Filing it away - Evaluating file backup software - Part 5

Conclusions

Time capsule backup - Ideal for home users

Oops Backup is an ideal solution for home users

We know that lots of home users neglect to backup their important files, often because doing so is too complicated or too time consuming. The new time capsule style backup packages are absolutely ideal for less experienced home users. Both Genie Timeline and Oops backup are very easy to use, it's really difficult to imagine how backup could be made any simpler. As long as you remember to connect your backup drive (and both packages will periodically remind you to do so) backup becomes a "set it and forget it" exercise.

Genie Timeline and Oops backup both make it easy to browse through older versions of your files. In Genie Timeline there is a simple file browser with a time-line at the top of the screen. Clicking the timeline takes you to different times in the past (sadly, you cannot browse into the future). Oops backup works in a similar fashion but instead lists the previous dates at the right hand side of the window.

When you want to recover data, both packages allow you to browse the time capsule by details view or icon view and search through your backups. The interface to Oops Backup is possibly slightly more user friendly, though power users will appreciate how Genie Timeline allows them to browse the time capsule in Windows Explorer. Sadly it doesn't seem to be possible to work with files/folders from within the time capsule backup in third party software, even in read-only mode. Several powerful tools exist for comparing files which would be very useful when working with different versions of a file, it is a shame these cannot be used. There are no in-built tools for comparing two versions of a file either. It would have been nice to be able to see a picture or document side by side with an earlier version for example, though none of the traditional backup packages let you do this either.

Picking a winner between the two time capsule programs is easy, Oops Backup comfortably outperformed the Genie product in all our tests, being consistently faster and more reliable. Apart from the lack of encryption for backups, we have no hesitation recommending Oops backup to home users looking for a simple and effective backup solution. The fact that Genie Timeline seemed to miss files, even after we verified that they were not on the excluded files list was very worrying.

Traditional backup - still has its place

Traditional file backup software packages such as Genie Backup Manager still have an important role to play in many backup plans

What the traditional backup packages lack in ease of use, they more than make up for in features and flexibility. Genie Backup Manager and Acronis True Image can cater for virtually any backup need. Advanced scheduling, multiple backup locations and comprehensive security options will please power users and businesses alike.

Picking a winner from the three contenders in this category was a little harder. Cobain Backup lacks many of the advanced features present in both Genie and Acronis but still performed well for a free package. Users who require additional backup above and beyond that offered by Oops backup could use Cobain to provide some of the extra flexibility that Oops lacks.

As for the two commercial contenders, if you've read our disk backup software review you will know that Acronis True Image 2010 is leaps and bounds ahead of its predecessors and includes a fantastic full disk backup suite. The fact that the customer is getting a first class file-level backup utility too makes True Image 2010 a very attractive package indeed.

Genie Backup Manager still manages to trump Acronis in the feature stakes by offering extensive plug-ins and support for tape backups. In the past, due to the poor performance of older versions of True Image, we'd have had no hesitation crowning Genie Backup Manager the clear winner amongst file backup software packages. While it's true that Genie Backup is still the most feature rich file backup program in our test, Acronis is a better all rounder with its full suite of disk imaging tools. Both packages are highly recommended so it is just a matter of deciding which meets your needs best.

To find out more about the backup programs we reviewed, or to purchase a copy, support our site and use the links below (prices correct as of 10th March 2010, may not include applicable sales taxes):-

Acronis True Image 2010 ($49.99/E49.95/£39.95)
Cobain Backup 9 (Free)
Genie Backup Manager Professional 8 ($69.95)
Genie Timeline ($34.95)
Oops Backup ($37.00/E29.00/£29.00)

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