[Macworld]

Post your comments for Mac-accessory Roundup: Wi-Fi webcams, aluminum stands, USB 3 updates, and more here

[TeaEarleGreyHot]

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USB 3.0 interfaces. The company claims performance will be up to 10 times faster than with the USB 2.0 versions. (The drives are backward-compatible with USB 2.0.)

I've been wondering if USB 3.0 devices are backwards compatible with USB 1.1? Such as legacy Macs. Yes, slow... but compatible?

[leicaman]

Riiiight, I want a hard drive posting my photos and videos to Facebook for me. Watch for a whole new rash of embarrassing photos making their way to the Internet without human intervention.

[AndyChanpln4]

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USB 3.0 interfaces. The company claims performance will be up to 10 times faster than with the USB 2.0 versions. (The drives are backward-compatible with USB 2.0.) I've been wondering if USB 3.0 devices are backwards compatible with USB 1.1? Such as legacy Macs. Yes, slow... but compatible?

I think it's safe to assume so.

[LeicaUser]

I currently use the 12 South BookArc, which is nice but the AluRack totally eliminates the need for desk space for the computer. It's a fantastic idea that I am surprised took until 2012 to be manufactured.

I like the concept of Just Mobile's AluRack, but it clearly blocks the vents of any MacBook Pro. In the case they've solved this issue, I don't think they've done a good job dispelling the assumption. I can find no mention of the topic after a quick Google search, and I won't buy it until I have it in writing or see it in an Apple Store.

[badensa]

Any recommendations on "total backup" software -- some refer it to as a mirror backup, i.e, so that even settings, programs, etc are backed up, not just data. Purpose being that if my mac hard drive is kaput I can reinstall everything settings, programs, data on to either a new computer or hard drive. Thanks

[Phrehdd]

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Any recommendations on "total backup" software -- some refer it to as a mirror backup, i.e, so that even settings, programs, etc are backed up, not just data. Purpose being that if my mac hard drive is kaput I can reinstall everything settings, programs, data on to either a new computer or hard drive. Thanks

There are several programs that are decent back up utilities ranging from the likes of Retrospect to Carbon Copy Clone and in between those the likes of SuperDuper (don't let the name put you off).

It is really a good practice to do entire drive copies from time to time. I had a striped set of drives that failed due to one drive breaking down. I was up and running again within the time it took to reboot to the back up external drive.

I would suggest you look at Carbon Copy Clone and SuperDuper as they are pretty straight forward programs and minimal learning curve.

[badensa]

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I would suggest you look at Carbon Copy Clone and SuperDuper as they are pretty straight forward programs and minimal learning curve.

For either, Is there a conflict if Time machine is running? Or with either do you not even need Time machine? And for best backup hard drive, less than 1 terabyte, your vote is...?

Thanks!

[Paul]

There shouldn't be any conflicts with Time Machine. Schedule the backups so that they run at a different time than Time Machine.

I've had these two drives running flawlessly for a year or more:

Seagate FreeAgent Pro, 750 GB, Firewire 400 Mbps

Seagate GoFlex, 2 TB, USB 2.0 - I have this one attached to my AirPort Extreme Base Station as a shared drive on WiFi with 2 x 1 TB partions

[AlainF]

I have both Time Machine running continuously and SuperDuper scheduled to do an incremental full backup (they call it "Smart Update" and you can only do it with the paid for version) every evening. Been doing this for a while (years) without any problem.

[Phrehdd]

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I would suggest you look at Carbon Copy Clone and SuperDuper as they are pretty straight forward programs and minimal learning curve. For either, Is there a conflict if Time machine is running? Or with either do you not even need Time machine? And for best backup hard drive, less than 1 terabyte, your vote is...? Thanks!

Most back up software work well with Time Machine.

As mentioned, there are a couple of popular modes - full and incremental. Full is total volume and incremental is based on one full backup then after that, all changes since then. Of the latter, some software allows for some options that include overwritten files, files that exist on the previous backup but not the drive being backed up and what to do and so forth. It is not complicated but simply options.

Just an opinion - if you worry about the impact of new software on your computer, do a backup before adding the software. I am sure there are ways with TimeMachine to get a similar safeguard in place (though I don't use TimeMachine).

[techne]

I've been running SuperDuper for about 5 yrs now. It gives me lots of flexibility about what to copy - from Bootable clones of my entire hard drive to perfect backups of iTunes and iPhoto. I've run it from 10.4 to 10.8 with no glitches. It allows me to carry my computer in my pocket. There's one app I use at work that I can't upgrade from 10.6 for less than $10K (yep). When I need it I just pull out my pocket WD and boot up.