"Carbonite is Backup for Everyone™ — a simple, safe online backup service for casual home PC users, students, home office users, road warriors, etc. For a few dollars a month, Carbonite will backup all the stuff on your PC (digital photos, music, office documents, and other valuable data) whenever your PC is connected to the Internet. Carbonite is very easy to setup and use, requiring little or no ongoing user involvement. Our service is always on and continuously protecting data on your PC whenever it is connected to the Internet!"
Interesting idea - a narrowly focused backup service that focuses purely on photos. $29.95 a year for unlimited photo backup is reasonable, but the real power here is the fact that there's a software client and it's fully automated. I'm a big believer in automated systems, because human beings are just unreliable creatures. I know I am. ;-) This isn't a photo sharing service, it's just backup, but I know several people who could benefit from something like this. I think that's ultimately the failing that many of the photo sharing services have (such as Smugmug and Flickr) - no desktop client for automated uploading.
I'm using FolderShare to replicate my photos across five computers, so I'm not worried about losing a hard drive, but those photos are vulnerable to a fire in my office, or, say, a meteor hitting. :lol: Carbonite looks like a solid solution. I've always been interested in services such as this, but most are priced far too expensive. $29.95 a year for unlimited photo storage seems quite reasonable to me. Anyone using a similar service? [Affiliate]
I think it's the first backup solution I've seen with unlimited storage... Hmm, getting interested... Time to find the catch.
I don't get the different products though, Photo Backup and Office Backup, same price. Could it be limiting on file extensions? If so, I hope .crw is included in Photo Backup.
* No raw image file support.
* If you only want a specific folder backed up, you have to select ALL OTHERS as "Do not backup". Jeez.
* No "Backup now" button, seems like you have to restart to trigger the backup.
Pros:
* User friendly. (I guess)
* Seems to bee running as a service, got an error message prior to login saying no internet connection.
This is a very interesting solution. The photobackup handles both jpg and raw files - cool. However, the term "unlimited" is a little vague/misleading.
From their FAQ page. . .
"As a practical matter, the speed of today’s DSL and cable Internet services will make it very slow and cumbersome to back up more than, say, 40-50GB of data, so we don’t recommend it. Carbonite is ideal for the average PC user who has somewhere between 1GB and 10GB of data. Our Terms of Use will allow us to deny service to abusers."
So if I have over 10GB then I can't use them or get charged extra? What is the average user? I have 5 gig in memory cards and will be getting more for a upcoming Europe trip. I didn't think that was much, especially because I shoot in RAW on a 20D.
Great idea - I just think unlimited should mean unlimited or at least tells us the price points for different storage amounts. Shame it would have been a nice Valentine gift to myself
I think it's the first backup solution I've seen with unlimited storage... Hmm, getting interested... Time to find the catch.
Hi,
I work for Carbonite. Storage really is unlimited!
As for file extensions, the current version backs up RAW and JPG files. However, PhotoBackup will support .crw files as well as nearly 20 other photo and (small) movie formats in just a few weeks. Current trial and paid users will get an upgrade for free and free trials of the new version will continue to be offered! The new version will also have a simplified, snazzier interface. Thanks for your interest!
RAW files are supported, and soon, we'll support ~20 other photo and small moview formats. There is no "Backup Now" button, but Carbonite automatically springs into action when your PC is idle to back up the files it needs to. That way, we won't slow down your computer or internet connection when you're sitting at your desk.
So if I have over 10GB then I can't use them or get charged extra? What is the average user? I have 5 gig in memory cards and will be getting more for a upcoming Europe trip. I didn't think that was much, especially because I shoot in RAW on a 20D.
Hello. I work for Carbonite. If you check out my other post here you'll see that Carbonite really is unlimited. Our note in the FAQ simply points out the fact that, if you have 100GB, it will take a long time to do your first backup. But the price is still $30/yr!
If you are a company and try to upload 1 terabyte from your server, well, then you are probably an abuser. So we may look askance at you. But your 10GB (or 15GB or 20GB) is no problem for us. Go ahead, try it! Take as many pictures as you'd like in Europe and enjoy your trip!
As for file extensions, the current version backs up RAW and JPG files. However, PhotoBackup will support .crw files as well as nearly 20 other photo and (small) movie formats in just a few weeks.
Sounds promising swamik! About the app, can we get a advanced user mode, something not so dumbed down? I.e. a way to point to a folder I want to backup, instead of selecting all I don't want to back up.
Carbonite Digital Photo Backup Service
Linear Mode
LinkBacks (?)
