me to actually get to it so that in the next emergency I would just grab my iosafe solo!
fender7083
October 13, 2010 at 2:31pm
Ah...... this is a hard choice (that what she said).... my macbook pro or iphone 4...... i can't decide!
iopete
October 13, 2010 at 10:12am
my dog not just because I love him but he's the only other soul that knows the passwords to all my online accounts
taobird
October 13, 2010 at 9:49am
The ONE thing I would grab before hightailin’ it outside (you DID say ONE thing!) would be my cat, Lily, because she knows how to find food, water, shelter and better yet, she even knows how to find my macbook pro and ipod! Meow! Lily and I really need that ioSafe Solo!!!
justinlay14
October 12, 2010 at 3:07pm
If my apt caught on fire and I only had time to grad one thing... I would grab my incase backpack (which you guys recommended one month thats why I've found this beauty) without any hesitaton. Because I keep my Macbook Pro 17inch, my Ipad, Iphone 3GS, so I'll have everything I need for class !!
johngentile
October 11, 2010 at 4:40pm
If a disaster struck my house, the first thing I would grab is my wife while she was holding on to her iBook. My own iMac would have to fend for itself! Hope the Seagate external HD with my Time Machine will survive too.
zosocat
October 11, 2010 at 3:54pm
First thing I'd grab in case of emergency are my kids. Being that they've grown up and moved out, this means I'd grab my Mac (which is where the digital versions of my kids reside - you know, in my photo albums.)
Nitsua
October 11, 2010 at 10:02am
My iMac is great, but when I put my hand on that cardboard turtleneck, look into those cardboard eyes, and visualize Steve's next product, which will be fueled by unicorn tears and fairy dust, I'm filled with a deep joy that makes me want to run out and buy more Apple products. No computer can bring that kind of joy! :P
hypersapien
October 11, 2010 at 9:12am
I think the one irreplaceable keepsake I have is a photo album my mom made for me about my cat when he passed away many years ago.
R.I.P. Fireflake.
harperfamily007
October 10, 2010 at 10:39pm
Having been through a house fire I have learned that everything can be replaced. I would grab a snapshot of making it out safely. :-)
pandora1988
October 10, 2010 at 5:36pm
Of course, I'd grab my family and kitty babies first...but the loot I'd grab would be my iphone and Macbook, for sure! Oh, and my son's baby book. :)
jacobrown
October 10, 2010 at 5:10pm
...if I left any of my sisters< I would just have to go back in and get them. Might as well take at least one of them from the start!
BlueGray
October 10, 2010 at 4:48pm
my dog, then my desktop (pictures) then anything else on the way out.
mjh215
October 10, 2010 at 2:48pm
I have a couple gifts from a good friend I'd want to save, but I also have all my data on my hard drive, which I backup, but that is also stored in the same house.
My wallet and keys I should already have on me, but the above is what I'd be debating. I don't think I could settle on one, but it'd probably wind up being one of the gifts.
Hutif
October 09, 2010 at 11:44pm
I would have to take my Macbook Pro. There are just too many important files for me to let it go up in flames.
Snwbrder518
October 09, 2010 at 9:08pm
I would grab my external HD which has a Time Machince copy of my Macbook. My F-150 is already loaded with stuff i would need in case of emergency so hopefully i have my keys on me and im good to go!
trixit
October 09, 2010 at 7:17pm
After reading all the comments and suggestions what people would do and how they are prepared for a disaster I must say I'm doomed. I got nothing ready for it. I think I'd be happy to just save my pregnant wife and my sorry arse to go along with it...
HarmonicHealer
October 09, 2010 at 2:18pm
Maybe I could wrap my house in one of these enclosures? The last forest fire was only 1/2 mile away...
Mr. D
October 09, 2010 at 10:47am
Probably the iPad. If I had more time, the iPod Touch, MacBook Pro, iPod Nano, iMac ...
freshyseth
October 09, 2010 at 10:42am
My family. After all, the work, the stuff, it is all for them anyway. I'd be a happy man if all I had was them.
ikenyon1
October 09, 2010 at 5:37am
i would probably grab my family first and then my electric guitar. i am so attached to that thing it's crazy. that means i would also have to bring my amp but hey, the last thing you want is no entertainment when you are rebuilding
tbhride
October 08, 2010 at 3:24pm
I've got an emergency bag containing some emergency items, food/water, a change of clothes, etc. My plan is to grab this and my laptop.
Doubletap1911
October 08, 2010 at 1:29pm
As a former IT Manager (now disabled at the ripe old age of 40) I've already given this some thought for my home life. Whether it's a fire, flood, or burglary I think I have it figured it out.
