Best backup solution for data

[R1ch]

I am very new to the Mac - got my Macbook Pro a couple of weeks ago. I would appreciate any advice you have regarding backups. I have an external firewire hard drive for backups - but I am not really interested in backing up my entire laptop and OS. What I would like to do is to schedule backups of all my data only (photos in iPhoto, documents, address book, mail etc). Then if the worst did happen I would install the OS from the original disks and then just copy across my data files. Can anyone recommend an application to do this? Thanks.

 

[twocargar]

Re: Best backup solution for data

Some people swear by Retrospect, but I didn't have a very good experience with it (I lost a lot of data--TWICE using Retrospect). Now I use software called Backup that comes with the .Mac (dot Mac) service.

http://astore.amazon.com/appledoctor-20/detail/B0007LW230/103-2551192-2451017

It works great and you can schedule different backups to different media or even to the 1GB of online storage you get with it--I think it's useful to backup "offsite," especially very important things like serial numbers, account data, etc.

Don't be surprised if you ask 10 people and get 10 different answers. Everyone has their opinion.

Good job being proactive and thinking about backups!

TCG
http://shop.appledoctor.net

I am very new to the Mac - got my Macbook Pro a couple of weeks ago. I would appreciate any advice you have regarding backups. I have an external firewire hard drive for backups - but I am not really interested in backing up my entire laptop and OS. What I would like to do is to schedule backups of all my data only (photos in iPhoto, documents, address book, mail etc). Then if the worst did happen I would install the OS from the original disks and then just copy across my data files. Can anyone recommend an application to do this? Thanks.

 

[mattw]

You might consider online backup such as Mozy which is free for up to 2GB. You don't need to remember to backup and it will be "off site" so that in the event of a fire or theft where you would also loose your external drive, you don't loose your priceless photos.

 

[soLoredd]

I just go with a FireWire external and use SuperDuper! to run SmartUpdate every week (or when needed). That way I have an exact clone of my MacBook hard drive just in case. With SuperDuper! you can also just copy your user folder and keep that updated.

 

[Father Jack]

Another vote for a firewire external hard drive.
For software I use Intego Personal Backup, awesome combination ....