Tonight, as I was trying to complete an important GU project, I ran out of storage space.

I have 2 Western Digital 75Gig Raptors. They've lasted a long time; but, I've known I was going to have to add more storage space for a while now. All of those comic photoshop files, custom artwork, MMOGs, etc., eat through my "capacity" pie chart.

At any rate, I've put in a rush order for a 500Gig drive. Thanks New Egg (and Maximum PC for the recommendation). With any luck we won't see any GU downtime because I ran out of space to save new comics.

you tossing it in the case or having it be in an external enclosure woody?

i've gone the external enclosure route due to the ease of portability...plus if i know i do not need it, i just don't turn it on.

Just curious Woody, do you use any external storage devices or offsite storage, in case of accidents at home? I have been looking into some of the on-line storage, but in cases like yours, I would probably use something like Iron Mountain or something noted for storing company data. I am always nervous about off-siting personal data, photos, music, etc are one thing (as I have nothing illegal), but I recently put some data on a DVD and put it in my safe deposit box.

The new storage device will be internal. GU will be backed up to an external drive "just incase". It would be exceedingly hard to convince me to store GU off-site.

150 gigs? For a webcomic?

Yeah, no surprises for me that you're having storage problems.

I would, however, like to advocate the benefits of off-site backup, at the very least. Too many times has a 'Very Good Thing' in my internet experience gone up in smoke when the server and all it's backups where destroyed/stolen/infected.

150 gigs did fine for 2.5 years. It's the games that take up the most space. Damn gig-whoring MMOGs.

Kind of hard to steal/damage a backup drive stored in a fire-proof safe bolted to the floor.

Originally Posted by Woody:

Kind of hard to steal/damage a backup drive stored in a fire-proof safe bolted to the floor.

Heh.. funny you should mention that as one of the 'Very Good Thing's that was lost came about because someone ripped up the floorboards and stole the entire safe that the backup drives where kept in... t'was just a matter of an blowtorch and some time before the safe was surely cracked.

Of course, I've no idea what the condition of the building the thing was in or if the 'floorboard' was actually just a large panel, but, needless to say, nothing's invincible.

Originally Posted by Woody:

Damn gig-whoring MMOGs.

It is those MMORPGS that hog em up. I was so tempted on my new pc to buy a fast drive and then just a storage drive. But alas, I just went with a 500gig drive, and realized I don't need anything that fast.

And hope this is not taken as unsolicated advice.. But for those that read this and are curious, there are quite a few off-site places but those are quite expensive and not usually used by individuals (like Iron Mountain and Recall). They are really cool places to visit though, huge underground bunkers with racks of files, both paper and electronic. As a company we require all our software suppliers to escrow their source code in a place like Iron Mountain and we store our archives there too. For a personal user I use the fireproof safe method and keep a couple key things on-line (which is actually useful if I need that info if I am not at home too) and one DVD in the safe deposit box at the local bank. I wouldn't know what to suggest (and I won't) for a personal/smaller company who has some much critical data daily.

The new 500 Gig-er is formatting even as we speak. Life should be a lot easier for a while.

I love NewEgg. I buy parts there by preference, when I'm not in an instant-gratification mood (in which case, I go to Fry's). I've had some problem with getting bad parts from NewEgg, but their return/replacement policies are stellar, so I have no reason to complain.