| Close your eyes for a minute (after you read this | | | | document, Carbonite has you covered. Your backup |
| sentence) and think about everything that is on your | | | | will include up to three month's worth of old versions |
| computer right now. Chances are good that you rely | | | | of files. As stated on Carbonite's web site, "if you |
| on your computer for everything from simple, | | | | edit a document daily over the course of three |
| everyday tasks to mission-critical functions. Now, | | | | months, Carbonite will save one version for each of |
| imagine that all your files have suddenly | | | | the previous seven days, one version for each of |
| disappeared-all your photos, your financial records, | | | | the prior three weeks, and one version for each of |
| your business-related documents. What else will you | | | | the prior two months." |
| lose? | | | | Remote Access |
| With so much precious data in one place, it's | | | | Carbonite recently added a new feature that allows |
| imperative to create backup files; however, it's | | | | you to access any of your backed-up files from any |
| estimated that 43 percent of computer users still | | | | computer with Internet access. So, if you're visiting |
| lose irreplaceable emails, documents, photos and | | | | grandparents and want to show them the latest |
| other files every year. Why? Because hard drives are | | | | digital family pictures, simply go to Carbonite.com, |
| mechanical machines with moving parts that will | | | | click on "Remote Access," login with your email |
| inevitably fail. It's a lot like driving a car-you know it's | | | | address and password, then choose the files you |
| not a matter of "if" it will break down, but "when." | | | | want to view. This is also great for people who |
| Don't wait until it's too late. If you have anything of | | | | travel near or far on business. |
| importance on your computer, you absolutely must | | | | Affordable Insurance for Your Digital Assets |
| set up a reliable backup process. There are lots of | | | | At $54.95 a year, Carbonite is well worth its cost. |
| ways to do this, but you should choose a | | | | You'll have the peace of mind knowing that once it is |
| trustworthy method to which you can easily commit. | | | | set up "it just works," and you won't have to do |
| Backups the Hard Way | | | | anything except trust that your files are safely |
| If you still think the only way to create backups is to | | | | stored and easily accessible if and when you need |
| manually copy all your files and programs onto CDs, a | | | | them. |
| USB drive or another computer, then you probably | | | | Good to Know |
| aren't creating backups. This type of backup is better | | | | When you are ready to set up your Carbonite |
| than nothing, but it requires time consuming | | | | subscription, plan on the initial backup taking quite a |
| downloads and recoveries to which few people can | | | | bit of time as the service safely encrypts and stores |
| commit and still leaves your data at risk should your | | | | all your files. For example, backing up 2-3 GB of data |
| house catch fire or suffer other physical damage. | | | | will initially take about 24 hours; 30 GB will take about |
| Some choose to work around this problem by storing | | | | 10 days. If you are using your computer during setup, |
| their backups at another location like a relative's | | | | initial backup will take about 33 percent longer but |
| house or even a safe deposit box. This is still better | | | | won't interfere with your computer's processing |
| than nothing and slightly better than storing backups | | | | speed or Internet downloads. |
| in your own home, but you still haven't solved the | | | | After initial set up, Carbonite only backs up changed |
| problem of a time-consuming, manual task that most | | | | files, so the process goes much more quickly. If you |
| people only remember to do about once a year. | | | | are on your computer, you shouldn't even notice that |
| Hands-off Backups | | | | the backup is happening. Carbonite tries to complete |
| Enter Carbonite. This service protects unlimited | | | | backups during your computer's idle time, so you'll |
| amounts of data on your computer's internal hard | | | | need to leave it on when you aren't using it. |
| drive by backing it up through an "always-on" | | | | Videos and single files that are larger than 4 GB will |
| broadband Internet connection (like cable, DSL or | | | | not automatically get backed up by Carbonite. |
| fiber). After an initial download and setup, seamless | | | | However, you can easily backup both with a few |
| backups occur automatically when you aren't using | | | | easy clicks, and you can change the default settings |
| your computer. | | | | to include automatic backup of video files in the |
| Safe and Secure | | | | future. If a video file is over 4 GB, then you'll still |
| Carbonite keeps data private and secure by | | | | need to perform a manual backup of it. |
| encrypting it before it ever leaves your computer. | | | | The current version of Carbonite is designed for the |
| And, it remains encrypted on Carbonite's storage | | | | standard 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP |
| servers (they're behind lock and key in | | | | and Windows Vista. If you have an older version of |
| Massachusetts). Only you will be able to access your | | | | Windows, like Windows 98, Windows 2000, or |
| files using your super secret password-and you aren't | | | | Windows ME, it won't work. If you have a Mac, |
| telling anyone, right? | | | | Carbonite recently introduced a version of its service |
| Access to "Deleted" Files | | | | that works on Intel-based Macs running OS 10.4 |
| If you need to find a file that you have (perhaps | | | | (Tiger) or 10.5 (Leopard). |
| accidentally) deleted or an earlier version of revised | | | | |