Seagate Replica does automatic, incremental backup for the everyman

Seagate's new Replica drive aims to be for PC users what Time Machine is for Macs (in fact, there's no Mac software included), and seems to do a pretty good job of it. You merely plug the drive into your computer, accept a license agreement, and you're off to the races with hassle-free incremental backups of your system. The drive is available in Single PC and Multi-PC models, with the former sporting 250GB of capacity, and the latter doing 500GB and adding in a vertical dock -- but to actually backup multiple PCs you'll have to move the drive around sneakernet style. ComputerShopper found the drive pretty slow, and while you can drag and drop files off of the drive, it doesn't actually allow you to toss specific files on and use the drive as way to move your projects around town. Still, it's simple, and the $200 starting price isn't criminal.

Read - ComputerShopper review
Read - Official Replica site

[DemDude @ Apr 27th 2009 1:04PM]

Yeah, like I'll ever trust Seagate with my Backups again...

"What, half our new drives fail after a couple of days? That's preposterous!"
"What, you want your data back? No way!"

[chispito @ Apr 27th 2009 1:55PM]

If you lost data, it means you weren't actually backing it up, you were simply storing it. Unless you literally had two hard drives fail at the same time.

[John @ Apr 27th 2009 3:07PM]

Wait, does the Replica NOT come with the "overwrite my entire MP3 library" setting?!

Eff that, I'm sticking with WHS.

[Harkonian @ Apr 27th 2009 1:05PM]

I still wonder why there isn't a backup solution for that PC that is as functional and easy to use as TimeMachine is for the Mac...

[jakem @ Apr 27th 2009 1:12PM]

There is. It's called Windows Home Server and it offers much better features than Time Machine.

[msarchet @ Apr 27th 2009 1:20PM]

@jakem: Okay the key phrase there was "as functional and easy" as time capsule, of course a dedicated server to back files up on is a extremely valid option but for the average user they want a simple easy to use back up solution that does not require a lot of effort to get up and running not to mention the cost of a server as compared to a simple backup drive.

[zealeus @ Apr 27th 2009 1:33PM]

You remember all those antitrust lawsuits? That's why. It would be an "unfair competitive advantage" for Microsoft to include such robust tools. They wanted to, but couldn't.

[Nohone @ Apr 27th 2009 1:51PM]

@msarchet:

Let's see how hard it is to use WHS:

1) Buy WHS device.
2) Open box, remove WHS.
3) Plug in to power outlet and connect Ethernet cable.
4) Put CD into laptops, desktops, etc.
5) When setup launches, click next, enter a password for the WHS
6) Answer yes when asked if you want to perform backups.
7) Give your PC several hours or overnight to complete initial backup.

Let's see how hard it is to use Time Machine (much of this directly from Apple's web site):
1) Buy Apple Time Machine.
2) Open box, remove Apple Time Machine.
3) Plug in to power outlet and connect Ethernet cables.
4) Crap, my Mac is not running Leopard (only Leopard is supported)
5) Go to store, buy Leopard
6) Install Leopard
7) Download all updates for Leopard (10.4.8 is required)
8) Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu, and then click Time Machine.
9) Slide the switch to ON.
10) Choose your Time Capsule and click “Use for Backup.”
11) Give your Mac several hours or overnight to complete the initial backup.

[Dillinger @ Apr 27th 2009 2:03PM]

@Nohone you don't buy "Time Machine" you are thinking time capsule and assuming it’s the only way to use time machine. The steps really go like this, plug in ANY firewire or usb hard drive, when time machine asks if you want to use it as a backup drive say ok, then you are done.

Whats really nice is it doesn’t bring your computer to its knees while backing up files *cough* vista *cough* and if you want to cancel it midway through it doesn’t require a hard reboot. Just try to lie to me all tell me vista file copying doesn’t do that.

[Nohone @ Apr 27th 2009 2:12PM]

@Dillinger

1) You are correct, I misnamed the device and stand corrected. However, the steps still apply, you need to do all that same to make it work properly with a USB drive.

