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I was in my local Apple store helping my Dad get a new powerbook, and the sales dude demonstrated Backup, which looks to me like yet another great Apple rendition of a simple interface for a very useful application.
BUT it only works with .Mac, apparently, and is for backing up to the online iDisk?
I happened to see a download note for Backup 2.0 Beta (in the OSX downloads area), and this new version of Backup lets you backup to writable CD or DVD media, which is EXACTLY what I want, except you still are required to have a paid .Mac account.
<rant>
This is unbelieveably stupid. A Backup app is such an essential thing, WHY tie it to a .Mac membership (which I have absolutely no need for, and will not consider paying for). I do my own backups to CD or DVD now using Toast, and I've looked at the Dantz products(but that seems like overkill for me). Backup looks like a great app, and it is really aggravating that it cannot be used standalone.
</rant>
Apple Backup - why is .Mac / iDisk required?
#1
mgbasinski 
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Posted 28 September 2003 - 08:48 PM
MultiQuote
#2
griffman
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Posted 28 September 2003 - 09:00 PM
They tied it to .Mac so they could sell more subscriptions, obviously, and because there's a cost of providing the backup service (disk space and bandwidth). A one-time fee for Backup won't cover a lifetime's use of .Mac to store your files, obviously. Now, they could have chosen a "pay per use" plan, but instead, they chose to make it "Mac like" and brain dead simple -- have a .Mac account, use it. If not, then don't.
Perhaps they'll offer an "offline only" backup, but if they do, they then risk pissing off even more third parties. It's a fine line to walk, and Apple doesn't always do it well.
-rob.
Perhaps they'll offer an "offline only" backup, but if they do, they then risk pissing off even more third parties. It's a fine line to walk, and Apple doesn't always do it well.
-rob.
#5
SueG
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Posted 29 September 2003 - 07:52 PM
Have a look at Backup 2.0 public beta, which allows you to backup to an external hard drive available in the downloads section of Apple's site.
#6
mgbasinski
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Posted 29 September 2003 - 09:23 PM
Hi Sue,
I did look at the Backup 2.0 beta, and it says that even for doing backups to local media such as CDs or DVDs, you have to have a paid .Mac subscription. I thought I mentioned that in the original post. Are you saying that this is not really true, that it works for local media backups even without .Mac (I didn't bother trying to install it since I don'd have .Mac nor want it).
Mark
I did look at the Backup 2.0 beta, and it says that even for doing backups to local media such as CDs or DVDs, you have to have a paid .Mac subscription. I thought I mentioned that in the original post. Are you saying that this is not really true, that it works for local media backups even without .Mac (I didn't bother trying to install it since I don'd have .Mac nor want it).
Mark
#7
rameeti
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Posted 29 September 2003 - 09:46 PM
Apple has a backup program that it licenses you to use if you are a .mac subscriber. Are you upset that it doesn't come for free like iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, Mail, Address Book, Safari, AppleWorks, etc? Are you wanting every type of software for free? Is that it?
For those that want to buy into the $99 .mac account, they get additional software and services that are valued at far more than the $99. To many people, the $99 cost of having a 100 MB off site storage, for automated scheduled backups of their most precious items is easily worth the bucks. And then they get the games, other software, web site, ftp site, etc. For them it is a no brainer. But if all you are wanting is to buy some backup software, then perhaps it is not for you. Your choice. No one will take the money from your wallet. I like choices. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
For those that want to buy into the $99 .mac account, they get additional software and services that are valued at far more than the $99. To many people, the $99 cost of having a 100 MB off site storage, for automated scheduled backups of their most precious items is easily worth the bucks. And then they get the games, other software, web site, ftp site, etc. For them it is a no brainer. But if all you are wanting is to buy some backup software, then perhaps it is not for you. Your choice. No one will take the money from your wallet. I like choices. /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
#8
Nobody
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Posted 29 September 2003 - 09:53 PM
When you back to iDisk server the Backup app obviously connects to .mac, but when I back to my hard drive (iPod) it just connects locally to the disk, at least from what I can see it does not connect to .mac, unless it does it in the back ground.
#9
rockinphotog
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Posted 30 September 2003 - 06:26 AM
Backup does not require an internet connection to backup to CD.
#10
CountZero
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Posted 30 September 2003 - 08:06 AM
Backup does check for .mac account over the net the first it runs. If it can't find a valid .mac account it won't run. After the first time only check, it doesn't require .mac account to backup to external drive.
#11
rockinphotog
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Posted 30 September 2003 - 08:52 AM
In reply to:
Backup does check for .mac account over the net the first it runs. If it can't find a valid .mac account it won't run. After the first time only check, it doesn't require .mac account to backup to external drive.
Backup does check for .mac account over the net the first it runs. If it can't find a valid .mac account it won't run. After the first time only check, it doesn't require .mac account to backup to external drive.
I figured as much, but I didn't have the time to test it. I think that the verification process is smart. You have to get the SW from the .Mac website, so it is no inconvenience to verify your account during installation. It's the best way for Apple to avoid piracy.
#13
iloveitaly
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Posted 30 September 2003 - 01:02 PM
someone here knows a way to fool it... saw an article wbout it somewhere.
#14
VeggieBeefcake
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Posted 30 September 2003 - 02:37 PM
In reply to:
Apple has a backup program that it licenses you to use if you are a .mac subscriber. Are you upset that it doesn't come for free like iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, Mail, Address Book, Safari, AppleWorks, etc? Are you wanting every type of software for free? Is that it?
Apple has a backup program that it licenses you to use if you are a .mac subscriber. Are you upset that it doesn't come for free like iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, Mail, Address Book, Safari, AppleWorks, etc? Are you wanting every type of software for free? Is that it?
I'm sure mgbasinski would be willing to pay a nominal fee for the software itself, without being forced to also sign up for .Mac.
