I've been a huge fan of Carbonite and signed up at least a half dozen people for it, but this is a showstopper for me. If this isn't dealt with, I'll be a former customer as well.
Carbonite certainly can back up video files, and they don't need to be individually selected. If a folder is selected for backup, by default the videos within that folder aren't selected. This was actually changed in response to customer feedback, because for a lot of folks the backup and restore processes were being delayed by downloaded content and other material they didn't really need or want to back up.
To back up all video files in a folder, right-click that folder and select Back up video files in this folder. If you spread your video files into multiple folders, you'll need to repeat this for each folder that contains video - but once you've made the selection for that folder, it will remember the setting for any videos added to that folder.
Someone also mentioned .exe and .iso files. These files can be selected for backup manually, but are excluded from automatic backups. Carbonite is a data backup program rather than a "full system backup".
Sincerely,
__________________
Len Pallazola - Manager, Customer Service Systems
Carbonite, Inc. - www.carbonite.com
Get $5 off your Carbonite subscription with coupon code: LENPAL
Carbonite will backup videos, but you do have to specify it on a folder by folder basis. All you need to do is right click the folder, pick Carbonite, Backup Videos in this folder then you are done. Just be aware though that this setting does not apply to sub folders, so you will need to enable this for every folder that has videos.
Good to know, but considering that I keep my vacation videos inside each vacation photo folder, I'd have to do a ridiculous amount of clicking. It's ridiculous for Carbonite to expect people do to that - it goes ENTIRELY against their "backup for everyone" marketing approach where they promote themselves as a lowest common denominator backup solution. What you're describing is not simple, intuitive, or fast.
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I do wish they supported WHS for MozyHome. I still want to purchase a WHS appliance but am having a tough time determining where it would fit in between Mozy and Windows Live Sync.
Yeah, I've emailed them about WHS and the Mozy people keep chanting the same line like a drone: "It's Windows Server 2003, so you need a business license for it..." blah blah. They're completely ignoring the fact that WHS is a consumer-focused product and 100% up their alley...all they need is a version that's compatible with the WHS console. I wonder if they think that people will want to back up their system backups? I'd be happy if they didn't allow that - it would be a HUGE amount of data, and most of it duplicated from the data already on the WHS (if you have your data configured to flow that way).
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@lenpal - following on from Jason's comments, would it be possible to change the behaviour so that Carbonite automatically backs up all videos with in a folder AND SUBFOLDER unless explicitly told not to?
Thanks for being brave enough to come in here and respond Len, that shows character. But I have to disagree with a fair bit of what you're saying...
Quote:
Originally Posted by lenpal
Carbonite certainly can back up video files, and they don't need to be individually selected. If a folder is selected for backup, by default the videos within that folder aren't selected. This was actually changed in response to customer feedback, because for a lot of folks the backup and restore processes were being delayed by downloaded content and other material they didn't really need or want to back up.
I think the key thing here is "by default". I've installed Carbonite on nearly every computer within my sphere of influence - friends, family, etc. And all because it's easy to use. To have to figure out which folders have video files, and to manually change the backup on them, goes beyond the realm of "default" - and it makes Carbonite more complex, which is the last thing I want for my friends and family. By blocking video files, you've lost the one and only thing that made Carbonite special: brain-dead simple ease of use.
As for users complaining about backups "taking too long"...that's just user ignorance and you should focus on educating users rather than cripping your product.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lenpal
To back up all video files in a folder, right-click that folder and select Back up video files in this folder. If you spread your video files into multiple folders, you'll need to repeat this for each folder that contains video - but once you've made the selection for that folder, it will remember the setting for any videos added to that folder.
Pretty much every digital camera nowadays takes videos. Most people are going to keep the videos they take in the same folders as their pictures. Most people, if they're even the slighest bit organized, are going to have one folder per vacation/event. You're suggesting that right-clicking on each and every folder is the way to solve this problem. I'm suggesting that's a lot of work for no good reason - if someone selects their Pictures folder for backup, EVERYTHING in it, INCLUDING sub-folders, should be backed up. Period.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lenpal
Someone also mentioned .exe and .iso files. These files can be selected for backup manually, but are excluded from automatic backups. Carbonite is a data backup program rather than a "full system backup".
It's ignorant for Carbonite to take the approach that EXE files and ISO files are "system" files. I purchase most of my software online, in digital form, and the EXE file that I download is my one and only copy of that software. So to me, that's part of "my stuff" because it's something that I've purchased. Same with ISO files - I keep a few ISO files in my documents folder, mostly boot CDs I've created for emergency purposes. It's MY STUFF, and I wanted it backed up. Since Carbonite won't back up MY STUFF, they've lost my business, and the business of everyone else that I've installed it for.
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I think the key thing here is "by default". I've installed Carbonite on nearly every computer within my sphere of influence - friends, family, etc. And all because it's easy to use. To have to figure out which folders have video files, and to manually change the backup on them, goes beyond the realm of "default" - and it makes Carbonite more complex, which is the last thing I want for my friends and family.
Jason is correct. Another way to look at it is from a user interface perspective. The default settings of a program should not cause nasty surprises, and not getting video (which is data) backed up is a nasty surprise.
The fix is simple. Have video backup on by default. If somebody complains about speed, tell them how to find the "don't back video up" controls. And, for ease of use, there should be an "Include subfolders" check box on any control where you can turn backing up on or off.
If you want to avoid support contacts from people wondering how to turn off video, launch a tutorial or configuration utility the first time the product is used. (I've never used Carbonite, so maybe this is already done.)
Yes, video backup should be on by default. I'm guessing that storage capacity is starting to become a problem for Carbonite.
Meanwhile, the problem is not as bad as it seems - you don't have to select each folder individually. You can "mass select" using the right-hand pane of Windows Explorer. Select all of the folders that (may) have videos, then do the usual right-click/Carbonite/Back up videos routine.
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