EHD-Portable or not?

Calkacky · 10-21-2008, 02:30 PM

I am backed up but want to be better backed up and more organized so I need some opinions on what I'm thinking.

I have a laptop and a Seagate portable EHD. I have all my stuff on both my laptop and my portable EHD. I know many have an additional hard drive to back up to and then some even go further by putting stuff on DVD's. My question is this: Do you think it would be better to have 2 portable EHD's or 1 portable and 1 not portable? The ones that aren't portable are so much cheeper! However, if something were to happen such as a fire I don't know if it would be likely that I would get out of the house with it. I guess I don't know how heavy the non-portables are. Can you offer me an opinion and tell me how you back up?

Thanks,
~Amy

idtwinmom · 10-21-2008, 03:28 PM

Non-portability does not mean heavy. It has more to do with how the plates (they look kind of like silver records) are put together. A 'portable' hard drive, including those in laptops, have more to cushion them to keep them from touching each other. Since no hard drive is completely reliable (as a matter of fact, no digital media is completely reliable), it is usually a wise choice to use multiple methods. That is why most people also have DVD's. But from experience, I suggest at least 2 of those as well, with one kept offsite (like at a relatives that lives in a different state).

Hope this helps a little.

Calkacky · 10-21-2008, 03:49 PM

Thanks Lisa for the clarification on portable vs. non-portable EHD's. The more stuff I "collect" on my laptop the more I get paranoid about not being backed up enough for the reason of reliability as you mentioned. I am actually working on my plan to back up to 2 EHD's as well as on DVD's which I can bring to my office since it is quite far from my house. I definitely would rather be "too backed up" then not backed up enough!

idtwinmom · 10-21-2008, 04:27 PM

LOL! That is soooooo true! I must have 3 or 4 backups of my photos. But silly me only made one backup of my early LO's. For some reason, I can't read the DVD any more! So all is lost!, but at least I have the photo's.

**Lauren** · 10-21-2008, 04:49 PM

I have a regular non portable EHD for my back up backup!!- I dont have it constantly plugged in - and I have a portable one for my regular travel/backup

Calkacky · 10-21-2008, 06:10 PM

I think I am leaning your way Lauren.