Backup and Synching Strategy

geoduck no quahog

not particularly consistent
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Nov 8, 2002
13,024
Seattle, WA
I've looked through the forum and can't find any specific advice. I've also searched the web and have come up with a couple of strategies.
 
Here's the situation (should be generic, but I'll be specific):
 
- 1 big Desktop PC (main home use 500 GB data storage drive D:)
- 1 network HD backup (500 GB HD F:)
- Windows 8 Dell XPS Laptop (used extensively for home use when I live overseas, non-networked)
- iPad (work and play)
- iPhone
- Several external drives with archived materials from previous projects
- Wife's Macbook and iPhone
 
- Work laptop (not necessarily a consideration - provided by company when working overseas, and tied into their network)
 
Very simply, although I use Windows backup to the external network dive (F:), I'm interested in additional protection, as well as access to files from overseas. I'm also interested in backing up my wife's files for her.
 
The best strategy discussion I've seen online involves
 
a. Use Dropbox (free?) for synching files between multiple work/home computers, including iPad
b. Use Cloud Storage (Crashplan recommended) for backing up multiple computers and accessing older files that don't need synching/updating
 
When I look at Carbonite's site, I see that they offer multiple computer (and external drive) backup solutions, as well as a synching program (Share & Synch) in one package. Each computer costs either $60 or $100 (depending on whether or not an external drive is included). I'm not sure whether, in my case I could do 2 computers (Dell and Macbook) for $60 and then the Desktop + External Drive for $100, or if it's be $100 x 3 for all of them regardless.
 
Crashplan offers up to 10 computers (and external drives) for $150...which seem like a no brainer. No file sharing.
 
Questions (other than the ones I'm missing which you'll point out):
 
1. Do I still need a network HD backup if I go this route?
2. I assume I ignore the iPads and iPhones since they have their own iCloud backups/storage
2a. Does this mean I have no need to backup iTunes?
3. Is the two-program solution better than a 1 program solution?
4. Can I backup my external HD's (non-networked, say 3 of them) - on a 1-time basis?
5. Would my wife have access only to her (Macbook) backup, so i can keep my own backups secure?
6. Is the whole strategy too complicated...should I just keep backing up to the external network drive and use Dropbox for synching?
7. Am I being anal?