Carbonite backup is one the many online backup storage services available in the market today which are designed to provide alternative backup protection in the event of computer failures or natural catastrophes. This Carbonite review takes a closer look at the service and evaluates its features to see how it keeps up with the demands of the times.
Carbonite Backup Main Features
Carbonite charges an annual subscription fee of $54.95 which gives you unlimited backup capacity, encrypted storage, user-friendly procedures and technical support that comes in the forms of phone, live chat and email. This software runs on Windows XP, Vista and Macintosh.
Carbonite uses a single type of service which is applicable both for personal and business use. Currently, the service is free for a 15-day trial period with no credit card required.
Pros
Carbonite users are satisfied and impressed by many features of online backup services, as the following:
Ease of Use – It is easy to set-up and use. The installation is fast and simple and the backup process is easy to follow.
Security – Files are encrypted before leaving your computer and are stored encrypted on Carbonite’s secured servers, completely safeguarding them from unauthorized access.
Background Worker – This online storage backup facility functions quietly in the background without slowing down your computer or causing any disruption to your work.
Automatic Backup – When you are done with the installation and initial backup, you can simply forget about it. A wide range of file types are backed up automatically so that you do not have worry about doing the task on your own.
Reliable Service at a Small Cost – Carbonite backup offers a very affordable way of keeping your files secure. At less than $5/month, that’s a small price to pay for convenience and peace of mind.
Cons
There are a number of places where this service can improve. Hopefully some of these enhancements will come soon.
Firstly, even if the customer service ensured by Carbonite is one of the best ones, users think that it would still require some improvements. Most of them have complained that the queries are not handled as promised and the information delivered is sometimes not enough. Offering live chat, phone and e-mail support is a great move, but in order to maximize their customers’ satisfaction Carbonite needs to pay more attention at the services’ quality.
Restoring files in volume or doing so to another operating system (e.g. Windows XP to Vista) has proven to be a difficult experience for some. Since the main intention of having an online storage backup is to have access to your files anytime you may need them, a complicated retrieval process can discourage users from utilizing the service.
It is most important to know that Carbonite will only perform automatic backups on documents, photos, music files, email and settings. Large individual files as well as applications and videos must initially be backed up manually. Once you have done that, those files will be added to the automatic backup from then on. Not knowing this has caused some people to lose their music and videos when their computers crashed.
Carbonite Review Summary
Carbonite is one of the more reliable online backup services available today. It places a lot of emphasis on ease of use and security, which are two of the main considerations that home users look for. However, it is not perfect but none of these services are. There has to be some comprimise when you’re paying less than $5/month for unlimited online backup. The good news is, Carbonite and services similar to it continue to improve every year.