jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

I am using the G Technology 2tb back up. just plugged it in and set time machine to back up to it. It does. Yes it does. Down at the bottom of your computer if you haven't moved it is the dock. #1. in the center is the square with the gear. #2. Click on it and you get the following. #3 Click on time machine and follow the directions.

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GrandmaG Loc: Flat Rock, MI

Thank you for this...the screen shots will help when my iMac gets here and I set it up...er plug it in. I don't think it will require much setup. Does the G Technology back up the whole computer like the Time Capsule or is it more just for documents & pictures? Also, it isn't wireless since it uses the thunderbolt connection. Is it noticeably faster than USB?

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

When you click on the time machine button, #1, you open this screen #2. Down in the lower right corner is this button #3. Click on it and you get this screen #4. scroll thru the list and pick the items you don't want backed up and click save.

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jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

Since I have no idea which applications you will not want saved, the ones in the above window that I have not saved are the dark ones. The one that is greyed out is the name I gave the drive I back up to.

Dale40203 Loc: Louisville, KY

Time Machine can be set up to archive select folders. You'll be presented with those options when you first start the program.
Starting the program is as simple as attaching an external drive to your computer. When iMac detects a new drive, it will ask you if you want to make it your Time Machine drive. If you don't want to begin using Time Machine right away, you can always reach it by selecting the icon in the top Menu Bar.
When you get a new drive, unless it is the Apple branded one, you will need to run Disk Utility to Format it.
Select the drive from within Disk Utility, go to "Erase" and make sure the Format selection box shows Mac OS Extended (Journaled).

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I use the built-in backup, Time Machine. I have a 500GB WD My Passport for my iMac 21, connected and sitting behind it. I leave it alone, and it does the backing up when it wants to. I have a Transcend 750GB on my iMac 27.

If you think you need a waterproof external drive in your house, you have bigger problems than backing up your computer. :D

jimbrown3 Loc: Naples, FL

Apple Care is even better than one to one. You can call any time from any where and get the answers. Plus, they will share your screen with you (with your permission) to make any adjustments/fixes needed. Any subject any time. No appointment! I have used it often. Well worth the price.

tomcat

Hey guy, I have been using LaCie drives for 7 years and (knock on wood) never had a failure. Apple store recommends them and that's all I have ever used. So I can recommend them based on my own personal stash of 5 LaCie drives, but I buy the more rugged Quadra style cases. I don't use the Porsche style because they look too delicate.

rspmd23 Loc: NYC , now in Westlake, Florida

My computer geek friend told me that the industry has problems with 3tb drives. Stick with 2.

wmontgomery Loc: Louisiana

Get the Time Capsule backups happen automatically using Time Machine. If you have AppleCare on your iMac the Time Capsule is covered also. Newer macs will even backup while asleep if Power Nap is enabled.

trc Loc: Logan, OH

Grandma,

You don't need the i7 unless you are doing a lot of videos/movie editing, and/or, you are running many, many applications at the same time (most people don't have but 2 or 3 applications running together). The i5 will be just fine - get that other 16 GB of RAM and max out your iMac with 32 GB. I have an iMac, maxed it out to 32GB on my own - very simple, and I do a lot of image processing. I have a lot of applications on my machine, but very rarely have very many running/open at the same time. It runs very well and I have had no problems. I do burn some movies or do some online recording, but usually don't have but 2 or 3 other applications running concurrently.

You can get many, many different external drives for backing up your images and whatever. Think about getting something like your own personal/private cloud or a Synology DiskStation (multiple hard drives, separate, but 'linked' together in one enclosure) or a WD My Cloud (really just a hard drive and don't get less than a 4 TB one) if you have the money and can afford to do so. Read up on them on the Internet if you are not familiar with what I am talking about.

I wouldn't recommend a separate external hard drive less than 4 TB to make it worth your while and if you have very many images to store. Also, Backing up your backup is also a very wise and recommended path to take. You may or may not need help hooking up the personal/private cloud devices or Synology DiskStation, depending upon how technically and computer knowledgeable you are. Good luck in your research and purchase.

Best Regards,
Tom

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

The 3TB Thunderbolt drive will be fast. But you need to have a second backup, at least for your images and any important financial/legal papers. Need a RAID 1 so you have two exact copies of images in the same unit.

There are options.
1. Ad a network attached storage unit tucked away in another part of your home. Unless you are in the boondocks, it is unlikely that your entire home will burn to ash. I am building a new home and in a corner of the basement there will be a small room with concrete walls. I will install a fireproof door and a small Halon fire suppression system.

2. Make you back up a RAID 1 device with two 3 TB drives. You can then remove one exact copy and take it off site. Replace it with a newly formatted drive and it will rebuild itself and again give you a duplicate copy on site. (Make sure the RAID device has auto rebuild functionality and that you can hot swap the drives.

3. You could also back up the data to a Blue-Ray disc. However, I am not sure if the dust has settled on the life span of these discs.

My $0.02

docerz

Besides Time Cap... consider a second drive. For example: a usb 3, 5TB drive @ Costco is $139.00. SuperDuper! and Carbon copy cloner are great imaging programs (copies the entire drive and is bootable). USB 3 is very quick and you can never have to many backups.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

I think this was a fantastic choice. Apple way overcharges for memory and you can add your own for less. Just buy the good stuff, not the cheap stuff and make sure it's compatible. www.newegg.com is a good source. Sign up for their daily deals e-mail and you might just get lucky! Good luck with your new machine.

cjc2 Loc: Hellertown PA

Thunderbolt is quite a bit faster than USB, even version 3. Although the time capsule is very nice, it it a bit overpriced, as are all that is Apple, but of course I own one and love it! I would suggest the Seagate external drive, as long as it comes in a Thunderbolt version. I have a LaCie version, but it is pricey. For backup, I see no reason NOT to use USB 3.0 which are less $$$. Get either a Seagate or Western Digital. Again, www.newegg.com . For my tastes, I use a Synology DS Station, but that may be a bit of overkill for a newbie! E-mail direct if you have other questions (cjc2photo@gmail.com). Any way you go, enjoy!