Question about changing drive configuration - RAID and SD!

[peterm1]

Thanks for all your help. Due to the cost of the Drobo, in the end I decided to do the following:

1) I just ordered two 1TB WD black caviar 7200 32mb cache internal HDs. They will form a RAID 1 system to replace the RAID 1 system I have now.

2) I bought a LaCie 1TB Firewire 800 external HD, and I will use SD to make a daily backup to this drive. This cost me $270, instead of spending $500 on the Drobo.

I may also buy a second LaCie 1TB drive to make an additional copy of my drive and store it offsite in case of fire, etc.

I will now have 3 extra 500GB drives and 1 extra 250GB drive. Eventually maybe I will get a Drobo if they come down in price. I may also get an external enclosure for one of the 500GB drives and use it with Time Machine to back up my main HD, although I have never accidentally deleted a file I needed (but an external enclosure is pretty cheap, so why not?).

Thanks again for helping me think this through!

Peter