Nope, no computer to do that with--they're all laptops that move. Or at least, don't want things hanging off of them.

So, found a decently cheap new wifi and hard drive, but the hard drive I was looking at is powered by the USB. Would that still work with the wifi bit? Any reason to think the power would not be available/sufficient?

The Seagate black armor NAS drives can just plug into your network and work with Time Machine. I use the NAS 220 with Time Machines for the MacBook Airs that K and I have.

Here's a link for the NAS 110:

[link]

I think that is probably way more than I need, ND (other than the "just plug into your network" part, which sounds great).

I was looking at this one, because it's $83, is pretty, and 500GB is more than I'll need for a long time (I don't keep TV shows on my computer, just on TiVO or streaming, so my current entire computer I'm using less than 100GB and I really just want to back up photos and music and a few documents)

Backing a Mac up wirelessly to a Time Capsule using Time Machine is super easy.

It's not a cheap fix but it is ridiculously efficient and there is no user input required. Once I had a laptop die without a recent backup (because I had the tech to backup but needed to shackle the computer to the drive and remember to do it, which I didn't do), I gave in and got one. Everything backs up there and I never have to lift a pinkie. I am hesitant that it will die and two pieces die at once but I think I extended the warranty so as long as multiple hardware isn't dying at the exact same moment, it's a risk I am willing to take. Apparently I backed up five minutes ago and I didn't notice or have to do anything. Wireless and automatic is the key for me actually having a backup when I need them.

I think the Time Capsule is worth the money. I never think about it and it has saved my ass two or three times.

I got one of the Black Armor NAS units, and it's chugging away, my PC and laptop are backing up regularly without my intervention. It's nifty as all fuck.

OK, one more question--if'n I get a new wireless router that has a USB port, and attach a hard drive, all is good for the backing up part.

But when I get a new printer from the new job, how would I be able to print wirelessly to that? It would be quite helpful. I'm not sure if it will be a fancy printer that includes that automatically, but could I in theory link it up via the USB to the printer? Or? I figure if I'm going to be buying shit, might as well not buy it and then in a few weeks go "Oh, dang, I should've gotten..."

wrong thread

I had no idea you could plug USB devices like network drives into WiFi access points. For some reason, when I'd seen the USB port on the wireless routers I'd bought for the house in JA, I'd been thinking flash drives--I'd never gone all the way.

meara, are you thinking you'd share the one USB port between the printer and the USB drive? Or are there routers with multiple USB ports (I'm all woo hoo agog at the idea of plugging your printer in there, but why not? I just have a printer with a NIC) Time Machine backs up when it wants to. I wouldn't be unplugging its target drive willy nilly.

I think I definitely have to replace my router. I'm sure it's the source of the intermittent lags in my network. I am sad I can't fix my port shortage at the same time in the same device--that just seems silly. But I'll see if I can at least do it with one stop shopping with the small device Gud recommended.

Meara, my HP all in one wireless just uses the same wifi that anything else does; nothing plugs in.