*Chiming in to basically agree with BlackAeronaut*
There are long term storage issues with write-able dvds (most won't last a full year, even some of the high end ones won't last 5).
Unless you are planning on making a monthly backup, and recognizing that you will want to store those backups in a dark/dry location, I would not recommend doing backup on optical disk.
Spinning magnetic platters may have moving parts, but I have had far fewer hard drive failures than I have had burned disk failures (I would even go so far as to say I have lost more MBs on failed CDs/DVDs than I have on failed disks)
If you have a free slot in your computer (and feel comfortable cracking the case) you can get an 750GB internal hard drive for $75.
If you don't feel comfortable opening the case and plugging in 2 cables, you can get an external hard drive that will plug into a USB 2.0 slot. (This won't be as fast, and you will pay slightly more for the same size as an internal drive)
But if you are not worried about high speed access, either is an acceptable backup solution.
I have no idea what size your current hard drive is, but you should be able to buy another one of the same (or slightly larger) at 10GB/$1.
Sorry for the rant-y nature of this post, but people should really be backing up their data.
And backups that require you to do something are less likely to happen, automated backups are best.
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy
There are long term storage issues with write-able dvds (most won't last a full year, even some of the high end ones won't last 5).
Unless you are planning on making a monthly backup, and recognizing that you will want to store those backups in a dark/dry location, I would not recommend doing backup on optical disk.
Spinning magnetic platters may have moving parts, but I have had far fewer hard drive failures than I have had burned disk failures (I would even go so far as to say I have lost more MBs on failed CDs/DVDs than I have on failed disks)
If you have a free slot in your computer (and feel comfortable cracking the case) you can get an 750GB internal hard drive for $75.
If you don't feel comfortable opening the case and plugging in 2 cables, you can get an external hard drive that will plug into a USB 2.0 slot. (This won't be as fast, and you will pay slightly more for the same size as an internal drive)
But if you are not worried about high speed access, either is an acceptable backup solution.
I have no idea what size your current hard drive is, but you should be able to buy another one of the same (or slightly larger) at 10GB/$1.
Sorry for the rant-y nature of this post, but people should really be backing up their data.
And backups that require you to do something are less likely to happen, automated backups are best.
-Terry
-----
"so listen up boy, or pornography starring your mother will be the second worst thing to happen to you today"
TF2: Spy