savvyITsolutions BLOG

Posts Tagged ‘Carbonite’

Carbonite co-founder and CEO David Friend talks about the backup service and the importance of automatic, offsite backup.

Carbonite Online Backup doesn’t work as well as you think!

One of four Carbonite commercials airing across US cable networks in 2009. Carbonite offers unlimited online backup for consumers and small businesses. It’s the easy, automatic and secure way to back up your computer files safely offsite. For more information, visit www.carbonite.com.

USA TODAY’s Jefferson Graham & Edward C. Baig review online backup service Carbonite on the USA TODAY Talking Tech web video show.

This video shows an example of how to install and use Carbonite for online data backups. It is meant to compliment an article on www.edgefielddaily.com

There are many reasons to use a file backup service, like Carbonite backup service, but the number one reason is pretty clear. Everyone has files on their computer that need to be protected and backed up incase anything bad happens to their computer and the computer and the files it poses are gone forever. Think of how many irreplaceable pictures you may have on your computer or files that you have to have for work. What would you do if your computer crashed tonight, would you be protected?

There is nothing in the world like feeling protected and knowing your files are always safe and backed up is no different. There are many reasons to go with Carbonite Backup Service when it comes to protecting your files, but here are just a few:

•Simple to use: Carbonite backup service is extremely user friendly. The process of getting the software onto your computer is very easy and it runs in the background of your computer so you never have to try to remember to enable it because it is always on when your computer is on.

•Extra layers of protection: Most online backup services will encrypt your files once, but Carbonite goes the extra mile and encrypts your files two times. To add to the security, no one can gain access to the files unless they have your password and only then will the files be descrambled so to speak.

•Always Working: This goes with the first point. As long as your computer is on, your files are constantly being backed up and encrypted. Carbonite backup Service is always looking for more files and you never have to remind the program to do it.

•Files are never lost: Even if your computer self-destructs, you can easily retrieve your files from Carbonite Backup Service with just a few strokes of the keyboard. You can retrieve your files literally from any computer that has an internet connection at any time of your choosing.

•Works on MACs too: Unlike many of its competitors, Carbonite Backup Service doesn’t just work on PCs, but it will also work on MACs as well. No matter what type of computer you have, Carbonite Backup Service can help you protect the files that are on it.

•Free trial: Everyone loves free and Carbonite hears you loud and clear. They offer a no risk 15 day free trial and they don’t even require a credit card to take advantage of the offer.

Let’s face it, in life unforeseen things can and do happen. Why risk losing your irreplaceable files if you don’t have to? You may think you are not going to ever lose your files, but the fact remains that even the most trustworthy computers do crash. Beyond that what happens if your computer ever gets stolen or destroyed in a fire? The point is you just never know what life is going to throw your way, but you can feel safe and know that your files are protected by using Carbonite backup.

Your external will fail and you have so much stuff that you need a backup to your backup that’s %100. Carbonite backs up at four different places and is unlimited for fifty bucks a year.

Carbonite backup is one the many online backup storage services available in the market today which are designed to provide alternative backup protection in the event of computer failures or natural catastrophes.  This Carbonite review takes a closer look at the service and evaluates its features to see how it keeps up with the demands of the times.

Carbonite Backup Basic Features

For an annual subscription fee of $54.95, the service offers unlimited backup capacity, encryption technology for secure storage, a convenient backup process, and technical support through phone, live chat, or email. It is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Mac.

Carbonite uses a single type of service which is applicable both for personal and business use. Currently, the service is free for a 15-day trial period with no credit card required.

Pros

Carbonite users are completely impressed and satisfied with many of this online backup service’s features, among them:

Ease of Use – It is easy to set-up and use. The installation is fast and simple and the backup process is easy to follow.

Security – Files are encrypted before leaving your computer and are stored encrypted on Carbonite’s secured servers, completely safeguarding them from unauthorized access.

Background Worker – This online storage backup facility functions quietly in the background without slowing down your computer or causing any disruption to your work. 

Automatic Backup – After the quick installation and initial backup, you can practically forget about it. Most file types are automatically backed up so you don’t even have to think about doing the task yourself.

