time machine

How much time and money should go into a backup system? Mac's Time Machine appeals to my lazy approach to backups, that is, I dont want to have to remember to do them; I just want them available when the need arises to restore. And that need does arise.

Whoever said there are only two things we can be sure will happen, death and taxes, obviously did not live in a fire-prone landscape, nor did they ever accumulate years of data on an aging hard disk.

I checked the back of the Time Machine box at the bookstore. It did not say "go to CostCo and buy a cheap terrabyte." I wonder if Time Machine sw plays well with others' hw.