2) I have only one of my computers (Vista and XP) slow to a crawl when using WHS backup. That computer uses a USB Wireless N device, and slows because it is talking over USB wireless. Not a problem with WHS nor Vista, but the nature of USB Wireless. If I unplug and use the built-in Wireless G, it works perfectly fine.

[msarchet @ Apr 27th 2009 2:18PM]

@nohone, I find it interesting that you combined certain steps in the WHS scenario that you broke up in the time capsule scenario and also that you took the installation and upkeep of an OS into consideration for the time capsule.

[Skeezle @ Apr 27th 2009 2:22PM]

@nohone
troll+fanboy=fail

[MioTheGreat @ Apr 27th 2009 2:36PM]

They do.

Right on the control panel's homepage, third item in the list: "Back up your computer".

Click "Set up Backup", followed by two or three more mouseclicks, and backups are all set up and done.

The versioning features of Time Machine are already built in and running without backup configured. Just right click on any file or folder and choose "Restore Previous Versions"

[Nohone @ Apr 27th 2009 2:36PM]

@msarchet:
I do not need to upgrade my OS to use WHS with my existing computers. The GF uses Jaguar, so if she were to use Time Machine, she would need to upgrade her OS.

@Skeezle:
Pot. Kettle. Black. And since when does describing the steps needed to back up a computer being a Troll? All I see is a bunch of hating haters going into an article about a Windows product spreading their hate and continuing the hatefest, and are they not the hating Trolls who are showing hate by talking about Mac products?

[GeekPI @ Apr 27th 2009 2:39PM]

I always wondered why people tout Apple's Time Machine in the lastest version of OSX, when Vista (which came out long before) has "Previous Versions" for files, folders and drives and does incremental backups with identical functionality. It's accessible in Business and Ultimate versions, however can be easily unlocked in any standard version for free.

If you're in a business/server environment, XP works with Server 2003 to do the same 'Previous versions' incremental backups of individual files and folders. That's been around for 6+ years now.

And as others have mentioned, WHS also expands this functionality.

Sounds like the author doesn't know that.

[John @ Apr 27th 2009 3:00PM]

@Nohone,

You forgot the part where your windows machine automatically restarts itself after installing updates, halting the backup process and wasting another day. Also, I think you're forgetting that if a person knows about Time Capsule, chances are they know about the system requirements or will talk to an Apple Store employee before they buy (this isn't Best Buy, mind you).

[norton @ Apr 27th 2009 3:05PM]

@Harkonian - have you looked at www.rebit.com?

[Harkonian @ Apr 27th 2009 3:10PM]

@jakem: I get some of the points you are trying to make, but I really want a solution that is as hands off as possible, like TimeMachine. It's hard for me to sell the idea of a backup solution involving a separate server such as WHS to my girlfriend. Her first question will be, "Why can't we just plug in the backup and have it work, like TimeMachine?"

The thing is, Microsoft had the opportunity to hit a home run with a built-in backup solution--they have a backup and restore center in Vista, but I have yet to get it to work right. Whenever I try to configure it use the backup drive connected via ethernet to my hub, it keeps insisting that I provide username/password credentials to that drive. But, it has none. It's not a server. It's just a backup HD. So, it refuses to let me continue the backup configuration. TimeMachine, on the other hand, works with it seamlessly.

And on top of all this, the user experience that TimeMachine gives is far, far superior. I really want to have something like this under Windows because that is the OS I spend 95% of my time in.

[Harkonian @ Apr 27th 2009 3:14PM]

@norton: I haven't looked at rebit before, but I'm checking it out now. Thank you for that!

[Nohone @ Apr 27th 2009 3:24PM]

@John

But Macs never need to be restarted, correct?

Hint: I had to restart my Mini this weekend after another update that I have been putting off downloading and installing for a week or two now.

