External storage and backup solution?

Discussion in 'Mac Accessories' started by IllegalFun, Aug 20, 2011.

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  1. IllegalFun, Aug 20, 2011

    IllegalFun macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2011
    #1
    Hi all

    I am planning to migrate to an iMac soon (from a samsung laptop)
    I have about 120Gb of films/music and photos to store, but that is steadily rising as I copy CD's to MP3, and also because I do photography as a hobby... :D

    but I want to replace my slow WD Elements HDD, as it is barely reaching 15Mbs when transferring files...
    I am thinking of keeping just the OS and Software on the internal iMac HDD (plus a few precious photos etc.)
    Then having a portable HDD to plug in for use with Time Machine to keep the iMac HDD backed up...

    but I also need bulk storage far all those 120Gb of files, but also a way of keeping those backed up...

    I had been looking at the Drobo, but it is quite expensive, and I have heard that it still has problems...

    What do you guys all use to keep your files safe???

    Will
     
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  2. DewGuy1999, Aug 20, 2011

    DewGuy1999 macrumors 68040

    DewGuy1999

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2009
    #2
    I don't do this personally, but you could get 3 external hard drives, use #1 for Time Machine, use #2 for storage and #3 for a clone of #2. The clone can be made with Carbon Copy Cloner.
     
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  3. nunes013, Aug 20, 2011

    nunes013 macrumors 65816

    nunes013

    Joined:
    May 24, 2010
    Location:
    Connecticut
    #3
    well in that case you would need 3 separate drives because if you put the movies and music in time machine they would eventually get erased when the drive fills. it looks like you will need

    drive 1- media (pictures, music, movies)

    drive 2- backup for media

    drive 3-time machine backup

    if you buy a new iMac, it has thunderbolt. this would be good but expensive. it does have very good reviews however.

    http://store.apple.com/us/product/H5184VC/A/Thunderbolt?fnode=MTY1NDA0Nw&mco=MjI4MTM1ODg

    your other option is to buy maybe a western digital sharespace. its half the price of the pegasus but uses ethernet as an interface. http://wdc.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=270

    i highly recommend one of those because you won't have to have separate drives and you will have one more extra drive because each of those comes with 4. the pegasus is expensive but you will love thunderbolt speeds if you get the new iMac. if you don't buy the new iMac then forget the pegasus because you can't use it without thunderbolt.

    what i do, is i have a western digital my book for time machine. then i have a my book studio 2 tb for all my media. i back that up my dads my book studio 2 tb. he gives me his stuff and i give him mine. we both have around 250 gb of media so it works great. eventually though when im out of school and get a new computer i would probably spend a little extra money and get something like the pegasus as it will be very easy to manage.
     
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  4. IllegalFun, Aug 20, 2011

    IllegalFun thread starter macrumors newbie

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    Aug 12, 2011
    #4
    This is currently the way that I am leaning...
    the Drobo looked expensive, but the other solutions are all similarly priced!
    My problem is that I am going on an apprenticeship, which will be away from home, which is no big problem except I don't know if I can fit in a 27" iMac:(, and I don't know if it the internet is ethernet or wi-fi :confused:
    time will tell!

    I will also check out the Carbon Copy Cloner....

    The 3 drive system seems quite good...
    the Thunderbolt RAID system looks good, but at £769 it is way overbudget!
    maybe prices will fall in the future, but I think a 3 HDD system would be better in the short term!

    I am tempted to get the Time Capsule 1Tb for time machine backups, and then get a pair of 1Tb HDD's for backup... maybe I can get one with FW800 for quick access, then the backup one will be USB2, as it can just chunder along, slowly backing up :cool:

    Thanks for the help...

    Will
     
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  5. nunes013, Aug 20, 2011

    nunes013 macrumors 65816

    nunes013

    Joined:
    May 24, 2010
    Location:
    Connecticut
    #5
    sounds good! i knew you could do a 3 drive system but i didn't know if you wanted to simplify it. i do 3 drives and everything is fine. just is pain transporting it all from college and back :cool: good luck!!!
     
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  6. IllegalFun, Aug 20, 2011

    IllegalFun thread starter macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Aug 12, 2011
    #6
    KISS
    Keep It Simple Stupid!
    the Russian AK47 breaks down less than the British L86 (less parts is better!)

    as for transporting... I will need to move an iMac, so it will always be a PITA...
     
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