What size Time Machine Drive should i get...?

[anim8or]

I am purchasing a new external HD for using Time Machine when i get Leopard.

My query lies with what size drive i should get.

Obviously many will say get the most space for the least cash but i want to know what people recommend without money being a factor.

I have a MacPro with 750GB internal storage of which 120GB is currently used. What would the masses recommend for Time Machine.... i was considering a 500GB drive for the time being.....

 

[zen]

The bigger the drive, the further back in time you can go.

If you are pressed for space, like I am, you can select folders that Time Machine won't back up. Unless you want a complete clone I don't see much point in backing up the Apps or System folders, for instance.

 

[motulist]

As a corollary question, does Time Machine REQUIRE a separate backup drive, or is it capable of using the remaining free space on a single drive to back the documents up?

(Obviously you'd lose the benefit of having a backup if your primary drive fails, but you'd still have the main benefit of having backed up documents for every error besides disk failure.)

 

[darkpaw]

I am purchasing a new external HD for using Time Machine when i get Leopard. ... I have a MacPro with 750GB internal storage of which 120GB is currently used.

I'd say get a 500GB for now. In future, if you think you need to have a larger backup, you can get a new one and either sell or use the 500GB for something else. Get a reliable one, obviously.

I'm wondering why Apple don't let you use an internal drive for your backups? I'd rather have the drive inside the machine so I haven't got to use another power point to plug in an external drive and have to remember to switch it on. Aside from that, internal drives are cheaper anyway. I hope there'll be a hack or update that allows you to use internal drives for Time Machine.

 

[Cerebrum]

I'd assume anything bigger than the size of your own drive should be adequate.