In a message dated 1/2/2006 5:43:00 AM Pacific Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I have a similar amount backed up to DVD. I back up every time I have enough to fill a disk. I'm doing 4 gigs now while I read the e-mail. The disk will be ready before I've finished. The LaCie drive writes accurate DVDs at 16X speed. It's a no brainer. Really important files, like client work that I haven't turned over yet, I copy to a second hard drive as well as the DVD backup. But I'll remove that folder after I've turned over DVD copies to the client. Paul =========== I am debating getting an external drive. Of course, I don't consider my photos, right now, super precious. Since I am not making money on this or anything. So it's okay if they get lost in the mists of time.
I usually back up to a RW DVD and to one or two copies of R(+) DVD as well. Since non-RW DVDs are sturdier. But I have a second HD and it still has most of my pictures on it. I've only removed one or two directory of photos so far. And they stunk. But eventually I will start running out of space so an external HD seems like a good idea. They've really come down in price too. But, again, I would not be buying the top flight, most expensive type of external HD. Just like I haven't bought the top flight DVD drive, top flight DVDs, a top flight internal HD, or a top flight camera. I can't justify spending oodles of money on my photography hobby. I've already spent way more than I initially planned anyway. But data recovery is more possible for a crashed HD than a bum DVD, right? Now that I think about it, I don't feel any of these archival methods are quite satisfactory. It would be nice to have negatives. Maybe someday they can come up with a way to make something similar for JPEGS or RAW. Or do they have that already? I suppose if one is smart one back ups one's back ups every four to six years. Since forms of media change. Computers will change and HDs and HD connections will change too. Marnie aka Doe
