Best config for back-up \ shared storage?

[G4Grover]

Here's the situation, I have 3 machines I am interested in having access to a large drive, mainly for back-ups and shared storage (music and photo's mainly).

1 is a Powerbook
1 is a Dell Laptop
1 is a homebuilt PC

I have plenty of storage space on the PC and could easily add another drive, but I can't get my Powerbook to play nice with it. (been fighting with it since 10.3.5) However my Dell can no problem.

I can access my Powerbook from the PC no problem, but the PB is obviously a laptop and not up all the time for back-ups, etc... (and sort of limited on space)

The Dell is another laptop, so same problems as above, but I also can't access it from the PB.

I have thought about a NAS (Networked Attached Storage) device, but I am afraid I'd have the same connectivity issues as I've had with the PC.

I've also thought about a USB 2.0 drive and finding a way to connect it to both the PC and the PB via USB. Then sharing it out to the Dell via the PC.

What's your opinions on how to best solve this setup?

TIA - Jason

 

[Jeffo]

it sounds like to me that there is not a lot of solutions for you. given the laptop/desktops that you have now. I would probibly try to get the desktop/powerbook com problems ironed out. i know that is easier said than done, but other wise if you hook up one of the external drives to the laptops you will find yourself (seemingly) always saying something like "well i can't do that now because the drive is not hooked up". i have done that type of a setup before, i got sick of it real quick.