New to Mac - Help!!

[jsciullo]

I just moved over to Mac a few weeks ago (iMac - Intel based running OS 10) and have some basic questions. Please forgive me if I do not use the correct terms in describing my questions.

1) If I use SuperDuper do I need Time Machine?

2) I understand that SD will let me create a bootable external drive? Is that correct?

3) Is there an advantage to using SD and TM together?

4) I already have an external FireWire hard drive that Im running TM on. Should I run SD on a seperate ext hard drive or keep it on the same drive as TM. If I need to get a new drive how do I figure out much space I need for SD.

5) The USB drives are less expensive than FW. Is there any advantage to using FW with SD.

6) Can I mix and match USB and FW drives? For example, can I run TM on FW and SD on another USB based ext drive?

6) If my internal hard drive crashes (its a 500Gb drive) can I run my iMac using the info stored by SD.

7) What is the process to restore my internal disk in the event I have to replace it? Will I need info from both SD and TM to get the iMac up and running again?

Sorry for all the questions, Im trying to make sure I understand what I am doing.

Thanks,
Jim

[dnanian]

There are an awful lot of questions here that are readily answered by reading the User's Guide (or some of it), Jim, so I'm going to give brief answers here and ask you to review that for details, OK?

1. No, but using both gives you some advantages. See the "Time's Arrow" post at the Shirt Pocket blog.

2. Yes.

3. See 1.

4. It's best to use a separate drive or partition. You should have about the same size as the source drive.

5. Yes, FireWire is faster and more reliable.

6. Sure.

6 (second 6). Yes, see 2.

7. See the User's Guide.

[jsciullo]

Dave-
Thanks for the info!! Im leaning towards two ext drives and using both SD and TM as well. Looks like each has a purpose.

Jim