Looks like there are many good ways to go as usual, I like your last idea of upgrading the HDD as I'm dealing with a lappy here. Minor point, the ACRDisk can be had for ~ $100US if you shop around, maybe even lower by now although I agree that a Simple Tech of equivalent capacity is probably cheaper than that. So as always the choice may come down to price and preference, I tend to favour compact things.


Cheers

It depends on how you do it! If you do backups of the stuff into compressed files even with a virus you woudn't loose your data. For the fire and steal
the only solutions is to move your data around with an external disk like the one Brad, or upload it to somewhere!
I think in the future we will see internet based backup systems (like we see for email and such) become quite simple, affordable and widely available!

Yes I usually do so myself, but in this case it's a middle term between price,performance and size.
So an external 2.5" enclosure with a 40GB laptop harddisk might be an option!
That would cost around the same US$100!

i've been waiting for this option, but i can't really trust a site somewhere else with my personal info untill it gets really proven, etc. I pay for the extra email storage option at hotmail which i think is 2.5 gb and i was thinking of storing it there under an encrypted file in an email???? or????????????

with dual layer dvd's you get what 8 gb? seems like a better & cheaper option to move around a dvd disk than a drive for simple data stuff.

Well my email service (at 12Eur per year) gives me 2GB, FTP and WEB access for files, so if I want I can store there a compressed (encrypted 7z?) file and be safer!

Off course when Dual layer DVDs (drives and media) become widely available and cheap they will be the option!
At the moment I use around 2GB of space with my own data (no I don't have MP3 and divX) so for the time being a DVD is what I use, but like I said in other post, soon I will get an external solution and then I will use that for daily backups and the DVDs for weekly full backups!

How about using a regular hard disk and something like [URL=http://www.byteccusa.com/product/enclosure/ME-320.htm]this[/URL] . I use the enclosure with a 60 gb drive that I had laying around. Apperently it can support up to a 300 Gb hard disk.

That's what the Simpletech is!
But sometimes you might want something really portable like Brad or an intermidiate solution like me...
So you range the the available EIDE disk sizes: 1.8" (Archos), 2.5" (Trancent, my solution), 3.5" (SimpleTech, Bytecc)!
The problem with a huge 3.5" hard disk is that you will have to power it from the outlet (not very transportable) while the 1.8" and 3.5" smaller disks can be powered by the USB port (ideal for a laptop!)

EDIT: The model you posted is 5,25", I think the Simpletech is 3.5", so sorry for the incorrection!

Ahh, but I use the 3.5" model that they make, I posted an incorrect link sorry! The 3.5" model still requires external power.

I was also under the assumption it was for backing up a local desktop computer which is what I use it for. I usually unplug my external drive from the wall and the usb port when I am not making any backups - so it should be safe from power fluctuations.

The usb powered solutions are excellent if you need portable solutions. But a thing to keep in mind is that hard disks used in this manor, even if they are g rated laptop drives are still relatively delicate, so you wouldn't want your 2 year-old playing with it

All in all there are a number of great solutions to suit every budget.

what service do you pay for i may use it too

In my case, I use a portable and external USB 2.0 hard disk storage drive (also called a USB Pocket Drive) that can be hooked up via your USB. Works very well and can backup most of my personal and immediate office stuff remotely and unattended. I also don't have to be on the internet or online to access my files and can bring it from office to home and vice-versa. This is like the laptop in terms of storage.

The newer ones can go up to 150 Gigs hard drive but much more expensive.

This one costs me only $200 dollars back in 2002. It's probably half the price now. Remember I bought this when they first came out so it was quite a hot product then.....

It has the following properties;

Brand New 40 GB Toshiba Drive installed.
Connect to your laptop/desktop via USB port.
USB 2.0, speed up to 480 Mbits/sec
40 times faster than regular USB1.1.
Backward compatible with USB 1.1
Hot insert & hot-pull out.
Plug-and-play for Windows ME/2000/XP professional and Mac OS Dimensions:130mm*73mm*12mm
Powered though USB channel, no external power need.
Aluminum Case


Looks like this.....

[URL=http://www.linsmart.com/image/powerdata-T40.jpg]USB Pocket Drive[/URL]

...this is much better than CDs... ...using NTbackup (comes with Windows XP Professional) (Windows XP Home does NOT include NTbackup) and this kind of drive is all you'd need... ...no extra software to buy...

And it is allmost as fast as firewire...

But I,ll have to backup all my datas on CDs for now I don't have that device...

George I got the magic in me...

...ya, I know, pumkin pie...