Mike:
Didn't you post that you were using Lightroom? If so, just import the photos into LR, but then offload them onto DVD data discs. LR will still keep indexes and keywords of the photos, so that you can search and look through the images... but the hi-rez versions are off the drives. When you back up a group of photos, clearly label the DVD, and add the keywords "DVD #14" or such in LR to find the photo easily.
I setup a new Photoshop computer fairly recently with a 24" Samsung, 4 gigs of RAM, and two 500GB F/W Maxtors. (I, too, have had excellent luck with external Maxtors and probably have 6 terabytes worth on a dozen or fifteen drives that I use for both video and still photo storage). The drives on the new PS computer are divided, with one drive being personal photos and the other business photos. I offload onto DVD, duplicate the DVD, and keep a copy off-premises.
