Time Machine allows you to specify the frequency of backups, so you’re set there.
Also, no one’s forcing you to use a 500 GB drive exclusively for Time Machine. They DO sell lower-capacity drives... or, why not just partition the external drive into a 100GB partition for Time Machine, and a 400GB partition for storing files?
My back up is about 390 gig, lots of video and digital pics.
I’m not really complaining, that drive is really just a ‘spare’ anyway...I had nothing much on it anyway...
...how do I specify the back up frequency? Haven’t seen that in preferences...
Thanks!