Best backup solution

[crash]

External usb hard drives for home, DVD is nice, but most people forget to backup consistantly. You can set it up to be automatic with an external hard drive. Plus, most people will be using multiple dvd's and that can be a pain to keep track of as well as time consuming. You can still back up with dvd just to have an extra copy in case of a real big disaster.

[spence]

I'm looking to do monthly backups of digital photos and work data.

I will probably also be using it to back up raw digial music files once my stepson starts recording and I teach him how to master his tracks.

I don't need a fully automated solution.

I'd like it to be external and portable.

Cost is a factor for the device only. I can expense the media.

The 8 gig size of the DVD is attractive. I could probably fit all my business data on a single disk.

-spence

[Moses]

I have an external drive (usb 2.0). I also make a habit of storing all my important stuff on the Desktop. Then I use a freeware program called "Syncback" which allows anyone to create a profile. In essence I designate two areas, one on main PC and one on backup drive device to be exactly the same. If one changes, Syncback automatically does the copy in the background. Pretty cool and mindless after you set it up once. I also create a DVD backup for pictures and financial documents.