Not a PITA at all. In fact it is relatively automated and pain free. I sleep MUCH better at night knowing my data is under MY CONTROL anytime I want, not dependent on the ISP connectivity, online server availability, or a myriad of other factors.

Not worried about Fire, etc. I keep a back up in a fire-proof vault at home. When on the road I have several back ups, on my phone, key-chain, backpack. Those are ALWAYS with me. If those should catch fire, then I have a lot more to worry about than my data - ie 3rd / 4th degree burns at the hospital.

In the VERY RARE case I need to back up a very sensitive set of docs (small in size because I'm working on them at the moment), I encrypt my docs in TrueCrypt, then email it to myself (several email accounts), if I'm on the road and am worried about losing my keychain or phone or for what ever reason. Pretty much every situation is covered with my strategy.

And how much did that cost you?

Let me make sure I understand the process here. You have multiple backups of your material, some of which you've created and it goes into your safe. Others go into your backpack. Some stay connected to your network? How often do you update each of these backup sources?

The vault cost me a few hundred. I store my passport, checkbooks, cash, etc other things in there. Most people should have a vault or safe of some sort.

I back up on a regular schedule. My portable drives are backed up whenever I have important files to back up - I then sync those to the NAS which then propagates it to the other servers when I get home. My NAS and other servers are done daily when I'm home. The one in the vault is backed up every time before I leave home on a trip.

Very easy and regularly done without any headaches at all. Easier than flossing my teeth or getting dressed in the morning.

If your data matters to you, then this is an extremely easy and effective strategy. I don't have tons of data trapped at a 3rd party's server somewhere, paying ransom month after month to keep it safe.

This all requires effort. With Mozy you don't even think about it - it gets done automatically. In my view anytime you require people to think about backing their stuff up, you're already screwed. People forget, don't want to worry about it, etc. Like I said, if you're an IT type and get a kick out of this stuff (as you seem to) then maybe it works. But for the general population this seems like a lot of effort.

Shrug. I'm not particularly paranoid about people poking around in my Word files or listening to my iTunes at Mozy.

I have a backup. I have a backup of the backup. I then have a backup of the backup of the backup.

This consists of a fireproof, waterproof harddrive on the premises. A copy to Carbonite. A backup to a portable usb drive, which goes in the safe deposit box.

I also wear a belt and suspenders.

Why would you back up iTunes? You can re-download if you need to. That's a waste of money and resources to back that up online.

Laziness is one good reason for services like Mozy. But how much garbage are people really backing up online, and paying the price month after month to do it?

I have a fairly simple and good file management strategy. Important files go into dedicated TrueCrypt containers, which are very easy to back up. Not so important files go into a easy folder organizer, which again is extremely easy to back up.

Thinking about it is like thinking about how to blink, I don't even need to think. It's just done because I'm organized now.

Maybe if I was uber-unorganized and just wanted to backup all the crap on my PC, an online service might work, but with just a little bit of organization when you start, it's so easy to back up the files that need back up, and forget the rest.

I'm seeing $139. But still....

My online chat exchange with Mozy just now:

I really like the Mozy software. I wonder how CrashPlan's compares. My plan won't change until this fall, so I have time.

I also wear a belt and suspenders, but I don't fork out $$$ every time I wear them.

I don't buy things through iTunes. My music is all downloaded (legally - live shows). They exist as uncompressed files. I just used iTunes for emphasis - I don't care if Mozy is listening to my music.

Mozy is real cheap. Like $5 a month cheap.

But Mozy accomplishes everything I need and I don't need to be organized. I literally choose the folders I want backed up and the software realizes when a file has been edited/updated and needs a new backup. I don't need to think about it *at all*.

And I'm still not convinced your method is any cheaper.

If Mozy works for you, great. Keep on using it, especially if the cost doesn't bother you.

Personally, the cost bothers me, and the lack of control bothers me, and the speed to back up / recover bother me. I have an effective backup solution that is free once the set up costs are incurred. It's a real, viable solution for most people.

I'm an organized person by nature, especially with terabytes of data to manage and store. This is a piece of cake to do on a regular basis.

My method is cheaper over the long run. It's like buying a car versus leasing. In the short term it might be cheaper to lease. But if you buy a car and keep it for 10 -15 years, you'll come out way ahead compared to leasing. And the initial costs are really not that steep at all. You can buy 1 TB storage for around $50-$70 easily.

What software do you use for the back ups?

I use TreeComp (free, no install required), DSynchronize Portable (free, portable app, no install required), Synkron Portable (free, portable app, no install required), Acronis True Image (paid 2011 version) mostly. I also have some other free software I've tried and liked but have not needed since I have already decent back up software already as listed.

Costs keep piling up....... $50 here, $50 there.. before you know it you're talking about actual money.

Do you have any idea what you're really talking about here?

Even if you have Carbonite, or Mozy, or whatever, you still need a vault or safe at home for valuable papers / jewelry / etc, you still should have something like Acronis True Image that can clone drives and help with disaster recovery. Having data back up with Acronis True Image is just a free bonus.

I'd have these extra costs irregardless of online back up services or not. The other software are freeware, doesn't even require install. All fit on my USB key as well to boot.

The costs you're adding up are phantom costs that are pure exaggerations.

Keep trying to find a tire to deflate or a hole to poke. Too bad you can't.

I'm glad you're happy shelling out money for an online service. I'm just helping others to see there's a cheaper and more viable option to paid online services.

This is a complete side-step of the issue and you're wrong. Maybe I don't have valuable papers. Maybe I don't have jewelry. We're talking about protecting *data*. And the fact of the matter is that your solution is susceptible to fire. As such you need to purchase some method of making your data safe from fire. I do not. Score one for online.

I do? Why? I can get a full backup and image directly from Mozy.

Exactly. Maybe *you* would; don't assume the rest of us would. @:-)

All you have done is convinced us that your solution is great for an IT type. Not true for the rest of us. Sorry.

I'm afraid you haven't made that case at all. Hell, lots of online backup tools are *free*.