[Izzy @ Apr 27th 2009 3:44PM]

@all

I have WHS and love it.

I have TM for my 2 Macs and love it.

Both are easy to use, WHS allows for a lot of fiddling if you have server experience. TM is a plug-n-go backup solution, perfect for my Macs. If I could afford X-Serve, I'd have a Mac-Mini running that instead of using a TM, again, so I could play with a server.

For ease, TM; for a home server, WHS.

[John @ Apr 28th 2009 3:23AM]

@Nohone,

No, they need to be restarted from time to time, but you're not forced/nagged into doing it like you are on a Windows machine.

[sdemo @ Apr 27th 2009 1:06PM]

FYI, Macs dont need the software to be provided with the drive, Time Machine comes standard with Leopard. That being said, this is pretty sweet. If I still had my old Dell, I'd think about it.

*Please dont turn this into a Mac/PC war. Thats NOT what this comment was meant for.*

[htd @ Apr 27th 2009 1:17PM]

not every mac comes with leopard...

[Terc @ Apr 27th 2009 1:28PM]

@htd
Yes, every Mac that you can buy today DOES, in fact, come with Leopard.
Not sure what you were trying to get at, or if you were just trying to argue, but you are wrong.

[Akatihsa @ Apr 27th 2009 1:46PM]

I think the better point to make here is that you could use any drive with Time Machine... This product isn't meant for Mac users.

[sdemo @ Apr 27th 2009 2:26PM]

I think HTD was trying to say that some older Macs run Tiger, but thats (arguably) out of date and no longer supported, so big deal. They represent the minority at this point.

@Akatihsa: It doesnt matter who this drive is meant for, your point still stands. It can be used for Mac users because Macs can use any drive.


What makes me laugh about this site is the subtle PC-slanted titles such as "Incremental backups for everyman." Who says that "everyman" only uses PCs? There are plenty of other operating systems that the average person (aka everyman) can use. Hell, I doubt your average person even backs up their data...

[Phenoum @ Apr 27th 2009 1:08PM]

Wow - that's WAAAAY over priced compared to Time Capsule....

[kal326 @ Apr 27th 2009 1:22PM]

Because $299 for a 500GB and $499 for a 1TB is a bargain?

I'm pretty sure you can get a WHS setup with around 1TB of storage for just north of $500 or just buy a 1TB drive or two, a NAS enclosure, and use the built in backup software in your OS of choice.

[Phenoum @ Apr 27th 2009 1:34PM]

@ kal326

Please re-calibrate your sarcasm detector and try again.

-the Interwebz

[carlhajduk @ Apr 27th 2009 5:02PM]

Time Capsule is more than just a hard drive. It is an Airport base station plus hard drive in one unit.

[Templarian @ Apr 27th 2009 1:13PM]

Whats wrong with the built in backup tool and shadow copy? Seems to work perfectly fine without some special software/drive.

[norton @ Apr 27th 2009 5:35PM]

@Templarian

Most backup software is a scaled down version of systems designed for the IT world, requiring more decision making, configuring and "baby-sitting" than most users will tolerate. As a result, some forecasters estimate that 90% of consumer PC's are not currently backed up.

Seagate (as well as Rebit - http://www.rebit.com) recognized the need to make backing up as easy as virus scanning is... it just works. No schedules, no settings - just simple backup and restore. For the technically savvy, the other backup tools are just fine. But for mom, the doctor and dentist, the accountant, etc., simpler is usually better. Unlike the other backup software, with Replica and Rebit, there is actually no GUI for the user to interact with. It's all automatic, and the interactions that do occur are within Windows Explorer, something they probably are already familiar with.

[msarchet @ Apr 27th 2009 1:28PM]

I think that while this may not be equal to a Time Capsule in terms of usability, it still provides a great solution for a lot of PC users that all they need to do is back up a single computer. Also consider how the big HDD manufactures compete against each other on products I would suspect that we see some similar products from the other guys soon. Also it is a pretty nice looking piece of hardware so that's always a bonus.

