external hardware device for MacBook?

Hi,
I have a MacBook running OS X 10.4.11 and 1GB memory altough ive only used 17mb.
Im looking for a backup device as i have to upgrade to Snow Leopard, I only want something with 80GB.
I borrowed my dads Apple Time Machine but when I got it home realised it needs Leopard 10.5.7 or later which is, of course, the reason for me wanting to back up in the first place.
So I don't wan to spend much on a device, can anyone recommend anything?
Thanks.

I believe both SuperDuper and Carbon Copy Cloner have versions that support OS X 10.4.X. You may have to dig a bit to find them though. Both programs will make a cloned copy (backup) to an external hard drive.

I did find carbon copy cloner but don't really understand how it works?
If I lost data from my mac is it stored on that website? How much does it cost?
I can't understand how a website is an external device.
Thankyou

rippersroo said:

If I lost data from my mac is it stored on that website? How much does it cost?
I can't understand how a website is an external device.
Thankyou

Click to expand...

No one mentioned anything about a storing info on a "website". What was mentioned was an "external hard drive". This is a external storage device just like what you have installed inside your MacBook...except it plugs into the MacBook via a USB cable and resides inside it's own external housing.

- Nick

Oh I see so it is actually a device I have to buy. As when I went on the website it's not very self explanatory and there's a link to download the carbon copy cloner so I thought its just a program or something, there's no price or anything this is what I don't understand. This probably sounds very stupid but I've not done this type of thing before!

rippersroo said:

Oh I see so it is actually a device I have to buy.

Click to expand...

Yes that's exactly it...something like one of these:

OWC USB 2.0 and 2.5" SATA Portable Hard Drive

rippersroo said:

As when I went on the website it's not very self explanatory...

Click to expand...

Well...it's kind of like going to a website to buy tires for an automobile...they sell tires...but nowhere does the website say you have to own an automobile to put the tires on (it is assumed that if you're shopping for tires that you already own a car)!

Same thing with the "Carbon Copy Cloner" website. They sell utility software to back up your computers information. They pretty much assume that the person buying the software has a basic understanding of how to back up the information on a computer.

If this is not the case in your situation...I would advise doing a little bit of internet research before proceeding further...so you have a better understanding of the process. For example...give this a read:

Dr. Mac's Guide to Backing Up Your Mac

HTH,

- Nick

Thankyou for all your help, I got a hard drive yesterday and am now successfully running Snow Leopard.