I am looking at getting an external hard drive for Christmas, but I have a few questions. I am looking for at least a TB, preferably 2 TB. I will be using it to back up the files on my computer and to store my digital movie collection. Btw, I have a Macbook.
Can I use Time Machine to back up my computer, but then still put other files on the external HD? I don't plan to keep these movies on my computer so they wouldn't be backed up with Time Machine. They will only be on the external HD, but I want to be able to sync my new files and music on my computer using Time Machine. Is that possible? Maybe a partition or something like that? Also, is there a way I can watch these movies while still on the external hard drive? This seems much easier than moving them to my laptop every time I want to watch one. Also, is there a way to hook the hard drive up to my router so that my roommate and I can both share it? I have read a few things about this and it seems that I can buy something to be the file server (I'm not sure I used the right terminology) or I can use an old desktop and install Linux on it. And as far as that stuff goes, can I password protect the HD? Like someone would have to enter a password to be able to access the HD. We already have a password for our router, but I would just like to be able to do that too.
I know these are a lot of questions. I appreciate any answers. Also, I am not super knowledgeable about computers and networks, but I have a decent knowledge and I am smart enough and enjoy the challenge of trying to figure all of this out, so feel free to give me any you can offer. Thanks!
BTW, I was considering these two because of price. I'm not exactly rich lol.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002QEBMCI/?tag=macforums0e4-20
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Seagate...ksgivingWeekendSale_2010_Computers&cp=1&lp=34
Can I use Time Machine to back up my computer, but then still put other files on the external HD? I don't plan to keep these movies on my computer so they wouldn't be backed up with Time Machine. They will only be on the external HD, but I want to be able to sync my new files and music on my computer using Time Machine. Is that possible? Maybe a partition or something like that? Also, is there a way I can watch these movies while still on the external hard drive? This seems much easier than moving them to my laptop every time I want to watch one. Also, is there a way to hook the hard drive up to my router so that my roommate and I can both share it? I have read a few things about this and it seems that I can buy something to be the file server (I'm not sure I used the right terminology) or I can use an old desktop and install Linux on it. And as far as that stuff goes, can I password protect the HD? Like someone would have to enter a password to be able to access the HD. We already have a password for our router, but I would just like to be able to do that too.
I know these are a lot of questions. I appreciate any answers. Also, I am not super knowledgeable about computers and networks, but I have a decent knowledge and I am smart enough and enjoy the challenge of trying to figure all of this out, so feel free to give me any you can offer. Thanks!
BTW, I was considering these two because of price. I'm not exactly rich lol.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002QEBMCI/?tag=macforums0e4-20
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Seagate...ksgivingWeekendSale_2010_Computers&cp=1&lp=34
