I am open to suggestions as to anyone's solution to backing up their iMac, firewire Powerbook, or other non-SCSI Mac. My main dilemma here is to the type of hardware to interface with either the USB or Firewire port. I use a Travan tape drive to back up my Powerbook, which has a SCSI interface as most tape drives. I would prefer to use Retrospect as I do now, to do a complete backup which allows for a complete restore in the event of a disaster or simply re-partitioning my hard drive. I do recall that there was a USB tape drive, but it is no longer on the market.
Some solutions I've considered:
1. USB Zip drive--takes too many cartridges and too much attendance during a backup.
2. A Firewire to SCSI adapter/converter--do these work reliably? Will they work with all SCSI devices/tape drives even if I acknowledge the fact that I can only have the one device attached at a time?
3. Airport connection to my Powerbook with tape drive on SCSI chain---I have never done any real networking. Is this possible? Complicated?
4.Firewire CD-RW drive--Seems like a good solution. I have seen many recommend to backup occasionally to CD-R for archival purposes. Not all CD-RW drives are compatible with Retrospect. I found that out the hard way having to return an APS firewire CD-RW that Retrospect wouldn't recognize.
I notice from the Dantz compatibility page that the Que firewire 8x4x32 is on the approved list, but the 12x10x32 is listed as in "testing." I would rather buy the faster drive with it's burn-proof technology.
Surely someone here has tried or plans to use this drive (12x10x32x firewire) with Retrospect. What was your experience? Is this drive compatible?
5. A simple ethernet network--I plan to set up an Airport interface in about a month when I can finally get DSL, and have no intention of running wires all over my house. Once again, will the Airport network offer the solution?
I would appreciate anyone's advice and experience in their solutions to backing up their non-SCSI Macs.
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