Help! I need a better backup rouine.

Question

I am looking for suggestions on how to create a better backup routine. I'm on DVD number 140 in my Retrospect Backup set. I need a better solution.
*Our current set-up:*
We currently use a *Dual 2Ghz G5* with an external *LaCie Biggest F800* Raid drive attached to host our graphics files. This gives us the raid security for day to day use. It's pretty fast too as we have it attached via Firewire 800 and Gigabit Ethernet. We have 3 other Macs that log into this G5 under the host's user name in order to see the external drive and access it. (We found this to be the only way we could see the external drive without having to run something like sharepoints.) I know this isn't the most secure way of doing things but security isn't an issue here among the 3 users that log onto the host G5.
*Our current Back-Up Routine:*
Using Retrospect I run an automated backup script every other night to DVD-R media. This is handy because there are times when we need to restore a version of a file that is several generations old. Obviously this becomes a problem as we are now on DVD number 140 and counting. My main purpose for this is to have an off-location backup set.
*What I'm looking for:*
Unless someone has a better solution, I'm looking for a better form of removable storage. I know firewire drives are inexpensive these days however I believe they would fill up very quickly using this type of back-up routine. (Since we don't want to simply overwrite old files.) I don't know if DAT tapes are a thing of the past or if there is something else out there.
Any input would be appreciated. Thank you.

Answer 1

An intermediate step is instead of getting an enclosure for each drive, just get one enclosure and a bunch of bare drives. Alternatively, you can buy a connector (I don't know what they are called technically) which has a plug for IDE (and sometimes SATA) on a small box with the controller card on one end and a USB and/or Firewire and/or eSATA connector at the other. They are intended for people who want to store data on hard drives but not have a bunch of enclosures. You plug in the bare drive at one end and the other into your computer port -- kind of like an enclosure without the box. I wouldn't want to have this setup on my desk all day but I do have some archival hard disks I connect maybe once every two months where I do this.