[Britboyj27 @ Apr 27th 2009 1:57PM]

Yeah except I imagine it runs a background process that takes up a hell of a lot more system resources than Time Machine does.

Backup built into OS = win.

Nice that it's automated for PC owners now. Now, when their PC crashes and they come to buy a Mac, can they pull things OFF it for data recovery?

[Colonel Kernel @ Apr 27th 2009 1:17PM]

A brainless option for brainless people? Brainless!

[Sherwin @ Apr 27th 2009 3:39PM]

This in no way compares to Time Capsule. The whole point of Time Capsule is WIRELESS backups. If you have a laptop, you're not likely to keep plugging in a backup device and hence no matter how good the software is, you're not going to have timely backups. The beauty of what Apple invented is that you just turn on your laptop in your home and office and it's backing up wirelessly by itself.

[msarchet @ Apr 27th 2009 1:30PM]

Okay for one saying that this in no way compares to Time Capsule just because it isn't wireless is ludicrous because they are both automated non-hassle back up solutions. Not saying that either one is better but they definitely are very similar devices. Also your laptop argument is definitely valid but you should consider the fact that a time capsule only allows for backups in places that the time capsule is so I mean you don't get very timely backups if you travel with your mac do you? I don't think it is very hard to plug in a usb connection say once a day.

[MioTheGreat @ Apr 27th 2009 2:38PM]

Any router that supports USB hard drives can do the same thing with Windows.

There's a "Save on network" button in the "Set up backup" window.

[ack154 @ Apr 27th 2009 1:22PM]

I use synctoy to do my backups in Windows. Simple enough and backs up only what I tell it to.

I also use an external 500GB drive connected to an Airport Extreme Base Station to backup both my Macbook and my g/f's Macbook. Cake.

[EngadgetFail @ Apr 27th 2009 1:32PM]

FAIL - $130 starting price for the 250GB, $200 for the 500GB

[Lundmark @ Apr 27th 2009 1:34PM]

Time Machine is built into OS X. This isn't built into Windows. I think there would be a difference in performance/reliability?

[superhobo @ Apr 27th 2009 3:34PM]

It's hard for a hard disk manufacturer to mess up stuff like...copying from the hard drive.

[Lundmark @ Apr 28th 2009 6:00AM]

Actually, it could be. I would guess that keeping track of all changes to files would be difficult for a third party utility. Also, restoring all those files from a backup to a fresh Windows installation would be kind of tricky as well.

I doubt this works as well as a built-in backup feature.

[superhobo @ Apr 28th 2009 6:16AM]

Windows 7 and Vista have a built back up feature which you can use with any drive.

[dolapo10 @ Apr 27th 2009 1:39PM]

over at gizmodo it was the writer of the blog that started the pc/mac war when i saw this post over there. Don't know why but those guys are so bias its a slap on the face, that's why i prefer engadget.

[bjsguess @ Apr 27th 2009 1:53PM]

There are far better solutions available. Maybe not out of the box but with a little work you can save yourself hundreds of dollars and tons of added capabilities. NAS or USB backup solutions are plentiful for PC's.

[KilgoreTrout @ Apr 27th 2009 2:02PM]

I bought a Netgear Ready NAS duo pro (pioneer edition) and never looked back if not to laugh at Apple's time machine.

[Dillinger @ Apr 27th 2009 2:05PM]

which you could use with time machine

[Nohone @ Apr 27th 2009 2:11PM]

@Dillinger

1) You are correct, I misnamed the device and stand corrected. However, the steps still apply, you need to do all that same to make it work properly with a USB drive.

2) I have only one of my computers (Vista and XP) slow to a crawl when using WHS backup. That computer uses a USB Wireless N device, and slows because it is talking over USB wireless. Not a problem with WHS nor Vista, but the nature of USB Wireless. If I unplug and use the built-in Wireless G, it works perfectly fine.