Mac users - Talk to me about Time Machine

[kendallt]

I am a relatively new Mac user and have several questions about Time Machine. Do you use it, and if so, what method do you use for your backups? Do you really need a Time Capsule, or is there a better/easier way for someone using a laptop? It just seems a bit inconvenient to have something constantly plugged into your computer, but wow those Time Capsules are pricey!

 

[Lyd]

I use Time Machine and LOVE it. I don't have a Time Capsule. Any EHD will work, and yeah, anything Apple creates is going to be more expensive than it really needs to be. :/

I don't keep my EHD plugged in all the time, but if my lappy is on my desk, the EHD is usually connected. I make sure I have a back up at least every few days no matter what.

 

[kendallt]

I use Time Machine and LOVE it. I don't have a Time Capsule. Any EHD will work, and yeah, anything Apple creates is going to be more expensive than it really needs to be. :/

I don't keep my EHD plugged in all the time, but if my lappy is on my desk, the EHD is usually connected. I make sure I have a back up at least every few days no matter what.

Thanks, Lyd. Two questions: How big is your EHD in comparison to your computer's HD, and do you also use an online backup system in conjunction with Time Machine?

 

[Lyd]

Thanks, Lyd. Two questions: How big is your EHD in comparison to your computer's HD, and do you also use an online backup system in conjunction with Time Machine?

My MBP and my EHD are both 1 TB drives. I don't use my EHD for anything else except backup, so it works just fine.

We do use Backblaze as well, just because we recognize the need for an offsite backup in case of fire, flood, etc. Also, when my hard drive died, I downloaded files that I needed from Backblaze, because I was using my hubby's computer, and it couldn't access my Time Machine files.

But, a Time Machine backup is fantastic for when you get a new computer and just want to transfer everything over directly or for restoring a few files here and there that you accidentally deleted. You can go back pretty far in your history, so that's really nice.

 

[Nettio]

I use Time Machine too. My backup EHD is 3TB but I backup my MBP and two EHDs to it so I needed the space. I also had to do a full restore a few years ago when my MBP randomly wouldn't start and it worked great. Since I had a current backup I didn't lose any files.

I don't use Time Capsule, I just plug in my computer to the EHD every so often. But I also use Backblaze so I figure that covers me in between Time Machine backups since it runs every night.

 

[MamaBee]

I used time machine... mine gets backed up wirelessly to our personal server - so no plugging into an EHD here... Then the server is also backed up on crashed plan.

 

[kendallt]

I used time machine... mine gets backed up wirelessly to our personal server - so no plugging into an EHD here... Then the server is also backed up on crashed plan.

Interesting. What are the technicalities of setting up something like this? My friend who is a Mac expert recommended I buy a like-new older model Airport drive on Amazon and replace my current router with it, then plug an EHD into that. He swears it will work flawlessly with Time Machine. Still debating whether to spend the $90 or just use my existing EHD without going wireless.

 

[Keely~B]

I use Time Machine and a 1TB ehd. I have an offsite back up as well as a couple of ehds that I use strictly for photos and supplies etc.

 

[MamaBee]

Interesting. What are the technicalities of setting up something like this? My friend who is a Mac expert recommended I buy a like-new older model Airport drive on Amazon and replace my current router with it, then plug an EHD into that. He swears it will work flawlessly with Time Machine. Still debating whether to spend the $90 or just use my existing EHD without going wireless.

I'd have to ask hubby - he is my computer geek. and he is on a business trip. We do have an AirPort... is that the Apple version of a router?

We had a basic router and had a lot of problems of it going off line... then we would have to go downstairs, unplug and plug in again... it was a pain in the arse! Since getting the Airport, we had one issue and it ended up being the internet service problem... it has been heaven! Then we have a 2TB Buffalo Server that all our stuff is on... And that is backed up on crash plan...

 

[Sherri Tierney]

No mac at home. We use Time Machine at work. It backs up once an hour to a hard drive on our district network. BEST.THING.EVER! It was literally like pulling teeth to get the people I work with to back up their files. All they had to do to back up was to drag their files over to a backup drive that was installed on their desktop and drop them in, thus copying them to the backup server. Nope, too difficult. I sent emails, notes, talked to them in person, showed them how to do it, offered to do it for them, begged, pleaded and cried and they still wouldn't back up consistently. I love that now they are backed up and my job is much easier. Kinda hard to explain to someone that, sorry, their hard drive has crashed and they lost everything because they didn't back up. They think I'm magic and can make it reappear! LOL My boss would use his secret weapons and sometimes got some of their files back but not always. - At home I'm on a PC and just use Crash Plan... thankfully so as one of my EHDs went out the other day and being 100% backed up made it so much easier to live with!