Finally, Easy Backup for Multiple PCs - Gadgetwise Blog
Simple backup has always been an oxymoron. But I just tried out a device that could change that: The Clickfree C2N drive can automatically back up Windows PCs and Macs over a home network with real set-it-and-forget-it ease.
The 500-gigabyte Clickfree C2N costs $180 (it’s $142 at Amazon), and that’s definitely a premium over standard 2.5-inch 500-gigabyte external drives, which sell for $120 or less. But the C2N can be a truly digital-life-saving device for those who can’t commit to regular backups.
I installed the Clickfree C2N on a Windows 7 Dell desktop, a Windows 7 Asus netbook, and a MacBook Pro. The small software client installed automatically on all three, and launched and completed backups flawlessly.
Here’s how it works: Attach the drive via USB to the first computer. The BackupLink software automatically installs and backs up the computer. The default backup is thorough and includes text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, photos, music, videos, financial documents, e-mail files (it also can extract e-mail attachments), and favorite Web sites. You can configure the software to back up only certain categories of files and, within those categories, certain file types.
The first backup will take a while, depending on the amount of data the computer holds; subsequent backups are much faster because the software adds only new files.
After the first computer is backed up, plug the C2N into the next computer and repeat the process. After adding all computers, drop the C2N into its dock and attach it to any computer connected to the home network. All computers will be backed up across the network, with no need to physically attach the C2N to each computer.
The default backup frequency is scheduled for once daily at 3 a.m. If you don’t want to leave your PCs running overnight, you can change the schedule to a specific time during the day (or week), or as frequently as every two hours. To tweak these settings, however, you have dig into the menu system a bit deeper than you should.
Once backed up, you can use the BackupLink software on any computer to browse the Clickfree drive and open backed up files from other computers on your network — a nice feature. In general, the software is remarkably easy to use yet flexible for those who like to tweak settings.
The software also has a setting that enables you to import music files from an iPod or iPhone. This was the only feature that didn’t work for me; the software would not recognize my iPhone or iPod on any of my computers.
Clickfree bills the C2N as a family backup solution. But if your family has a lot of photo, music and video files, you’ll soon hit the 500-gigabyte limit, so be sure to assess your backup needs before you buy.
It’s a bit pricey, but the Clickfree C2N is the easiest solution I’ve seen for backing up multiple Windows and Mac computers on a network. If you’re lazy about backing up your data and have a home network, it’s a great solution.
If it works, I want one. :)
Comments
Post a Comment