Backup queries, including how to backup to USB thumb drive

[Leaper]

I have two places I put backups for my Macbook so far: an external HD and a USB thumb drive (this one I put only important personal files, not OS or anything like that).

So far, I’ve been updating the latter with drag-and-drop, because Time Machine won’t let me back up to USB drives. This strikes me as inefficient, inconvenient, and possibly dangerous for missing files (so far I try to alleviate this by sorting my windows by file date so new stuff is right on top).

Anyone know anything better?

Any other options I should consider? I’m not entirely comfortable with THE CLOUD <tm>, but I can see its allure.

[Hail_Ants]

I don’t use a Mac, but if your backup software doesn’t allow you to backup to USB drives I would say it’s rather outdated and you need to simply upgrade to something that does.

[Leaper]

It’s Time Machine, so I can’t selectively back up only certain stuff, and no update is forthcoming. I’d prefer not to pay for a solution, but if it’s reasonable…

[beowulff]

@Leaper

It’s Time Machine, so I can’t selectively back up only certain stuff, and no update is forthcoming. I’d prefer not to pay for a solution, but if it’s reasonable…

Yes you can.
Time Machine let’s you specify which directories to NOT back up. So, you can use that to just back up the stuff you want.

I use a combination of TM and Carbon Copy Cloner.

I would not use a thumb drive as a backup - to few write cycles, and to unreliable (IMHO). Fine for data transfer.

[Leaper]

@beowulff

Yes you can.
Time Machine let’s you specify which directories to NOT back up. So, you can use that to just back up the stuff you want.

I use a combination of TM and Carbon Copy Cloner.

I would not use a thumb drive as a backup - to few write cycles, and to unreliable (IMHO). Fine for data transfer.

Ah, yes, now I see I can exclude items from backups, but that would mean I’d have to switch those on and off each time I switch between my backup media, wouldn’t it?

I used to use CCC too, until it went pay.

Do you have a suggestion for a second medium? I liked the thumb drive because I could keep it with me when I went out, so it wouldn’t be destroyed if my apartment burnt down or something (which is something they warn you about in re: backups).

[beowulff]

@Leaper

Ah, yes, now I see I can exclude items from backups, but that would mean I’d have to switch those on and off each time I switch between my backup media, wouldn’t it?

I used to use CCC too, until it went pay.

Do you have a suggestion for a second medium? I liked the thumb drive because I could keep it with me when I went out, so it wouldn’t be destroyed if my apartment burnt down or something (which is something they warn you about in re: backups).

Hard drives are dirt cheap.
You can get a 3TB external drive for $100 these days.

I use two of these - I keep one in my safe deposit box, and the other at home in a fire-proof filing cabinet. I alternate them every few months. My daily backups are handled by an internal Time Machine drive.