Reliable Service at a Small Cost – Carbonite backup offers a very affordable way of keeping your files secure. At less than $5/month, that’s a small price to pay for convenience and peace of mind.

Cons

Despite its strengths, however, the it is by no means perfect. In fact, there are a number of areas where users hope to see some enhancements on in the near future.

For one, while Carbonite’s customer support is better than most it still needs improvement according to some users. Some have complained that their queries aren’t answered as quickly as they’d like and the information they get isn’t as thorough as they had hoped. The fact they offer phone, chat, and email support is a good move, but they also have to pay more attention to the quality of help that they are giving, say some users.

Restoring files in volume or doing so to another operating system (e.g. Windows XP to Vista) has proven to be a difficult experience for some. Since the main intention of having an online storage backup is to have access to your files anytime you may need them, a complicated retrieval process can discourage users from utilizing the service.

It would also be good to remember that Carbonite’s automatic backup function only works for documents, photos, music files, email, and settings. Videos, programs files, and large individual files need to be selected for backup manually. However, once you select those files, they are automatically backed up from that point forward. This is very important to point out because some users have complained that they lost their videos after their computer crashed because they assumed they were being backed up when they were not.

Carbonite Review Summary

Carbonite is one of the more reliable online backup services available today. It places a lot of emphasis on ease of use and security, which are two of the main considerations that home users look for. However, it is not perfect but none of these services are. There has to be some comprimise when you’re paying less than $5/month for unlimited online backup. The good news is, Carbonite and services similar to it continue to improve every year.

Before you make your decision, be sure to read the detailed Carbonite backup review here. Then be sure to read the Carbonite vs Mozy analysis to see how it stacks up against the other popular online backup service for the home user.

In these tough economic times are you considering buying a cheap treadmill so you don’t have to go to the gym? Is it smart to buy one and what are the benefits to having one? If your budget is stretched thin and you are looking to buy a cheap treadmill, you should take some things into consideration first. Even though these treadmills may seem like a great buy, you shouldn’t make any hasty decisions without doing your homework.

If you are buying a used machine, then inquire as to how old it is. How long has the machine been used? Has it had any problems during its lifespan? If the machine looks like its not been used and priced very low, consider the possibility that it could be stolen before you buy.

The Internet and television both have ads for cheap treadmills. There are a lot of fly by night companies that may be closed in a year, just when you may require a replacement part. Other companies offer treadmills for cheap but you are really settling for a machine that is not what you really want or is problematic. Just for a few hundred dollars more, you can get the dependability and trustworthiness of a top of the line model that has additional convenience factors, such as MP3 Player Docks and heart rate monitors built in. You want to avoid buying an outdated model that will end up becoming a clothes rack.

It is vital that you choose a machine that will meet your fitness and exercise goals. A good quality treadmill will run you anywhere from $1000 to $3000. A quality treadmill will cost a little bit more money upfront but in turn it will provide you with a better workout, provide you with a good warranty and will last longer. A cheap treadmill typically only has 90-day warranties, break down often and quickly and provide you with a less than desired workout experience.

A lot of people buy treadmills to avoid joining a gym. Nevertheless if you buy one that breaks down in a few months, you are stuck with something that is broken. At that rate, you will still need to either join a gym or buy new equipment. During these tough economic times, your wallet just cannot afford this type of loss.

Another thing you’d best consider before buying a treadmill is your specific fitness needs. Do you plan to do just brisk walking most of the time? A good model for walkers may cost you around $1,000. If you’re more of a jogger or a serious runner, then you’d need to pony up more. A reliable treadmill for runners would be within the $1,500 to $2,500 price range. A cheap treadmill would not withstand the daily usage of a jogger or serious runner since most cheap models would not have the durability that higher-priced ones do.

So what is one to do given all these possible scenarios? In the end it all boils down to the fact that skimping on your treadmill purchase now could have you spending more in the future. Save yourself the hassle of having to deal with repairs and broken equipment down the road by not buying a cheap treadmill.

Is Carbonite Backup the best online backup solution provider? Drop by our site and take a look at the full review of Carbonite online backup and determine yourself if it is. We also provide reviews of competing companies and general information on data backup.

From our “How-to” series: Learn how to restore a file from your Carbonite backup.