Gregory Weston <u...@splook.com> wrote: > Phil wrote: > > > > This is what I have - > > > Hardware Overview: > > > Machine Model: Power Mac G4 > > CPU Type: PowerPC G4 (3.3) > > Number Of CPUs: 1 > > CPU Speed: 1.25 GHz > > L2 Cache (per CPU): 256 KB > > L3 Cache (per CPU): 1 MB > > Memory: 1.25 GB > > Bus Speed: 167 MHz > > Boot ROM Version: 4.4.8f2 > > > What is the easiest/cheapest method to provide a back up?
What's also missing from the above list (besides your OS of 10.3.x) is what size hard disk you currently have that you're looking to back up.
> I'd start by cautioning that "cheap" is not a > great criterion when evaluating backup strategies. > Pretty much any real backup strategy that a home > user would even consider is inexpensive in comparison > to paying someone to retrieve your data from a > crashed drive or recreating it completely ...
A good point (although he was also looking for 'easy').
> Cheapest in terms of initial funds outlay is a USB hard drive and... > > The same software with a slightly more expensive > FireWire HD will *greatly* shorten backup times.
IIRC around 30%-40% faster for Firewire 400.
FWIW, here's a webpage at OWC that has some Firewire400 drives:
...starting at $99, you can get an external 250GB and the package includes a licence for a backup utility. Personally, I'd recommend adding $25 to double the capacity to 500GB.
> If you want to get serious about it, the first >thing is to look into multiple backups, not all > of which are kept in your house. Rotate through > them so you've got a couple of generations and > while your house may burn down you've got a copy > locked in your desk at work (for example)....
The general rule of thumb is to rotate through at least 3 copies (and make sure that they're actually savign data). Also, what is serving as your means of remote site backup is the proverbial "desk drawer at work".
> You'll often save a few bucks by buying a bare > drive and a case, and you get the added bonus of > real control over which drive you get. When you > buy an assembled drive you're often buying the > case plus whatever mechanism the assembler happens > to be putting in it this month.
This can save some money, although in some instances, the best value is with some sort of 'package'. For example on the URL listed above for Neptune firewire externals, $125 buys a 500GB drive, the Firewire enclosure and some data backup software...a deal, considering that a Seagate 50GB is $70 at NewEgg. Buy two :-)
