TidBITS Safe Computing: Take Control News: Better Backups with New Ebooks and Free Content

Safe Computing | 26 Jun 2008 | Listen

Take Control News: Better Backups with New Ebooks and Free Content

When Joe Kissell set out to revise "Take Control of Mac OS X Backups" to create a third edition that would cover both Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger and 10.5 Leopard, he realized that he faced the Herculean task of listing all known Mac backup programs, along with notes about their features. The category of Mac backup applications has exploded of late: what had been a long appendix became impossible to keep updated long enough to produce an ebook and call it "up-to-date." We have solved that problem by posting the information for free on our Web site, creating what has to be the largest compilation of Mac backup applications - currently 90 different programs. Because the information is in HTML on the Web, rather than in PDF, Joe should stand a chance at keeping it reasonably updated. We also posted about 20 book pages of instructions for working with the current version of Retrospect, still one of the most feature-rich backup programs available (but slated for replacement by a rewritten version later this year).

If you want a comprehensive look at all that's changed in the backup world recently, turn to the third edition of our best-selling "Take Control of Mac OS X Backups," in which Joe helps readers go beyond the false security of turning on Time Machine or copying a few files to CD. You'll find an at-a-glance comparison of different backup strategies (low-cost, easy, safest), along with extra advice for backing up digital photos and massive video projects. You'll learn the pros and cons of each type of backup media, including hard disk, Time Capsule, Internet backup service, optical disc, and more; discover how to pick the best backup software for your needs; and find time-tested recommendations for setting up, testing, and maintaining backups, complete with essential instructions for restoring after a crash. Covers Tiger and Leopard. 186 pages. $15.

For those overwhelmed by all the backup possibilities, version 1.1 of Joe's "Take Control of Easy Backups in Leopard" teaches you the fastest and easiest way to create a complete Leopard backup system - including archives, an all-important bootable duplicate, and an offsite backup - from which you can restore your data after an accident or disaster. Joe helps you identify the backup hardware that best matches your needs and budget (including a look at Time Capsule - Apple's new backup appliance), and he provides instructions for using Time Machine as well as alternatives for eight cases where Time Machine won't provide the backups you need. Joe walks you through every step of the way, from setting up your backup drive or Time Capsule to explaining how to recover your precious data in case of a deleted or corrupted file, a dead drive, or a stolen laptop. 96 pages. $10.

If you've already purchased one of these titles, check your email or open your existing PDF and click Check for Updates on the cover for information about upgrade discounts or free downloads.

Use Shift to Compare Edits in iPhoto '08

Recent TidBITS Talk Discussions

Published in TidBITS 935. Subscribe today to receive TidBITS in email every Monday.

Take Control News: Better Backups with New Ebooks and Free Content

Top Articles in this Section