Online Backup, the Sequel

Additional options for low-cost backup, including Web hosting, peer-to-peer, Google, and Yahoo.

James A. Martin

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Feature: Online Backup, Redux

Readers, I'm surprised at you. Recently, this column included a feature article about online backup. As I often do, I asked for your input on the subject. But frankly, given that in popularity polls computer backup ranks one notch below studying trigonometry, I expected only a few e-mail responses.

Boy, was I wrong. Lots of you responded with your ideas, experiences, and advice about online backup. You told me where and how to find free online backup, about emerging peer-to-peer network backup services, and more. Many of you were even (gasp) passionate about the subject. So to all who responded to my query, thank you.

Alright, let's go on with your online backup tips and advice.

Free Online Backup

Several readers pointed out that Google's free e-mail service, Gmail, provides 1GB of online storage. To upload a file, e-mail it to your Gmail address. Or download to your computer the freeware program Gmail Drive, which lets you drag and drop files directly to the site.

But there's a catch, and it's a biggie: Gmail is in beta testing and isn't available to the general public. You must be invited to join. PC World's Home Office columnist Steve Bass reports that Gmail invitations are being auctioned off on EBay. Read Steve's column about Gmail, "What's Behind Gmail's Popularity?"

Fortunately, there are other less exclusive, free online backup options. For example, Christy, a student in Ventura, California, likes a Yahoo feature called Briefcase that provides up to 30MB of free file backup.

I've tested Briefcase, and it's fairly straightforward to use. But you're limited to uploading files, not folders, and no total upload can exceed 5MB. You can't schedule unattended backups, as you can with most paid online backup services. And you can't share uploaded files with others (such as clients) unless you sign up for a fee-based Yahoo Briefcase account. Rates begin at $3 per month (or $25 per year) for 50MB.

Nearly Free Online Backup

If you've signed up for a Web hosting service, you may have storage space available for backup on the host's servers. Don't have a Web site? Dave Vogl of Acton, California recommends "buying a URL for about $9 a year, getting a hosting service for $3 to $8 a month (depending on how much space you need), and uploading critical files to the host's servers for back up or sharing"--usually using a file transfer protocol utility or through your Web browser.

One of the services that Dave uses, OneHost, offers Web hosting services for as little as $2 per month. For $5 a month, you get unlimited disk space. I haven't tried OneHost's services. The rates seem competitive, though I'm a bit put off by all the typos on the company's home page. And Dave says the customer support is "virtually nonexistent."

Like using Gmail and Yahoo Briefcase, backing up to your Web site host's servers isn't an automated affair. But if you have a handful of large, critical files to back up and you already have or plan to launch a Web site, this could be a low-cost option to consider.

Peer-to-Peer Online Backup

The founder of Vembu Technologies wrote to tell me about his company's software, Vembu StoreGrid 1.0, which lets you back up files onto the hard drive of a friend, colleague, or other trusted soul.

If you recall the original Napster, then you're already familiar with the concept behind this online backup product: peer-to-peer networking. In a P-to-P network, you can access your files on a trusted user's computer, and they can do the same on yours, notes Sekar Vembu, Vembu Technologies founder.

I haven't tested StoreGrid 1.0, which is currently in beta. In general, I have steered clear of P-to-P file sharing for fear of downloading viruses, bugs, and other nasty creatures, or of possibly exposing the contents of my files to prying eyes. I'm probably being overly cautious, as most P-to-P networks have come a long way in terms of security and encryption. But you should look closely at a P-to-P online solution before trying it.

Xdrive: Another Low-Cost Alternative

In my earlier article on online backups, I mentioned Xdrive, which offers one of the more compelling monthly rates I've seen. Two plans are available: 5GB for $10 and 10GB for $20.

I've finally had a chance to informally test Xdrive. My verdict: Like most online backup services, uploading files (especially in your first backup) can be slow. But Xdrive's desktop backup utility is easy to use: It provides automated backups and makes the online backup service look like another drive on your computer for dragging and dropping files. You can also back up and access files through your Web browser. Try the service free for 15 days by signing up at the Xdrive site.

The Bottom Line

No single backup strategy is 100 percent foolproof, and online backup is no exception. Writes Jeff Partridge, of New Philadelphia, Ohio: "I can't think of many less secure options than a Web-based backup. Not only do you have to worry about hackers, crackers, and script-kiddies... but you also have to worry about the physical security of the backup site host and its financial good health. And I won't even mention what it would be like to try to retrieve your data over a 56 kbps (or slower) modem from a hotel room."

