Comments on: Is Backup on Apple’s Back Burner or Simply Abandoned?

By: Apple Backup Returns with an Update

Apple Backup Returns with an Update — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 21:10:56 +0000

[...] Backup 3.2. I’m a big fan of Apple’s easy-to-use, yet often quirky backup solution. However, back in November I noticed that the program was quite long in the tooth after its second birthday still stuck at [...]

By: Ender

Ender — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:41:01 +0000

There are flash devices like keepod (www.mykeepod.com) or iron key that can handle backups for you, and fit in your pocket wallet…

By: Khürt Williams

Khürt Williams — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:04:27 +0000

For the last four months, I’ve been using Backblaze to backup an iMac. Like Time Machine it lurks in the background doing it’s thing. I can recover by downloading files, order copies on DVD, or for about $150 get all my data shipped to me on a 500GB FireWire drive. $150 is not a lot to pay to recover critical data.

By: interesting

interesting — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:59:16 +0000

I didn’t realize my MacBook could do Time Machine backups to a disk at home while I’m on the road (eg over the internet). Can someone point me to instructions for setting it up to do backups to a Time Capsule from the road? Thanks!

By: Ruben

Ruben — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:22:47 +0000

I have a company MacBook and it connects to my MacMini server at home for backups (Time machine). It does that at home and at work, great! It also does that from any place in the world through internet… Never had any issues with it, it just takes a heck of a long time from China to backup to The Netherlands… But it works!

By: Paul Russo

Paul Russo — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:01:27 +0000

Avoid Apple Backup like the plague

Apple abandoned it for Time Machine for a reason. Backup never worked reliably. I’ve had several clients loose data being backed up by this program. I’ve had several loose data they *thought* was being backed up with this program. This is bad news.

By: Is Backup on Apple’s Back Burner or Simply Abandoned? | PHP Web developer, Robert Kern

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:46:00 +0000

[...] by Dave Greenbaum via The Apple Blog [...]

By: John

John — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:32:48 +0000

I use Carbon Copy Cloner a couple times a week with my external and it perfectly suits my needs.

By: brett

brett — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:31:27 +0000

I just canceled MobileMe when the trial was about to expire, because I found DropBox and gMail gave me all the functionality I needed from it. However, even when I had it, I didn’t use Backup (which I agree was clunky when I tried it) because MobileMe syncing and Time Capsule effectively performed that function for me. I realize that doesn’t account for files you accidentally delete from the Mac itself (and which would then be automatically deleted on MobileMe as well), but I guess I’m just not so worried about doing that.
Also, at least for documents, can’t you just drag the files/folders you want to backup to your iDisk? I realize it’s not automatic but at least that way you’d have a second set of offline backups in case of inadvertent deletion of a file on your Mac. Anyway, I hope that with Dropbox, Time Capsule, and Gmail, I’m covered for backups. MobileMe still just doesn’t quite offer enough added value for me to renew.

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 07:08:10 +0000

Synctoy is not a backup tool. It is a synchronization tool. Backing up a folder (like documents and settings) is fairly useless. I could restore a user’s documents, desktop… but not their applications, and user enviroment.

For that, you need Acronis.

–Sam

By: connectionfailure

connectionfailure — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:54:53 +0000

I stopped using it when I tried to back up my multi-GB iPhoto Library. First it made One Giant File, then segmented the file. The access speed to the iDisk here in Australia is miserable, so it kept failing, leaving a copy of these files on my Mac.
After this happened a few times, it used up all the disk space on my Mac.
Nasty piece of work.
Roxio used to come with Deja Vu and Stuffit has an automatic backup routine as well- even these would be better.

By: why

why — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:46:22 +0000

Yes, one of the unfortunate things about some Apple software is that from time to time it neglects to update the software. This article makes that point about the Backup program. There are others such as Aperture.

By: Ben Huebscher

Ben Huebscher — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 19:05:43 +0000

With MobileMe and the current Time Capsule, you can host your own off-site back-up server. You can connect to your Time Capsule wherever you are through it’s support of Back to My Mac. You can now even add multiple MobileMe accounts for all your family members — it also works as a file sharing device.

By: Louis Wheeler

Louis Wheeler — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:13:52 +0000

I think you are missing something: one off site backup solution is the Mac Mini Xserve. If you colocate it elsewhere, you can copy your files to it, off site, via Time machine. It cost only $999 and has a terabit of disk space. You can add extra disk drives, too. This has the advantage of being under you complete control, but located elsewhere. Also, you can use it as a web server, as well. That gives you two arrows to your bow.

By: Dave Greenbaum

Dave Greenbaum — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:58:49 +0000

Yeah I’ve done a restore. It’s not fun, but I don’t think it’s any more tedious than Retrospect or other programs.

I don’t consider Dropbox or SugarSync true backup programs–they are synchronization programs. If you accidentally delete a file from the source, it’s removed from the destination. Or, in my case, SugarSync messed up and removed data from the source. Still fighting to get it back–thank goodness I had Time Machine.

However, since so many of you mention off-site backup programs like Mozy, Carbonite, and Backblaze (my review of Backblaze is almost done)–is Apple basically saying go use someone else for your backup needs?

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:31:58 +0000

Have you ever attempted to restore from a Backup backup?
If you have not, I suggest you do.

Then, you will understand why development of this product has come to a screeching halt. The restoration process is tedious and mind-numbing at best … and certainly not worth the hassle.

Mozy and Dropbox are definitely better off-site solutions.