Need Advice Online Storage/Backup

Figured I'd come to the local experts Who do you recommend for online storage backup? I've briefly reviewed Mozy & Carbonite online but I don't think either will necessarily meet my needs:

• 2 computers - 1 MAC and 1 PC (each has it's own external drive now)

• No overwriting of files (i.e. if I delete a file on the computer, I don't want it to delete on the backup file)

• Prefer a web interface

• And of course I don't have a lot of $ to spend

Thank you in advance for any insight you can give!

 

Another option is Backblaze: http://www.backblaze.com/

 

Does it have to be online? I use an external backup drive and periodically (or you can set an automatic schedule) run a backup on our two computers to it. It won't help if the house burns down but will help when replacing a computer or when one crashes.

Seagate FreeAgent is what I have. The interface is easy. For very important files we have a safe deposit box and can put files on a DVD and store it there.

 

I actually haven't tried anything yet. Just was reading some online reviews before I loaded an app. on the computers. Which is why I would prefer a web interface if it exists so that both computers don't have to have the same software on them.

I didn't think that Carbonite supported Apple yet. All of our pictures & videos are on the Mac and all of our financial data & other documents (i.e. worksheets, lists, etc) are on the PC. I would prefer all my backups in one online location if possible.

I would prefer to not have the overwriting. I like the Mac's time capsule that takes a "picture" at a point in time, so everything is there. This option is not an absolute requirement, but if it existed out there.........

I already have external hard drives for each computer, but feel more comfortable if I do have everything out there in outerspace should the house burn down. The dvds I burned that are in my safe deposit box will likely eventually be worthless and why I'm not leaning towards online storage.

Thanks again for your help

 

My dad was interested in trying Carbonite (I think he is doing their free trial right now). My concern for him is that I believe you have to open a port on your network security to allow it in. If that means it is a specific IP address you are allowing to have access to your files, that's workable for me; for him, however, it's trickier since he knows nothing about computers or adjusting his security settings. Is it true that you open a port to allow Carbonite (or whomever) to do automatic backups? Is there a manual option that does not require this?

Are the automatic backups the big draw? Because really you could upload your files manually to a regular web server and store them there, but I don't think you can schedule it automatically.

I (obviously) haven't tried this system but it seems to be a growing trend for data backup.

 

Check cout Dropbox http://www.dropbox.com

Don't need to use the "sync" functionality if you don't want to. You can store copies of your files/folders offsite.

It is free - extra $ if you need more space.

 

You may be right - I didn't look at it myself and my dad is definitely no techie!

 

Twohokies, we use Carbonite (briefly tried Mozy but it slowed me down). Carbonite is cheap, painless, and invisible. It does everything I need it to do with zero hassle. I also have an EHD, but it's more of a pain to find a file than if I lost it altogether! Plus after the initial set up (that takes a while), it's super fast thereafter. Love it, recommend it. Look for coupons online and you can get it for $45 per year.

 

http://carbonite.com/aff/cj/buy3.aspx?promo=tpdPLUS5

Sorry. $49 now.

AND, if you're an ebates member, you can link through ebates, that earns 15% cash back. Ebates sends you a paper check or a paypal payment.
http://www.ebates.com/search/all.htm?store_name=carbonite&x=13&y=18

And if you're not an ebates member (it's free), you can get an additional $5 for signing up as a referral. I can send you the link for that.

 

I researched this about a year ago and chose DropBox, and LOVE it. It is software loaded on each machine, but that was not a drawback to me. To add extra confidence that I would always have my files, I added a portable hard drive that does regular backup of the dropbox folder on one of my computers, but since all the files live on all the computers as well as the dropbox server this is probably redundant. Dropbox lets you go back through I think 30 days of history, and it may offer an option where nothing ever goes away permanently, I forget.

 

Another plug for Carbonite. We can even access our files remotely. We can't view them over Carbonite's website, but we can email them to ourselves. Handy feature to have if we're out of town and need access to a file we left at home.

 

Mozy is another well known and good service http://mozy.com/, between mozy, carbonite, and dropbox you have a good selection to look into.

...hopefully we get online integrated backup to the cloud (online backups) with Windows 8...sorry Mr. Linux

Thanks

Mike

 

According to the websites:

Dropbox:
2GB Basic = Free
50GB Pro 50 = $9.99/month
100GB Pro 100 = $19.99/month
Dropbox pricing website

Carbonite:
Unlimited storage for 1 year per computer = $49.46
Unlimited storage for 2 years per computer = $94.95
Unlimited storage for 3 years per computer = $129.95
Carbonite pricing website {AFFILIATE LINK REMOVED PER FORUM RULES}

MozyHome Package:
Unlimited storage monthly subscription = $4.95/month
Unlimited storage annual subscription = $54.45/year
Unlimited storage biennial subscription = $103.95/two years
MozyHome pricing website

 

Thank you Villager for all the pricing and TeamDonzi. This has fallen off my radar, so I will have to look into it again before the holidays kick into high gear. I think I will probably give Carbonite a try for both my PC and Mac; I like the option of accessing the files remotely. And will definitely use my ebates . I'll let you all know how it works out.

Thanks again for all your help!

 

You're welcome TwoHokies....I'm typing this because I just figured out how to do this: (i hope) :boogie: