jimhaz2402
Crossville, TN USA
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Joined: 09/17/2004
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Kim Komando used one of her online newsletters the other day to recommend Carbonite. Yes, I realize that it is an advertiser of hers. And, yes, it costs $130 for 3 yrs. I'm using a SeaGate external HD doing incrementals every 2 wks. and a full back-up when needed. But I keep the HD with me in my office and in the coach when we're on trips. If we were to have a fire or theft, I'd be 'up the creek' for sure! I like the way Carbonite backs up your data on a daily basis, etc.
Have any of you had experience with it or know somebody who has and likes/hates it? Your thoughts will help me make my decision. Thanks. Jim
* This post was
edited 10/30/09 04:07pm by jimhaz2402 *
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debaets
California
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Joined: 02/12/2006
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I just recently had a computer die. The tech guys from two companies came out to try and repair it to no avail. They couldn't even get it to startup completely. The total cost to get the info from the hard drive and install it in a new computer was going to be $750.00. So I said Ok, what other option did I have, I needed the info. Then my wife reminded me that we had Carbonite. We bought a new computer, installed the programs and went online to Carbonite and restored all our info to the new computer. I don't know how long the restore took because we started it before going to bed and the next morning it was done. Sure was easy. One of the really nice things about Carbonite is you don't have to remember to backup, it does it automatically when ever you change anything on any program. It finds the changes and saves them. We also just bought it for our netbook that we travel with. I'm a customer for life. Great product on reasonably priced.
Steve & Jeri De Baets
Manhattan Beach, CA.
2004 Dolphin 5342
79 VW Convertible, Triple Black
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2Fliers
Moneta
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Joined: 11/20/2008
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I've had Carbonite for about a year, and used it to restore some of my data files a couple of time, and couldn't ask for anything simpler to use. The only downside that I see is if you use a mobile broadband card with a 5g monthly limit. I usually disable Carbonite when I am working from the Roo.
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Klueck
Georgia
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Joined: 11/15/2008
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Boy that was lucky for you. I have been thinking about getting Carbonite but just haven't gotten it done yet. You are a good advertisement for them.
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tafische
Memphis
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Joined: 10/14/2009
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I have not tried Carbonite, but I do use Mozy for the last year. It has worked flawlessly.
I highly recommend these offsite backup systems. For years I was doing the external hard drive backups and carrying them offsite, but it sure got to be a pain. I am also a firefighter and have seen many computers burned beyond recognition. Insurance can replace the computer, but folks lost 1000s of pictures and documents. For $5 a month for either service, you just cant beat it.
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fj12ryder
Platte City, MO
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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The idea of internet storage backups sounds like a good secondary backup system. I wouldn't use it as first line since you're dependent on someone else to back up their system. 
Howard and Peggy
"Don't Panic"
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strollin
San Martin, CA
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Joined: 06/12/2003
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Internet based backups seem like a good idea provided you have a fast internet connection. Make sure you consider the upload speed (for backup purposes) as well as the download speed of your connection when deciding whether or not to use an on-line backup service.
For instance, the connection I have is limited to about 200K upload speed so an on-line backup literally takes days to accomplish. Way too slow to be of any use to me.
If you have a fast internet connection it probably is a viable solution but it just is not an option for me.
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Hayes
Grand Prairie, TX
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Joined: 10/19/2000
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I was considering Carbonite, however a friend told me he had tried it and it really slowed down his computer. He said the reason was that Carbonite is encrypting and compressing information as you input it. Has anyone experienced this or know for sure it is true?
Hayes
Jerry, Alma & Jasper the lovable Corgi
International 4700 Custom Tow Truck (Pepaw's Pull Toy)
38' King of the Road Marquis fifth wheel.
"Running the roads seeing God's Great Creation!"
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FoxFifth
Eugene,OR
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Joined: 11/14/2008
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A couple of other options are iDrive or Mozy. Both offer up to 2 GB free which is enough for me to back up just my data files. I use iDrive with just a scheduled backup so it doesn't have any effect of slowing down my machine when it is not backing up.
2005 Arctic Fox 27-5L
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Gdetrailer
PA
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Joined: 01/05/2007
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Backing up is a good idea, I myself about a week ago ended up with a rootkit virus and some malware to boot. Fortunately I keep a backup image of my HD, restored it to a new drive and walla backup and running one day later.
I use an old version of Drive image to make a complete image of the HD.
The downside was the image was quite old. The upside though that the virus didn't infect any of my documents or photos on my old HD. So I connected the virus tainted HD to my newly image HD and isolated the virus and copied all the documents from the virus damaged drive.
Now while you think it is a good idea to use an online backup service, consider these thoughts.
How sensative is your data? Personal stuff flung out in cyberspace is a very good way for potential hackers and spammers to get a hold of your info.
Online storage may let you down, I experienced that with one I have been using, one day everthing I had stored was completely gone! Good thing I don't rely on online storage for my important stuff.
The best way to handle this is to buy an external USB HD. I have found that Iomega has some nice external USB drives that INCLUDE EMC backup software (you get a license to download from EMC). This is looking like the route I will be taking to make backups easier.
In addition WINZIP14 also has a version that also includes a backup scheduler. This is also a great way to backup since the files can be unzipped easily and XP can do that for you.
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