For a while I have been using USB drives to store semi-current files. Currently a 128Gb Sandisk Cruzer as it's always plugged in and allows me to keep the MBAs 128Gb drive 1/3 empty.
To keep it sane I have everything stored in dmgs that once full either get archived or copied across to the next USB. (I started this process using a 16Gb)
I currently have:
Projects (32Gb for PDFs: proposals, briefs and other project specific docs and files)
Software (8Gb: 2/3 full)
Fonts (8Gb: 1/2 full of fonts, icons and svgs)
Docs (8Gb: mostly empty but for references, api docs, etc)
The free space is largely taken up with virtual machines that I copy across to the MBA HD when needed.
Backup is quick and easy as you backup the dmgs.
Same for archiving as you name the dmg file with the date range.
I do have a few dmgs that are "stuff", but generally anything important goes straight from email, dropbox, etc to the drive. Everything that ends up in ~/Downloads is typically deleted.
The 2Tb primary backup drive though is a different story. When you hit files with 8.3 names you know you're in deep. It's about due to be replaced with a 4Tb.
I'd find a different solution if you can, apple usb ports shouldn't be relied on long term. I've had them fail on me before and it becomes more and more likely as the machine ages, and not a simple fix.
To keep it sane I have everything stored in dmgs that once full either get archived or copied across to the next USB. (I started this process using a 16Gb)
I currently have:
Projects (32Gb for PDFs: proposals, briefs and other project specific docs and files)
Software (8Gb: 2/3 full)
Fonts (8Gb: 1/2 full of fonts, icons and svgs)
Docs (8Gb: mostly empty but for references, api docs, etc)
The free space is largely taken up with virtual machines that I copy across to the MBA HD when needed.
Backup is quick and easy as you backup the dmgs. Same for archiving as you name the dmg file with the date range.
I do have a few dmgs that are "stuff", but generally anything important goes straight from email, dropbox, etc to the drive. Everything that ends up in ~/Downloads is typically deleted.
The 2Tb primary backup drive though is a different story. When you hit files with 8.3 names you know you're in deep. It's about due to be replaced with a 4Tb.