Time Capsule for a back-up device and a WiFi device

Question

I would like to start backing up by way of a Time Machine (I assume this is the same as a Time Capsule). Is it possible to use a Time Capsule to back-up and to set up a Wireless network in my home? If so, is it possible to allow several people to use the Time Machine to get on the internet (like the Airport Extreme)?
My other option was to get a LaCie external hard drive as my back-up device. (do I need to worry about the LaCie being pre formatted HFS+ or is this pretty standard?) Being the novice that I am, I would like the easiest but highly secure set-up that is in this range. I think LaCie makes good external drives that work good with the Apple products which is why I would consider using this device for my back-ups and my old Airport Extreme for a wireless network in my home.
I have a 500 hard drive in my MBP and am looking at the LaCie Rugged Hard Disk
FireWire 400 & 800 | Hi-Speed USB 2.0 | 500 GB
thanks for any help.

Answer 1

One2Two wrote:
So the Time Capsule and Time Machine do go together, correct?
you could say time capsule was designed to work hand-in-hand with time machine.
The icon I have on the dock called Time Machine is the software I would use to get the Time Capsule up and running, correct?
no. you get time machine up and running using the time machine system preference pane. the icon in your dock is for when you want to enter time machine in order to restore files from your backups.
you configure the TC's router side with *airport utility*
Oh, I remember Jolly Giant--you and a couple of your buds were really trying to drive me into the ground with your men and untrue statements sometime back.
huh ?
if you're referring to my involvement in this thread -> http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2418460&start=0&tstart=0, i can see only supportive comments and suggestions from my fellow users and me.
So, if I were to get a Time Capsule, I would not need my 3-year-old Airport Extreme.
you don't need but you still can use it (unless it's dead).
Since formatting a drive is easy, is this knowledge a person needs beforehand or will the program walk one step by step?
you would use *disk utility* to format the drive. however, all my LaCie drives came formatted for Mac.
I was thinking another option that I could try to get my 3-year-old Airport Extreme up and running and get the LaCie as back-up hard drive.
again, time machine will not back up to drives connected to an airport extreme, however, ChronoSync will.
I would like the LaCie with the orange extra pad of protection
i have one of those myself (the one with firewire 400/800 and USB interfaces and 320 GB capacity) and use it for CCC clones. they are very handy and reliable.
I think CC clones are a bit over my head. I would like to get something that I just plug in it determines what needs to updated, does it thing and I disconnect it and of I go until I am at home next time.
CCC is very simple to use but it sounds like time machine (in connection with a time capsule or a directly attached LaCie drive) is the right thing for you - it's basically fire and forget. however, for time machine to work, your computer must be running.
JGG