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iTunes config & Backup software for Mac

Hi. I'll be using a MacBook as a music server only, which I'll purchase next week w/ Leopard installed. Couple of quick questions.

1. Because I'll need at least 230 gb for music, I'll have to put my iTunes library on external drive. Is it easy/straight forward cofiguring iTunes so that it knows I want my music library on external drive?

2. Because music will be on external drive, I'll have to back up that drive to a second external drive. (The internal drive on the MacBook will just be OS programs/files.) If I'm interested in backing up music library only, anyone know if Time Machine lets the user have a bit more fine tuning control, that is, not a plug and play, but a directed backup?

Thnx.
nycjdc
nycjdc OP
10 posts
 
Thanks all for your comments/suggestions.

Is the Maxtor a quiet drive? I'm seeking ultra quiet and reliable drive. The connection will definitely be firewire, but may only be firewire 400; depends on if the anticipated minor refresh of macbook will include firewire 800 or not.

Any further suggestions on ultra quiet drives?

Is the G-Technology 320 GB any good?
What other manufactures should i consider?

Many thanks.
sidssp
1,077 posts
 
Macbook doesn't have firewire 800, only firewire 400.

Why do you want to stick to firewire? USB-2 is just as fast (actually faster on paper), more reliable, and cheaper.

If you want a quiet drive, try a Seagate.
nycjdc OP
10 posts
 
The thought on using firewire for backup hard drive is that i've been told that w/ my USB DAC that it is best to have a little on the USB as possible.

True or false?
herman
2,267 posts
 
Sidssp, won't you run into a problem when the first drive gets full and and you add a second?
sfar's avatar
sfar
1,764 posts
 
For this application the speed differences among USB-2 and the Firewire flavors aren't terribly important. The only time it will be much of a factor is the one time you back up the whole first drive to the second one and you're not going to have to sit there and watch it do that. Once you're into incremental backups or using the drive to stream music any of the connections is fast enough.
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