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Time Machine and the iPod
- Thread starter Telp
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You don't want to do that.
If you mean to use your iPod as the backup device TimeMachine uses... why do that? Provided you even have a non-Flash iPod, you're disk should not be used as a permanent drive, being written to every hour by TimeMachine. Currently Apple is selling Iomega External 500 GB drives for $140. You can get another internal 300-500 GB drive for around $100. No reason to use an iPod, and possibly wear out its hard drive earlier than you otherwise would. Drives are SUPER cheap now. Even cheaper on eBay, though I'd recommend always buying a new one from a reputable outlet.
iPods are for media playback. That's my advice.
If you mean to use Time Machine with the CONTENT of the iPod, then there might be a misunderstanding at work. iPods, generally speaking, are a one-way transaction with exceptions. You sync TO them, you don't make a habit of copying FROM them (getting iTunes purchased tracks, clever desktop work and 3rd party software solutions notwithstanding), leastwise for use with TimeMachine. TimeMachine will backup your music directory from your computer, so if that's what you want... that's exactly what it will do.
~ CB
If you mean to use your iPod as the backup device TimeMachine uses... why do that? Provided you even have a non-Flash iPod, you're disk should not be used as a permanent drive, being written to every hour by TimeMachine. Currently Apple is selling Iomega External 500 GB drives for $140. You can get another internal 300-500 GB drive for around $100. No reason to use an iPod, and possibly wear out its hard drive earlier than you otherwise would. Drives are SUPER cheap now. Even cheaper on eBay, though I'd recommend always buying a new one from a reputable outlet.
iPods are for media playback. That's my advice.
If you mean to use Time Machine with the CONTENT of the iPod, then there might be a misunderstanding at work. iPods, generally speaking, are a one-way transaction with exceptions. You sync TO them, you don't make a habit of copying FROM them (getting iTunes purchased tracks, clever desktop work and 3rd party software solutions notwithstanding), leastwise for use with TimeMachine. TimeMachine will backup your music directory from your computer, so if that's what you want... that's exactly what it will do.
~ CB
I'll +1 the "Drives are so cheap you gotta run Time Machine correctly" thought.
I have a 500 GB drive that I'm going to put in an external enclosure and dedicate to nothing but Time Machine. It was $100. The enclosure I think was $30.
I'm getting a 2.4 Ghz iMac with the 500 GB drive, so I should be OK with 1:1 backup : original drive space.
I have a 500 GB drive that I'm going to put in an external enclosure and dedicate to nothing but Time Machine. It was $100. The enclosure I think was $30.
I'm getting a 2.4 Ghz iMac with the 500 GB drive, so I should be OK with 1:1 backup : original drive space.
Thanks for the sites, really. I dont use the iPod anymore so i dont care if it breaks, but i really just wanted to know if apple, as you said, specifically makes it not work. Thanks for the help though. I will try it anyway, and if it works thats great, and if it doesnt thats great too.
I was going to do the same thing with my old ipod
I was wondering the same thing as Telp; hopefully it works. I like the idea of having an ultraportable backup drive with me while traveling.
I was wondering the same thing as Telp; hopefully it works. I like the idea of having an ultraportable backup drive with me while traveling.
Manual Backup
There's an option for manually backup, so constant connection should not be required.
edit: If you do have it set to automatic you can also disconnect it and it will make the necessary backup once the drive is plugged in again. From apple's website:
"When your mobile Mac is connected to your backup drive, Time Machine works as you’d expect. When it isn’t connected, Time Machine also works as you’d expect. It keeps track of which files have changed since the last backup and backs them up to your backup drive the next time you connect. On any Mac, if Time Machine is unable to perform a backup, that’s duly noted in its preferences pane."
There's an option for manually backup, so constant connection should not be required.
edit: If you do have it set to automatic you can also disconnect it and it will make the necessary backup once the drive is plugged in again. From apple's website:
"When your mobile Mac is connected to your backup drive, Time Machine works as you’d expect. When it isn’t connected, Time Machine also works as you’d expect. It keeps track of which files have changed since the last backup and backs them up to your backup drive the next time you connect. On any Mac, if Time Machine is unable to perform a backup, that’s duly noted in its preferences pane."
I have a friend wondering about his laptop backup options too. There are some nice ultra-portable small profile USB drives out there he's been planning on. Either he or I will be quizing an Apple genius this weekend. I'm a little suprised that a network drive off of my Airport Extreme seems to be off the table.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/223065/
~ CB
Eeek, Id be scared to burn out the drive personally. And that first backup is gunna take tiiime 
Manual backup to it worked for me though before I got my nice external
Manual backup to it worked for me though before I got my nice external