Hard drive recommendation / backing up PB 17'

[Loopy C]

-Backing up for my 17' Powerbook (60 gb internal system drive).

Up to now I have been doing a DMG to a multi-use external drive (500gb FW Lacie). I now have enough of this drive used that I can no longer create an image to this drive as the image needs approximately twice the source drive space to be available in creating the final image.

All that to say, it's time to buy a dedicated drive JUST for the back-up of my laptop's drive/system. I was looking at the:

LaCie Hard Drive, Design by F.A. Porsche 80GB
FireWire 400 ($119)

for its decent price and seemingly ok reviews. The drive will probably be offline most of the time, I will simply be making periodic clones (no more disk images) of my system. I am about to 'pull the trigger' (I presently have no back up!) but thought I would solicit an opinion here on this particular drive in this function. Thanks in advance

[dnanian]

It's a perfectly good drive, Loopy C, and I think dedicating a drive to your backups is a good idea -- it's certainly what we recommend.

Two things: make sure you update its firmware to the latest version, and erase *and* zero the surface (early on, we saw a number of the Porsche Design units have surface issues that were corrected this way).

Let us know how it works out.

[Loopy C]

My thanks to you. A friendly and informed second opinion was just what I was looking for (I appreciate the zero out tip too). It's nice to know it's served up so nicely (and timely) here. The 'trigger is pulled' then, and I will certainly follow up either way

[dnanian]

Great, Loopy C. We'll look for your report!