I share Jeff's concerns. Still, I believe online backup should be a component of anyone's backup plan. With online backup, your most critical files are stored offsite, which is a huge benefit should your home or office be damaged by fire or other disaster. When combined with regular backups to an external hard drive, DVD, or CD, online backup can get you back to work quickly--and that's what we're all about here, right?

Mobile Computing News, Reviews, & Tips

PDA Reviews: Palm's New Tungsten, Dell's Latest Axim

PalmOne's Tungsten T5 and Dell's Axim X50v, two new PDAs, each deliver something extra, in different ways, writes PC World's PDA Pundit Denny Arar.

The $399 Tungsten T5 offers 256MB of memory, which is nearly four times as much as its predecessor (the Tungsten T3) had and the most on a PDA to date. And it's nonvolatile memory: If the T5 loses its charge, you won't lose any data. Denny would like to see a removable rechargeable battery and Wi-Fi networking instead of the included Bluetooth, however.

Dell's $424 Axim X50v Pocket PC packs Intel's most powerful CPU for handhelds, it's also one of the first mainstream PDAs with a dedicated graphics processor and Windows Media Player Mobile 10 preinstalled. The result: You can playback multimedia content from subscription services that support Microsoft's Windows Media Digital Rights Management 10 technology. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built in, and the batteries are removable and rechargeable.

Denny concludes that the Axim X50v should delight any power Pocket PC user, while the Tungsten T5 should appeal primarily to those who want a Palm-OS business handheld that doubles as a portable storage device.

Read the full review for more info. For current pricing on the Tungsten T5, go to the PC World Product Finder. For the latest Axim X50v pricing, go to Dell's site.

Notebook News: Gateway PCs in Circuit City

Gateway will start selling notebooks and desktop PCs in over 600 Circuit City stores around the U.S. in January, the PC maker says. Gateway has closed its own stores and is distributing its computers in Best Buy and CompUSA retail outlets. For more details, read "Gateway Heads to Circuit City."

Notebook News: A Good Reason to Keep Your Lap Cool

Word is, guys, if you work with a notebook on your lap, you could be compromising your reproductive potential, according to a study published in the UK journal Human Reproduction.

The heat generated by a notebook, and the position of the thighs needed to balance the computer, can elevate the body temperature in a rather sensitive area. Over time, all that heat can cause a decline in sperm production, the study claims. The study was unclear about how much heat could cause damage and warns that years of heavy notebook use "may cause irreversible or partially reversible changes in male reproductive function." Bottom line, guys: Use your notebook on a desk, not your lap.

Accessory News: An InMotion to Match Your U2 IPod

Unlike its other Apple IPod portable speaker systems, Altec Lansing's new InMotion IM3 Black Limited Edition ($180) is black--to match the IPod U2 Special Edition from Apple. The 20GB IPod U2, which sells for $349, features autographs of the band U2's members engraved on back. The matching speakers are sold at Apple's IPod store.

Also, here's my opportunity to correct an item I wrote earlier. Contrary to what I wrote in a previous column, the Altec Lansing InMotion speaker set for IPods is indeed compatible with the new IPod Photo, according to an Altec Lansing spokesperson. The newer InMotion IM3 isn't compatible with the IPod Photo, however.

Notebook Review: Sony's Businesslike VAIO

Sony's $1600 VAIO VGN-B100B02 (how do they come up with these clever names?) is a configurable business-class notebook with a 14.1-inch screen and a standard array of features for business professionals: fixed optical drive, PC Card slot, two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire port, and more. At 5.1 pounds, the sleek silver unit is fairly portable, but you may want to carry an optional $200 port replicator, too, for access to a parallel or DVI port, says PC World reviewer Kalpana Ettenson.

Check out the notebook at Sony's Small & Medium Business site.

Gadget Trends: The Cell Phone's Future

Cell phones "will be more powerful, have better screens, provide longer battery life, and push more features," according to Andy Abramson, an industry guru who has a popular blog on Voice over Internet Protocol telephony. On the near horizon are cell phones that capture multimegapixel photos, stream TV and feature-length videos at smoother frame rates than today's models can muster, and play realistic 3D games. Cell phones with tiny hard drives built in are coming, and multiprotocol phones that can switch between digital cellular networks and local area Wi-Fi are expected to be more prevalent.

For more tea-leaf reading, read "Tech 2005: What's New and What's Next."

Suggestion Box

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