Every member of my family has their own laptop, each of which automatically backup to my desktop server when ever a file gets added or modified. That server additionally gets automatically backed up to my NAS that I have hidden in my detached garage. I use a wireless n device to connect to the NAS. On that NAS sits all of our music, picures, and documents. If it's a fire my local fire dept. Is only a mile from me and has the best response time in our county. So they should arrive before both structures go up in flames. And if it's a burglary I doubt if the crooks ever find the NAS. As for all of our iPhones they can be replaced and with Apples unofficial policy of allowing a complete re-download of all purchased items for your account you can easily get your apps back. So it comes down to my iPad or Canon equipment. I consider them to go hand in hand as I use my iPad in the field with my DSLR to view, edit, and email photos if need be. So which would it be? I would have to grab my camera equipment and bug out. I know, all of you iPad users out there are boo'ing me right now. But I can always sell the photos I've saved and continue to take more to pay for new equipment. Remember, I am disabled and do not make anywhere near what I did as an IT Manager. And as a side note that I tell people now. Remember when working with a computer, good posture and ergonomic setup. I learned the hard way after only 18yrs and now with three bulging discs that can not be operated on.
haplo770
October 08, 2010 at 10:26am
I lost my computers and 10 years of data in a house fire in 2009. The best thing out of this is that I switched from M$ and linux to MAC. This would help in ensuring that I wont lose my data again.
Cirra
October 08, 2010 at 10:19am
In case of fire I'd grab my kids, dogs, and laptop. The cat can fend for herself.
OJO187
October 08, 2010 at 9:39am
What would I grab if zombies started to attack? I'd have to say I'd grab my nunchucks and I'd nunchuck them in their head!
WHAT WHAT!
someguy
October 08, 2010 at 9:27am
Hell, I'd grab my japanese mayo, why? if my house was destroyed I need some kind of easily consumable source of calories. See, if I was somehow injured to the point where I can't eat solid food (ie my jaw was horribly shattered) then I can just slurp mayo, and it's fairly high in calories(great tasting to boot). However my mayo bottle not only serves as food but it's little moisture will keep me hydrated and once i finish the bottle (yes, it comes in bottles) I can use it to fill up with water (assuming I'm a hobo now). and in the worst case scenario where I end up homeless on the streets I can use the mayo bottle as a last resort of defense, I can easily surprise my attacker(s) by whipping out my bottle of mayo and bludgeon them to hell. So... that concludes my comment
I hope you enjoyed reading that mayhem
(note mayo contains all the key components to survival, don't say insurance could help me out, insurance is a TRAP!!!)
tq68
October 08, 2010 at 7:45am
If I could grab anything it would probably be the backup of photos and home movies.
jointgifts
October 08, 2010 at 6:21am
my laptop - can't seem to get anything done without it and it has all kinds of personal stuff on it
orchidlady01
October 08, 2010 at 6:15am
We're used to being hurricane ready so the hurricane box, computer, hard drives and iphone would get thrown in the car which would be full of gas.
adcockcole
October 08, 2010 at 5:40am
Fire extinguisher, im blastin my way out!
unless its a flood then im screwed
nmz502
October 08, 2010 at 5:38am
My hard drive thats full of all my itunes purchases and my wallet.
gatormomx2
October 08, 2010 at 3:16am
Gotta be able to see so I would grab my glasses first. Hurricane bag is second. Then humans and critters. If I were running from a fire, it would already be too late. Fires move super fast and are scarier than you can possibly imagine!
Musty989
October 07, 2010 at 9:05pm
In case of a huge flood, I'd grab one of the two inflatable things in my house. My blowup mattress or my blowup doll (Justin Bieber full size). Before I drown I'm at least going to go down surfing some waves in style.
3lewsers
October 07, 2010 at 7:17pm
I would grab my two boys and get them to safety...nothing else would matter.
patrickketchum
October 07, 2010 at 7:11pm
I would grab my Time Machine, Backup Drive, MacBook Pro and my dog named Mac
caw61
October 07, 2010 at 6:17pm
We have this antique couch in my apt. My mom would kill me if I let it get ruined in anyway.
After that, I'd grab my computer and zombie survival kit. You never know.
sbwolves72
October 07, 2010 at 6:09pm
I would try to bring my computer, but I would HAVE to grab my in=process Godzilla Graphic novel pages i am trying to complete. I am an analog artist, not digital, so those hard copies need to be preserved.
philjr
October 07, 2010 at 6:01pm
Of Course I'd Get The Family Out First, But Then I'D Grab My Hard Drive's And Thumbdrives And Backup DVD's. Everything Else Can Burn!
Paul K
October 07, 2010 at 5:56pm
The first Thing would be my iPod Touch but of course that would be after making sure my family was safe.
mflynn
October 07, 2010 at 5:48pm
I'm assuming this is after I saved my family, pets, heirlooms, etc. I then make one last heroic grab for my Brenthaven bag that holds my 17" Macbook Pro, iPod, and Firelite external hard drive. It would be painful to lose the iMac and Time Capsule, but you did say we could only grab 1 thing.
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