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Online Backup Services Reviews
Updated November 2007
Experts agree that all computer owners should use some kind of backup solution to protect against data loss or corruption. Online file storage is one option, allowing users to store their most important files on a secure remote server. Online backup services can be a good alternative to backups on CDs, DVDs or additional hard drives -- all of which are subject to damage and require physical storage. Online backup services provide solutions to folks who want to make backup copies of important documents, exchange files with friends and family members or store data that would take up too much space on their hard drive, such as music, photo and video files. Reviews warn that online backup is not a replacement for traditional backup systems, but it can be good secondary protection against unforeseen issues such as fire, theft or damage. We found many very good reviews for online backup services, but this is not a category that reviewers often revisit, and most reviews are old enough that reviewers might have different reactions to the services today. Online backup companies fix old problems or develop new ones and change policies and prices. Acquisitions of online storage providers have contributed to these changes. PC Magazine and PC World have good reviews and information that mostly dates to mid-2006. WebUser is the only computer magazine with regular coverage, but its reviews are far from comprehensive. InformationWeek has the best and most up-to-date reviews among computer magazines. It conducted an excellent roundup review of five services in mid-2007. Ars Technica more recently conducted an excellent roundup review of five online backup services based on hands-on tests. Computer Power User’s December 2006 roundup of online backup services is a bit dated, but has a unique benefit. Reviewer Warren Ernst tests for speed and system drag by uploading the same test file to each service, measuring recording time and CPU usage of the host system. This is an important consideration. If you don't have a super-fast computer and Internet connection, you may find your system slows too much while uploading files. Many of the other reviews we found for online backup attempt to evaluate services without actually testing them. Given the problems testers experience, we think testing is necessary to get the whole picture. We also found some iffy "reviews" from websites like BackupReview.info, who do not identify the author of the reviews or the methodology behind the picks, so we discounted these questionable sites in our research. We didn’t find an up-to-date
source of user reviews for online backup services, but we found so many blogs
and forums advocating or disparaging specific online backup companies that
they helpfully fill that role. In many cases, they are as useful as professional
reviews that only cover one online backup service. Consumer Reports tests
online storage services, but doesn’t divulge much information. The magazine
devotes four paragraphs to the topic, and recommends one service and mentions
two others in passing. It's important to note
that we found complaints about all online backup services, but MediaMax (which
offers a complex matrix of free and paid plans) has offended enough users
to create a community of enemies. MediaMax acquired Streamload (renaming it
MediaMax) and continued to receive some modestly favorable reviews in 2006.
According to the roughly 400 users who have signed an online petition, the
MediaMax online backup service doesn’t work as advertised. Many of the signers
claim the company is engaging in fraud. A forum with about 60 posts at CNet.com
tackles the same subject (and we found several similar forums online). The
Ripoff Report has a new fraud claim against MediaMax. A blog site devoted
to MediaMax conducts a poll to measure satisfaction or dissatisfaction. In
the poll, 85 of 121 respondents report extreme problems with the service in
October 2007. Only six users encountered no problems. While it's predictable
that disgruntled users are more likely to write a review than satisfied customers,
the preponderance of negative press for MediaMax's online backup service is
impossible to ignore. Users don’t just complain that MediaMax
doesn’t work. Many claim a variety of acts of financial fraud. Editors at TopTenReviews.com rate
MediaMax last in their coverage of online backup services, "because of
current problems they are having." They go on to state, "We were unable to
create a new account and have received reports that many other users are having
issues with their accounts." In his review for Tom's Hardware, Sean Kerner
adds, "Though MediaMax offered the most for free, the quality of service was
unsatisfactory." Given the lack of recent review support and the abundance
of angry customers, we have not included MediaMax in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers.
... Continued
Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
Mozy is the overwhelming favorite of reviewers, particularly in the most recent testing. In addition to topping most comparative reviews, it’s recommended in many single-service reviews (not shown in the Consensus Report chart). Reviewers like both the free version of Mozy and the entry-level paid version. Carbonite is the closest direct competitor to Mozy, and in comparative reviews, Mozy is unanimously preferred. Although reviewers say Mozy’s balance of virtues and disadvantages is the best, they mention many reasons why at least some consumers and small businesses would be better off with another service. Box.net is favored by reviewers if you’re looking for a service that enables file sharing. IBackup also allows file sharing, and is recommended in a couple of older reviews. However, its high prices and advanced features peg it as much more of a business than consumer service. Advertisement
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Online Backup Services Reviews |
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© 2008. ConsumerSearch, Inc. A service from 
, a part of The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.
ConsumerSearch and ConsumerSearch.com are registered trademarks of ConsumerSearch, Inc. Other trademarks or service marks on this site are the property of their respective owners. ConsumerSearch is not sponsored by any source reviewed, and we accept no consideration or payment for including, excluding, or ranking any reviews, products or services in our reports.
* Pricing information is approximate as of the time this report was written and is based on observed market selling prices and/or list prices. Actual selling prices may differ.
