Well now, that might seem like a dumb question. But, here's why I ask. If it is, what kind of insurance do you have on your computer data?
You have insurance on your house, your car, your health, maybe even your pet. And, then there's your boat, your gun collection, your jewelry and your next vacation.
What about the home and vacation photos, home movies, business documents, emails [except if you use something like Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo exclusively], medical information, Quicken checkbook, perhaps your will, family history or music?
I have been involved in the technology business since 1986. And, I think I've seen it all as far as computer disasters. Friends, family and business associates still contact me often with their computer problems.
While I have never had a house fire or had my car stolen, I still have insurance. Same goes with the documents, video and pictures on my computer. For decades, I've used either a 2nd computer on my home network or more recently a large 250gb external drive for backup of everything on my computer.
However, I am now moving to online backup such as Mozy or Carbonite. Both programs are good. Both cost about the same. There are some very small differences for those with special needs.
Here's the best deal that I see for Carbonite. It's less than $60.00 a year. Sure, budgets are tight and times might be tough. But, honestly, I can not afford to risk losing the data on my computer. I have almost 100 gigabites of stuff accumulated over many years plus invaluable business data and my music.
So my advice is get either Carbonite or Mozy or religiously back up to an external drive.
Or, there is one more option. That is to store all your photos out on Picasa and all your documents [word processing, spreadsheet and presentation] out in Google docs....which is also a great service that is free. Not quite as simple a solution, but it does work.
Just promise me that you'll do something.
You have insurance on your house, your car, your health, maybe even your pet. And, then there's your boat, your gun collection, your jewelry and your next vacation.
What about the home and vacation photos, home movies, business documents, emails [except if you use something like Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo exclusively], medical information, Quicken checkbook, perhaps your will, family history or music?
I have been involved in the technology business since 1986. And, I think I've seen it all as far as computer disasters. Friends, family and business associates still contact me often with their computer problems.
While I have never had a house fire or had my car stolen, I still have insurance. Same goes with the documents, video and pictures on my computer. For decades, I've used either a 2nd computer on my home network or more recently a large 250gb external drive for backup of everything on my computer.
However, I am now moving to online backup such as Mozy or Carbonite. Both programs are good. Both cost about the same. There are some very small differences for those with special needs.
Here's the best deal that I see for Carbonite. It's less than $60.00 a year. Sure, budgets are tight and times might be tough. But, honestly, I can not afford to risk losing the data on my computer. I have almost 100 gigabites of stuff accumulated over many years plus invaluable business data and my music.
So my advice is get either Carbonite or Mozy or religiously back up to an external drive.
Or, there is one more option. That is to store all your photos out on Picasa and all your documents [word processing, spreadsheet and presentation] out in Google docs....which is also a great service that is free. Not quite as simple a solution, but it does work.
Just promise me that you'll do something.
And, one more thing that has got me to thinking that web-based storage of my important computer files is a good idea. Any of the horrible tornadoes that have hit many areas this spring could just as easily hit northern Illinois. You think I am going to be worrying about my computer at that time? Nope. I am only worried about heading to the shelter of the room in the center of my house....if I am home. So, poof, there's another way all my data could be gone.
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