Time capsule right for a college student?

I'm going to college this fall and is time capsule the right external hard drive? I just got a 500 gb one but my macbook won't recognize it and I'm concerned about the lack of wires. I want my external hard drive to be for my computer alone, and i dont want to have to worry about others using the internet to store/use it. Should i stick with time capsule and just yell at it until it works or get a different external hard drive?

well if you are worried about others using it, you can always put a password on the network. As far as if its the right one for you, if you just want an external I think thats what you should get. Time Capsule is for using time machine over your airport network (plus its also a great router). Are you using tiger? Because that might explain why you cant recognize the Time Capsule...

I'm using leopard, I'm on my family network but that shouldn't change anything. It(the time capsule)'s right next to my laptop.

Right now the amber light is flashing on it, the entire network is fine, i can't find the time capsule using airport. I've tried unplugging it and replugging it in but that doesnt fix it.

So you're entire computer doesn't even recognize your time capsule?

It can't find it. i tried getting resetting the time capsule, but the amber light won't stop flashing.

Okay, i just got it to find it, now it's setting it up. hopefully this will work now. How would I set up a password? Will there be a prompt letting me block it from any computer but my own? And can I use it to store stuff besides what it's backing up with time machine?

yeah. use WPA encryption. If it's possible, WPA2.

okay it still couldn't identify after reboot... and is wpa encryption an option somewhere for the device? It's my first time setting something like this up.

I don't have a Time Capsule, but I would most certainly research it for you to try and find you some answers.

I found something that could help you. It's the very last post:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=469437

Everything's updated, it will identify it once, maybe if I'm lucky. Then it goes to set it up, but when it tries to identify it after reboot there's nothing

hmm. Strange. Ill keep searching for ya

alright, thank you. I think i may try to just set it up as another network. Am I allowed to be connected to two networks at once? If so then couldn't I have one network for my backups and another for internet?

To answer your new question: I dont think so. The only way i know of to have two networks is with two separate TCs.

and heres something I found about the flashing amber light. It's a C&P, but ill provide the link where I found it:

FIrst, unplug the time capsule.
Then hold in the reboot button with a pen (small thing on the back)
Keep holding it when you plug back in.
Then go to your computer-open airport setup assistant.
You should have a whole new setup profile--asking you to input new password, change security etc...
When you save changes, the Time Capsule should reboot itself and you're in business.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1443779&tstart=135

I saw that and did exactly what it said but I still have the same problem that it's not found after it restarts. I just finished my 5th attempt that way and it's still not working.

whew. this is a doozy. The more I search, the less related articles. You say you just got a 500GB model. If it's new, you could get it replaced if nothing is working at all.

Have you tried connecting the TC via ethernet?

I haven't tried using ethernet no. My macbook is the only mac on our network, the rest are pc's. would that impact it at all?

it shouldn't. but try connecting the TC via ethernet. If that fails, it's prolly time to replace it. But connecting it via ethernet is a for sure way to getting it recognized.

Alright, I'll try that. Thanks so much for your help.