I'm always in search of a better way to set up backups for my computers. As a Mac convert for the last two years, backup is a different animal than on Windows. In fact, it is much simpler particularly when it comes to the registry.  Macs store their configuration data in users profile and system wide in a file structure.  Duplicate that, replicate, backup and restore that and you're back in business.

I've always had a natural aversion to offline media such as tape drives, DVDs, etc. They always fail. Even while working in IT, I always moved to other means of doing backup. My most recent setup was using Avamar to do onsite and offsite tapeless de-duplicated backup for a previous employer, now client.  If you're interested in Avamar, drop me a line at raffi <at> flossyourmind.com. I may write something up on them soon after we upgrade. Anyway, back to this...

Dropbox

I've been using Dropbox since it was released and recently upgraded to their FULL account (their free service maxes out at 2GB, pro services is 50GB).  I briefly looked at Microsoft's offerings which support Macs, but their "cloud" sync stuff has been in flux and hasn't settled down. And frankly Dropbox just works.  When installed it creates a Dropbox folder in your user profile (same for Windows and for Linux) and connects to your account.  Any files or folders placed in your Dropbox folder gets synced up to the dropbox website and to any other computers associated to your account in near real time.  So as you create or edit documents changes are automatically send up to the service.  What if you delete a file or accidentally make a change that you want to reverse? Drop box keeps a revision history of your files, critical for a backup product. My main beef with Dropbox is that you have to use their folder structure. So you cannot backup a "standard" Mac folder such as Documents or Library out of the box.  My understanding is that this is coming in a future release and could eliminate the need for using MobileMe for most. Dropbox also does a binary diff on the files which allows for smaller updates.

Because Dropbox is a syncronization tool its useful for people who have more than one PC that they do work on. For example, I have a desktop computer in my home office and I carry a laptop with me.  I also have a third Windows XP/Ubuntu Linux machine that I use for random work as needed.  Applications that load settings from a designated folder can be modified to use the "same" location in both PCs to keep them in sync.  I do this successfully with 1Password between my iMac and Macbook.

Carbonite

Carbonite, like other offsite backup utilites like Mozy, is easy to use.  I looked at Mozy early on but had difficulty with their Mac client. I have used it for PCs for single computer offices succesfully. It's slow but it works. Carbonite does not provide many options and that's a good thing.  By default as shown on the left is to backup your user folders and everything in it. You can define what you want backed up if you want to manage the backup yourself.  In addition you can define folders that will not be backed up.  It took about 2 weeks to backup my computers as it slowly trickles in the background.  This will vary depending on the amount of data you have and your UPLOAD speeds.

Restores are very easy and fast.  Carbonite also now offers the ability to browse your files online and recover them to any location without a client. Similar to DropBox.  The advantage of Carbonite  is  there isn't a storage maximum for backing up. This is great for large photo and video libraries and for me, Virtual Machines.  What Carbonite does not do is syncronize files between computers. Because of this it's basically only a backup/recovery tool.

CAVEAT- After playing around with Carbonite, it would not backup Virtual Machine files and ignores that folder.  It doesn't allow you to select it even if you wanted to.  However, if you rename the folder, it shows up.  While contacting support they discouraged backing up Virtual Machine disk files and recommended moving the files that need to be backed up outside of the VM (data files) or purchase another subscription to Carbonite and run it within the VM itself.

Carbonite is licensed per computer that is protected.

Summary

My quick and easy summary is that the product that is best for you depends on your need.  If you utilize multiple computers and like your files with you at all times, Dropbox is the tool for you. If you have a large library of files that are large like videos, photos, and music then Carbonite might be a better choice.

Or you may need some combination of both. As I said, I already have an account with Dropbox and I won't give that up. I did purchase a Carbonite account to protect my videos, photos and music library at least one of my computers so that that information is stored offsite.  I currently have a Drobo with Time Machine to backup my iMac (backing up my macbook with Time Machine to the drobo over the network works, but its problematic) for onsite backup. If I stuck some of this big stuff on my dropbox I'll definately go over my limit. 

What are your thoughts? How do you work with multiple machines or backing up large blobs of data offsite?

**if you use the DropBox link above, I get some extra space. I would really appreciate it ;-)