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Is AirPort Time Capsule worth it?

AlecMyrddyn said:
Excellent point. It could be a 6.0 Gbit/s model in the AP TC, but I doubt it. Your point about interface overhead is a good one.

An external disk plugged into the AP has several advantages:
  1. You can plug it in directly to the computer for the first backup or loading files on to it over a higher speed interface, then connect it to the AP and perform your incremental backups or changes over wifi and the slower interface.
  2. You can replace or upgrade it without having to void the AP's warranty.
  3. You can fill it with a back up, unplug it, and move it off-site.
  4. You can bring it with you without having to disconnect your network.


I'd definitely lean toward the cheaper AP Extreme and your own external USB disk(s).
Click to expand...

I am pretty sure you can't plug the external HDD to Mac for the first back up then use wifi to do the incremental backup. I first thought this is possible and did this but when I plug the HDD back to Airport Extreme, it would do a complete backup again.

I looked into the HDD and see that the backup files are totally different. If the back up is done through wifi then there will only be one file (something.sparseimage) which contains the entire back up. You cannot pull single files out by locating it in different locations. You will need to enter TimeMachines to pull files that way. Here is how it looks like (http://pondini.org/TM/17_files/E2b Sparse Bundles via Finder.jpg)

If you were to back up with cables (USB, Firewire, Thunberbold) then you will be able to pull the files by just locating the files in the HDD. The files you see is call backups.backupdb which can you go in further to see different time stamp and whatever files that are backup. Here is how it looks like (https://discussions.apple.com/servl...-600/Screen+Shot+2013-01-03+at+8.18.36+PM.png).

You may want to read this (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/3734638).
 
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After going back and forth and deciding that TC is not worth it, I think I'm going to follow the advice from this board and purchase it. I was going to get a 3TB TC because I thought I can use it both for backups and storage, but that is not the case - I'll need an external drive to use for storage that can be shared by the other PCs at home.

I was considering going for the 2TB TC and purchasing a 4TB seagate drive to use. Does that make sense? These are just basic drives in TC, so what's the point paying about $100 more the 1 extra TB in TC when I can buy a 4TB external drive for $150.

As the main TC fills up, can I move the old backup files to another drive? I guess I can always delete.
 
Thanks.

I'm going for the clean approach, so I'm going to consolidate some of the external drives on my desk. For $150/$170, do you think this seagate is a good option?

This will be used to share media files between windows and mac machines.
 
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Time capsule is great if you need incremental backups. When I was student it was great piece of mind knowing that I had my dissertation backed up every hour incase the worse happened.

Nowardays I probably wouldn't buy one again. I think a router is a router and the apple products don't do anything particularly special.

I do always know however, that I have all my photos backed up somewhere (itunes match handles my music).

It really does depend on what you use your mac for and how important that data is.
 
Hardtimes said:
Time capsule is great if you need incremental backups. When I was student it was great piece of mind knowing that I had my dissertation backed up every hour incase the worse happened.

Nowardays I probably wouldn't buy one again. I think a router is a router and the apple products don't do anything particularly special.

I do always know however, that I have all my photos backed up somewhere (itunes match handles my music).

It really does depend on what you use your mac for and how important that data is.
Click to expand...

I don't really need incremental(as in hourly) backups as I travel weekly for work, but definitely need to get into a habit of backing up. One reason I rarely back up my current machines is windows backup is such an annoyance and a huge inconvenience. If AP can do what should be done with minimal effect to my system's performance, might as well.
 
sarakn said:
I don't really need incremental(as in hourly) backups as I travel weekly for work, but definitely need to get into a habit of backing up. One reason I rarely back up my current machines is windows backup is such an annoyance and a huge inconvenience. If AP can do what should be done with minimal effect to my system's performance, might as well.
Click to expand...

It does take the effort out of backups completely.

By default Timecapsule backs up EVERY our you are connected to your home network. This does cause some annoying slowdown to the network and internet usage. You can however install a piece of software (name escapes me) that will let you backup at less frequent intervals.
 
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