Apple says AirPort Disk use with Time Machine is unsupported

Okay, the Time Machine / AirPort Extreme situation is now officially ridiculous. TidBITS's Glenn Fleishmann says Apple's confirmed to him that the Extreme is unsupported for use with Time Machine, even though the latest batch of updates enable AirPort Disks to show up in the Time Machine disk-selection box. Fleishmann thinks a it's leftover developer testing glitch, but either way, Apple's will-they-won't-they routine means lots of people now have an unsupported backup solution that works "erratically." Seriously, if you thought AirPort Extreme owners were pissed off about Time Capsule, just wait until backups start failing. Not a lot of options left, Apple -- better get this feature up and running ASAP.

[Aguiluz @ Apr 7th 2008 8:13PM]

That's why I stick to plain, old DVD disks.

[catachip @ Apr 7th 2008 8:17PM]

Yeah, that makes sense. Back up critical data to a medium that can be destroyed by a scratch.

There is nothing wrong with an external disk, wireless or otherwise. I have two FW800 disks, one I use for Time Machine to backup automatically every hour, the other I use to make a bootable clone each week.

In regards to the article, Apple should either officially add the feature or officially drop the feature. This limbo state is confusing for the consumer.

[Aguiluz @ Apr 7th 2008 8:19PM]

"Back up critical data to a medium that can be destroyed by a scratch."

*points to small safe containing backups*

[wasabi @ Apr 7th 2008 8:19PM]

harddrives can fail. and if you backup on dvd and it's important to you, you tend to take care of the medium. dvd's don't scratch unless you don't store correctly e.g. cd jewel case.

[Aguiluz @ Apr 7th 2008 8:22PM]

"cd jewel case."

Yup! That's the one! And locking them up in a cashbox will prevent the discs from getting harmed!

Hard drives can fail, yes, I lost 9 GB of data on one.

[happy_penguin @ Apr 7th 2008 8:29PM]

For the really important data use both DVD and an external drive. And if it's really, really important, keep a copies in separate locations.

[Aguiluz @ Apr 7th 2008 8:31PM]

And, don't forget encryption.

[RCL1221 @ Apr 7th 2008 8:33PM]

Optical media is the best for backing up data.

Hard Drives should never be considered a back-up media. I've lost an entire 250gb external drive... it was a sad time for me.

[Aguiluz @ Apr 7th 2008 8:37PM]

RCL1221, I pain your feel.

[Aguiluz @ Apr 7th 2008 8:38PM]

WTF!!! I made a mistake! Darn, I wish I can edit my last post and switch the order of two words.

"I feel your pain."

Engadget, please make editing comments?

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 7th 2008 8:57PM]

AirPort Extreme: $179.
Time Capsule 500 GB: $299
Aguiluz's "I pain your feel": Priceless!

[Juaquin @ Apr 7th 2008 9:12PM]

Trying too hard to make a joke work: ...profit?

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 7th 2008 9:36PM]

Actually Juaquin, it was simpler than what you would think; I used a keyboard and a mouse!

[letstakeawalk @ Apr 7th 2008 10:05PM]

Unless, of course, you are a major world government or NGO. Then it is standard procedure to backup your sensitive and critical data on a laptop, and leave it in the foodcourt of the nearest shopping center.

[phanbouy @ Apr 7th 2008 10:35PM]

i take it none of you augment with online storage?

increasingly, the stuff i need to back up is media.. mainly movies and music i've done a lot of work to rip/encode, etc, so DVDs are impractical. I might get a RAID setup, but seems like a lotta overhead just for backup.

[Matt @ Apr 7th 2008 11:12PM]

And what about disc rot?

[monkfishbandana @ Apr 8th 2008 2:49AM]

Back-up? Encryption?

I just remember all of my data.

[Rynth @ Apr 8th 2008 4:42AM]

*points to an LTO3 tape library with a two weeks cycle of tapes in"

My backup media! phweeee...

[matthew Crawford @ Apr 7th 2008 8:15PM]

Pathetic.

[Aguiluz @ Apr 7th 2008 8:20PM]

Yes it is. I mean, Apple is not compatible with Apple? Maybe the apples are unripe. Thy should take their products to a fix first to make them ripe.

[Ignatius @ Apr 7th 2008 9:57PM]

But but.. Macs just work?

[Geir E @ Apr 9th 2008 5:26AM]

I own an airport extreme just purchased the day before the time machine was launched. I wondered if i should return it for a little but seeing how the extreme trashed the network throughput with discs attached i settled for an external drive directly connected.

still, I would think they could do network backup to an external disc connected to the airport extreme just as good as to the time machine. they even could have made an extreme sized disc that can stack under just to do it in a way they make profit. That is a bit silly, but I can't see other companies making it easy either.

