Backblaze Is Simplest Way Yet to Back Up PC Files

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These guys are changing the way we do data storage online. They start with a 500 GB plan for free, unlimited computers, external hard drives and no bandwidth throttling. Have a read at www.facebook.com/theBluzone

Kurt Jackson of CA 7:02AM February 28, 2011

Get 256 Mb more space on a free Mozy Home account by using the following link:
https://mozy.com/?code=D685JF

Chili Pepr of NY 5:04AM November 04, 2009

Hi I wanted to share this recent comparison of Backblaze and Mozy
http://brentvw.blogspot.com/2009/10/pc-computer-backup-mozy-is-superior-to.html

brentvw of FL 3:12PM October 17, 2009

Simple is not the word that comes to mind.
'Best in Class' comes to mind. I uploaded to Carbonite 40GB in a week. Backblaze I uploaded 60GB in 24 hours! NO comparison!
Mozy makes you restore all your files at once. Backblaze allows you to select all of it, or just certain files, whatever you want.
People say "it doesnt backup system files" well in the rare case you want to back up system files to an online service you just need to change the app from the default settings lol. just simply go to the options and choose to include any filetype or folder you want.
Out of Mozy, Elephantdrive, and Carbonite, Backblaze wins. I have tried all their paid services during my hunt for backup solutions.

Matt of CA 4:35AM September 23, 2009

Simple is not the word that comes to mind.
'Best in Class' comes to mind. I uploaded to Carbonite 40GB in a week. Backblaze I uploaded 60GB in 24 hours! NO comparison!
Mozy makes you restore all your files at once. Backblaze allows you to select all of it, or just certain files, whatever you want.
People say "it doesnt backup system files" well in the rare case you want to back up system files to an online service you just need to change the app from the default settings lol. just simply go to the options and choose to include any filetype or folder you want.
Out of Mozy, Elephantdrive, and Carbonite, Backblaze wins. I have tried all their paid services during my hunt for backup solutions.

Matt of CA 4:35AM September 23, 2009

Hi my name is Sandy and I want to know if this website has a demo to enable me to view all the services offered, and also to learn more about your company.

Sandy of MN 1:26PM June 03, 2009

i thought what u will recommends softwares disc which i will go and sell that, will be conpartable for pc board and that detect it immediately.

kenny of CA 9:28AM February 26, 2009

Fatesrider,
I don't understand your criticism. IT pro or not, I think your perspective is limited. I understand the concerns you bring up, but I think you're seeing this as a one-stop backup solution, rather than one element of a backup strategy.
First, it seems you simply misunderstood the 1GB limit. But I truly don't understand what you mean by backup solutions not being able to back up email and non-standard data files. Most solutions (this one included, it seems) allow you to select precisely which files you want backed up. Simple as that, even if you have a gigantic Outlook PST file containing all your email.
And you're absolutely correct that disk imaging is the best solution to assure minimal downtime. But what about the files I added to my hard drive yesterday? How can I easily off-site those files without having to burn another disk image?
That's why a good backup solution has multiple elements.
Here's what I do: For every hard drive, I have a matching backup drive, and I use a wonderful disk imaging program called Casper that keeps them sync'd on a daily basis. (A slightly more involved option would be to configure a RAID array.) My backup system drive is bootable, so even if my system drive were to crash, all I'd have to do is swap in the backup. Virtually zero downtime.
Then, I use an online backup solution (I'm on Mozy) that keeps my important data files off-site. If my house were to burn down, yes -- I would have to rebuild my system. It would take a little longer. But at least I wouldn't lose any of my precious data -- even the files I uploaded just this week.
Finally, I occasionally burn a DVD of my most important data files (mostly photos) that I put in a safety deposit box. Obviously, this copy is the least "real-time", but the most secure.
And that, to me, is a foolproof backup strategy.

Clay Anderson of IL 11:49AM January 15, 2009

Hello my name is Casey and I am one of the employees at Backblaze.
When it comes to backing up, there is NOT a 1 GB limitation. Backblaze will backup everything on your computer except temporary cache files and applications. We have customers backing up 400 GB with us.
Backblaze does not backup files larger then 4 GB, however I think very few users have a single file larger then 4 GB.
When it comes to restoring, there is a 1 GB zip file download that users can create. A user can do as many download restores as they need. The 1 GB file is a limitation of the zip file format, not ours. There is also the option of having a DVD or USB hard drive FedEx.
Before we formed Backblaze, DVD backups were how one of the founders was keeping his data safe. Each week he would feed his computer 4 DVDs, burn the data, and then mail them to his brother.
However, it quickly became obvious that there had to be a better way.
There are those people that will buy expensive external storage solutions, place them offsite and customize some scripts or software to do backup scheduling and network throttling.
And that is a great solution!
But we built this software to get people securely backing up in minutes for an inexpensive price. We built it for our parents.

Casey Jones of CA 2:34PM July 25, 2008

As an IT professional, I agree that the best back-up solution gets your data off site, but beyond that point, this program seems, well, limited.
First of all, 1 GB of limitation means you can't back up your home movies if they exceed that amount. One GB at a time would take an average of 35 session for most users to back up their essential data. Having essential data files backed up certainly eases the trauma of a computer failure, but most back-up solutions don't or can't back up e-mails, program configurations, non-standard data files (Ever lost a mess of AutoCad files? How about a developer or enthusiast losing all of that source code? What about non-online games? Want to lose all of that effort to get to level 8000?) not to mention the hassles and expense of reinstalling the OS and all of the other programs after a crash.
I've found the BEST back-up solution is disk imaging. It takes a snapshot of the hard drive, along with all programs, files, configurations and data, and sends it to either a DVD or an external hard drive. Portability of one's data, and control over it, isn't necessarily optimal, but for those who are paranoid about who can look at their on-line-stored data, keeping your data under your control is certainly an attractive alternative.
Best of all, EVERYTHING can be backed up and restored in a fraction of the time it takes to do it all from scratch should the hard drive it imaged die.
Even with secure handshakes, on-line storage can result in data loss and data theft. Its limitations are too great storage-wise and bandwidth-wise to make it a viable alternative for any but the most computer illiterate. Having to pay five bucks a month means in less than two years, you could have bought all of the programs and hardware to do it automatically yourself.
This service has its uses, but I wouldn't recommend it for most users.

Fatesrider of CA 10:24PM July 24, 2008