Experience with Carbonite? Other choices.
I'm considering Carbonite to back up images and other computer files. Advertising and websites always look good. Would appreciate any eperiences and if there are other choices that are available. T...
Forum Discussion
While Carbonite may be cheaper and have a user interface that is a little more friendly, it didn't meet my needs for two reasons:
1. Most cloud backup services only allow you to back up to the cloud.
Mozy allows you to back up to a local hard drive at the same time you back up to the cloud. 30 days of backups are saved in the cloud and the last two versions of a file are stored on the local hard drive. This allows you to have a local backup that you can quickly and cheaply (depending on the service you have at your current campground) restore files and have an offsite cloud backup that you can use if anything happens to your local computer and hard drive. If you have Mozy set to backup locally and to the cloud and either your hard drive or the cloud is not available, it will back up to whatever is available. When the hard drive or cloud becomes available, it will back up the missing files during the next backup. Mozy keeps track of what is backed up where.
2. Carbonite will not back up an "exe" file and by default very large files. The large file default can be overridden, but the "exe" limitation can not. Their logic is that you can not use a backup of an application to restore it (you must reinstall it) so they feel there is no need to back up "exe" files. The problem is that most of us now download our applications (newer computers don't even come with a CD/DVD drive anymore.) When you download your application, you are asked if you want to purchase a CD/DVD installation disk for $10-$25. If we don't do this, the only way we have to reinstall the program is the "exe" install program that we downloaded. This install programs need to be backed up some place and I prefer my regular backup process. I have a folder called program updates that I place install programs in. Mozy allows you to backup any type of file. This leads to a potential higher cost though because Mozy no longer offers unlimited space like Carbonite does. Because you can either set what type of files you want to back up or set which files you want to backup, I can back up my "exe" instal programs without backing up "exe" application executables.
Like many of the backup programs, Mozy encrypts all of your files using state of the art encryption on your computer (using a key that you supply and only you know) before they are sent to the cloud. They cannot access you files even if they want to without knowing your key. Should Mozy ever go away (as some have suggested might be a problem), I still have my local backup with all of my files.
Like most other backup services, you can access your files on your phone and tablet using a Mozy app. The files are unencrypted using the key that you supply and only you know.
As others have mentioned, the first backup will be huge no matter what service you use. While it takes place in the background and over several days, it is a lot of data. Don't do it on a service that has a low data cap. Once you have the initial backup complete, the day to day backups are not a problem. The only place I turn them off is in Canada where it costs me to much to use my Verizon hotspot. I only back up there when I have WiFi.
Jim
1. Most cloud backup services only allow you to back up to the cloud.
Mozy allows you to back up to a local hard drive at the same time you back up to the cloud. 30 days of backups are saved in the cloud and the last two versions of a file are stored on the local hard drive. This allows you to have a local backup that you can quickly and cheaply (depending on the service you have at your current campground) restore files and have an offsite cloud backup that you can use if anything happens to your local computer and hard drive. If you have Mozy set to backup locally and to the cloud and either your hard drive or the cloud is not available, it will back up to whatever is available. When the hard drive or cloud becomes available, it will back up the missing files during the next backup. Mozy keeps track of what is backed up where.
2. Carbonite will not back up an "exe" file and by default very large files. The large file default can be overridden, but the "exe" limitation can not. Their logic is that you can not use a backup of an application to restore it (you must reinstall it) so they feel there is no need to back up "exe" files. The problem is that most of us now download our applications (newer computers don't even come with a CD/DVD drive anymore.) When you download your application, you are asked if you want to purchase a CD/DVD installation disk for $10-$25. If we don't do this, the only way we have to reinstall the program is the "exe" install program that we downloaded. This install programs need to be backed up some place and I prefer my regular backup process. I have a folder called program updates that I place install programs in. Mozy allows you to backup any type of file. This leads to a potential higher cost though because Mozy no longer offers unlimited space like Carbonite does. Because you can either set what type of files you want to back up or set which files you want to backup, I can back up my "exe" instal programs without backing up "exe" application executables.
Like many of the backup programs, Mozy encrypts all of your files using state of the art encryption on your computer (using a key that you supply and only you know) before they are sent to the cloud. They cannot access you files even if they want to without knowing your key. Should Mozy ever go away (as some have suggested might be a problem), I still have my local backup with all of my files.
Like most other backup services, you can access your files on your phone and tablet using a Mozy app. The files are unencrypted using the key that you supply and only you know.
As others have mentioned, the first backup will be huge no matter what service you use. While it takes place in the background and over several days, it is a lot of data. Don't do it on a service that has a low data cap. Once you have the initial backup complete, the day to day backups are not a problem. The only place I turn them off is in Canada where it costs me to much to use my Verizon hotspot. I only back up there when I have WiFi.
Jim
