Just be sure to take into account that you will create a lot more data over the life of the hard drive from the time you purchase it. You can make a similar type of backup with Intego Personal Backup, storing multiple copies of files, and even create bootable clones on an external hard drive for system failure insurance. Time Machine saves older files, so your first backup will copy all your data, and subsequent backups copy new and changed files. Also, check how much data you have to back up, and buy a drive that has at least twice that amount of storage. So if you want belt-and-suspenders protection, it’s a good idea to get one drive for each. You use an external hard drive for backups with an apps like Intego Personal Backup or Apple’s Time Machine, but you can’t use the same drive for both. Yet there’s no real advantage to Thunderbolt as a backup drive. While the transfer speed can be higher than USB 3, it’s only really useful if you’re working on files on that drive, such as editing video. Thunderbolt drives are on the more expensive end in fact, they are priced at more than twice the average cost. You can currently get a 4 TB hard drive for less than $100, and external drives are now available in sizes up to 16 TB. There are all kinds of external hard drives, from a number of brands.

The standard way to back up a Mac is to use a hard disk connected via USB or Thunderbolt. This post highlights the different types of hard drives for Mac that you can use, and how to choose the best backup hardware for your needs. You have lots of choice, but each of these devices works best in specific situations. So how can you tell which type of hard drive is best for you?Ĭhoosing a hard drive to back up your data can be a quest in and of itself.

You can use external hard drives connected to your Mac, portable hard drives that you connect when needed, or network devices. There are different types of backup hard drives available for Mac. Likewise, if you need to use a backup hard drive to restore your data, it can save you a great deal of time, money, and headaches. We often remind you how important it is to back up your files, but it’s not just the backup that matters. The media you use to store your data is critical! Apple 4 Types of Backup Hard Drives for Macīackups are a lot like insurance: it’s imperative to have it, and you hope you never have to use it.

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