Online Backup part 3: Sampling of providers

By Daniel Dern

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When you have High-Speed Internet service, you have the ability to use online backup services to save and protect your documents, photos and important files. 

This is Part 3 of our series about online file backup services. Part 1 is How to Make Better Backups. Part 2 discusses Nine Steps to Getting Started with Online Backup Services. We also have a video tutorial about backing up your files online.

Here are some of the major providers, including basic-level pricing --
most will sell you more space and services for more money, of course.

AT&T Online Vault
Price:     $5.95 per month per PC for the first 2 GB.
Mode:      Once-a-day
Trial?:     3-day money-back guarantee
Notes:     Saves your C:/Documents and Settings folder

BackupRight Personal
Price:     $9.99/month for 5GB
Trial:     Free 30 days, no credit card required
Notes:   Supports lots of operating systems and versions, including
     Windows 95/98/2000/XP/2003, Mac OS X, Linux (Ubuntu), and
     Systems supporting Java2 JRE v1.3.1 (e.g. FreeBSD, Solaris,
      SCO, AIX, HP-UX)
       
Box.net
Price:   1GB free; $4.99/month for 5GB
Notes:   Supports Windows 2000 or higher, or Mac OS X.

Carbonite
Price:           $5/month (12/24 month discounts), for unlimited space
Mode:        Continuous backup
Trial::           15-day free, no credit card required
Notes:       
1) Supports Windows XP; Mac version planned.
2) You can only restore files to the computer that the
        Carbonite software is installed on (but you can
        change which computer you're using.
3) Some customers store over 200GB...but Carbonite
        reserves the right to terminate customers.

Data Deposit Box
Pricing:   $2/GB/month, no limit on number of computers, users, drives
Notes:       1) Windows 95 and up; can support Macs running Windows emulation
       2) Simple pricing structure makes Data Deposit idea for someone
       with several computers, external/USB drives to back up,
       and for families or groups
   
iBackUP
Price:       $9.95/month/5GB
Trial?:       15-day free
Notes:       Many options and features, in case you're more techy

Intronis eSureIT for Your Home
Price:       Home Plans start at $9.95 per month 1GB, 1 user
Trial:       Free 30 Day Trial.  
Notes:       Supports Windows 98 Second Edition and up; no browser access

Iomega iStorage
Price:    $5.99/1GB/month
Free 30-Day Trial Account

MediaMax
Price:  25GB month/free (limited features); 100GB/month/$4.95, up
    through 1,000 GB/month/$29.95
Notes:  1) Also intended for media sharing, online storage   

Mozy
Price:   2GB, 2 computers/month free; 30GB for $4.95/month
Notes:  1) Supports WinXP, with Mac coming soon
    2) Mozy is very popular -- lots of Internet buzz.

Xdrive
Price:    5GB free
Notes:    1) Requires an AOL screen name (you can get this for free)
    2) Supports Windows 95/ME/NT4/2000/XP; MacOS, Linux, Unix