MBA and Two USB Drives?

[stockcerts]

I'm getting close to making my MBA purchase. I'll be moving over from an iMac. Here is where I'd like some input. I will need to keep my files on an external drive, but I'll want to continue to back up that drive. Would I have two USB drives, one for my data, the other one for Time Machine?

I'd like to figure this out prior to buying the laptop. Thanks!

 

[Alameda]

There are three main reasons for backup:

1) Accidental file deletion/modification, or damage from bad software upgrade
2) Hard drive crash
3) Theft/ fire/loss

Putting your files and their backups on the same drive only protect you from the first case, so two separate physical drives are better. But, yes, you could partition an external USB drive to perform both backup and file storage.

 

[MacBird]

I use a 2TB USB 3.0 external drive for both Time Machine and some backup files in a separate folder. No partitioning was necessary.