Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Why Apple Time Capsule rather than External Drive for Time Machine Backup?
- Thread starter jaybar
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The only advantage is the 2-in-1 solution Apple gives, router and HDD in one. In a sense, a space saver. Moreover, no need to fiddle around a USB connection to perorm your back-up.
The convenience factor as mentioned is the only real advantage.
An external hdd can also be plugged in to the USB port of and AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme to get the same effect.
Years ago, there were some issues with TC's overheating/hdd failures, so an external may have had some advantage back then, but that was early TC days.
The other downside of the TC is that it isn't easy (possible?) to upgrade hdd.
If you already have fios for your router and don't want to add an AirPort or TC then you'll have to just go USB or ThunderBolt or FireWire (depends on your Mac).
As far as the Time Machine backup itself, there's no real difference in any method.
An external hdd can also be plugged in to the USB port of and AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme to get the same effect.
Years ago, there were some issues with TC's overheating/hdd failures, so an external may have had some advantage back then, but that was early TC days.
The other downside of the TC is that it isn't easy (possible?) to upgrade hdd.
If you already have fios for your router and don't want to add an AirPort or TC then you'll have to just go USB or ThunderBolt or FireWire (depends on your Mac).
As far as the Time Machine backup itself, there's no real difference in any method.
There are some backup solutions that are wireless. But again, it's a time-saver as they don't work out of the box with Apple and require a few clicks to set up.
A Time Capsule provides a somewhat remote backup. If some breaks in and steals your Mac, they might not get your TC. If it's an attached drive, they might take it too.
Thanks Opinio!!!
I figured if it was possible, someone on here would have figured it out!
Great write-up on the procedure too, and as you point out, not for the faint of heart and cost prohibitive unless you have similar circumstances.
I imagine that soon we should see stock capacity increases on the TC, seems almost overdue.
In addition to what's been mentioned already - the Time Capsule easily allows multiple computers to back up to it. I have two iMacs, a Mac Mini, and a MacBook Air backing up to my 3TB Time Capsule.
I think it's important to recognise just how convenient the TC is (or alternative LAN solution, rather than USB)
Once set up, you can forget about backups completely. It just happens. automatically, in the background, when you are connected to your LAN.
With a USB drive you obviously have to remember to plug it in every so often, and from past experience, that fades out to be hardly ever.
Once set up, you can forget about backups completely. It just happens. automatically, in the background, when you are connected to your LAN.
With a USB drive you obviously have to remember to plug it in every so often, and from past experience, that fades out to be hardly ever.