[David Hildreth @ Apr 7th 2008 8:16PM]

If your backups are really that important to you, you should be keeping it as simple as possible anyway.

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 7th 2008 9:00PM]

Yeah, exactly, keep it simple!

Wait, what does this even mean?!!?!?!!! :S

[David Hildreth @ Apr 7th 2008 9:01PM]

It means put in a disc and burn that shit.

[andres @ Apr 7th 2008 9:26PM]

in a paper bag and on a doorstep?

[wasabi @ Apr 7th 2008 8:18PM]

wait, so apple is not the best company in the world?

[Zach @ Apr 7th 2008 8:26PM]

nope still are the best :| (according to some..or is it most?)

[Dave @ Apr 7th 2008 11:04PM]

by some or most, you mean Engadget's editorial staff along with all the mac fanboys on here

[salut @ Apr 8th 2008 2:09AM]

Apple fanboys are sad, but not quite as sad as Microsoft fanboys that simply can't help posting on Apple related articles with their bullshit.

[nohone @ Apr 8th 2008 3:35AM]

@salut: Because an Apple fanboy would never comment in a post about Zune or Windows? Do you deny that if this were a Microsoft product, you would not be bashing them? Looking over your post history, you have done the same. You have gone into articles about Surface, Microsoft-Yahoo, XBOX, Zune, Vista, etc. and made (as you call it) "bullshit" comments about Microsoft, but when they are about Apple, they are off limits? Just another sad Apple apologist who will overlook any consumer-screwing action made by Apple, and condemn Microsoft for whatever they do.

[dummy @ Apr 7th 2008 8:23PM]

Apple is usually very literal about the word "supported".

They probably mean they won't provide support for Time Machine backup on Airport Disk, but it's great if it works for you.

[Sneakz @ Apr 7th 2008 8:19PM]

Apple will never make it work. It's cheaper for many to buy a Airport Extreme and an external HDD. Apple wants your money so they will force you buy a time machine.

[Mikey @ Apr 7th 2008 10:56PM]

Time Machine is actually included with the OS. You don't have to buy it.

[phoomp @ Apr 7th 2008 11:55PM]

I suspect he means the Time Capsule.

[Ignatius @ Apr 8th 2008 7:30AM]

No, he means a real time machine, you dolts.

[austin @ Apr 7th 2008 8:22PM]

'if you though'

I judge you when you use poor grammar

[Josh @ Apr 7th 2008 8:39PM]

I judge you when you can't tell the difference between grammar and spelling.

[Aguiluz @ Apr 7th 2008 8:43PM]

Looking back at the article:

"Seriously, IF YOU THOUGHT AirPort Extreme owners were pissed off about Time Capsule, just wait until backups start failing."

Looks like proper grammar to me.

[Virtudude @ Apr 7th 2008 8:24PM]

Seriously? Come on. This is why I bought an Airport Extreme 2 days ago. The dude at the Apple Store even acknowledged it worked with Time Machine.

[ben @ Apr 7th 2008 8:55PM]

The Apple Store only hires the best graduates of your local non-accredited technical school.

[kyoseki @ Apr 7th 2008 8:25PM]

I suspect Apple will only officially support it when they come out with their own line of external hard drives.

[itilir @ Apr 7th 2008 8:29PM]

What are they talking about? It works fine for me. I back up wirelessly using my AEBS and Time Machine

[Kelmon @ Apr 8th 2008 3:03AM]

What they mean is that if you encounter problems either backing up or restoring from the wireless backup that Apple won't help you resolve the situation officially. You may get lucky and get in touch with someone from Apple who will help you unofficially because they can but there is no obligation. However, as far as I am concerned I believe that there is an obligation on Apple to either sort this situation out such that support is officially provided (i.e. it works as expected) or offer refunds to those who bought an AEBS originally because they advertised that you could use it with Time Machine.

[RCL1221 @ Apr 7th 2008 8:34PM]

Apple needs to shove all the bullshit, and not force us to all become Apple-sheeple.

[Mitch @ Apr 7th 2008 9:57PM]

This is apple we are talking about...

[Chedda @ Apr 7th 2008 8:47PM]

works fine for me.... I don't know why apple doesn't support it. what a bunch of crap!

[PGP-Protector @ Apr 7th 2008 8:48PM]

Just remember.
Apple Knows Best

[AutoTom @ Apr 7th 2008 8:56PM]

"Not a lot of options left, Apple -- better get this feature up and running ASAP."

Whipcrack!

[Sam Zebian @ Apr 7th 2008 9:05PM]

I thought macs JUST WORKED, right?? And I would associate that slogan with Apple products, correct?? I guess they're slogan is wrong then.