Publisher's Description
From Archanet Technologies:
Backblaze makes it easy to backup all your data online. Using military grade encryption, your data is backed up to our secure data center. You can restore three ways by signing into the site and downloading a zip file, or by ordering DVD or USB hard drive.
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All versions:
3.3 starsout of 3 votes
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Current version:
3.3 starsout of 3 votes
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My rating:
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"Your Computer's Data is Safe with Backblaze"
Version: Backblaze Online Backup 1.7
Pros
Cheap, and relatively easy to use. Insurance against hard drive failures.
Cons
Horrible automatic downloader.
Summary
Your computer's data is safe with Backblaze. I'm sure the other online backup companies are fine and dandy, but for the past two years Dave Review has trusted the insurance company Backblaze to backup all of the essential files on my computer. Let's be honest, that's what Backblaze is, an insurance company. You pay them to protect you from the catastrophe of your computer crashing just like you pay Allstate to protect you from an accident (or any other mayhem you can think of).
And just like insurance, you hate to pay for it until you need it. And last week I needed my Backblaze insurance after my laptop hard drive took a dump. This is my personal laptop and has every photo I've taken since I switched to digital, which was all I really cared about. As a computer guy by trade, I knew something was up when it hard drive light was pegged for no good reason. Usually when I watch porn or stream Amazon Prime movies it will peg for a little, but none of that was happening. I tried to save my hard drive using my forensic kit (no...Seriously)...but no dice, so I turned to Backblaze.
The initial setup of Backblaze is easy and relatively painless. They allow you to have them choose what you upload (standard save places on your computer), or you can select it yourself. I will state though that depending on how much data you decide to backup it takes a very long time for the initial backup, after which it is relatively quick (unless you're ripping movies to your computer.)
I logged into my account and my heart dropped. I seriously started sweating and my heart started racing. I haven't had a successful backup in 331 days?!?!?! I can't help but think that holy ****...I've lost everything; I wanted to throw-up. I clicked on the view/restore files link and much to my surprise everything was as it should be; all my files, pictures and documents up until the crash were tucked neatly into the restore window. If you've ever used a computer, you can navigate to your files. I'm stupid as **** and I found them in the right places.
So like anybody would do, I chose to select all files and folders and selected restore. Backblaze determined, as they should, that this was a bad idea. You see how they deliver you the files is in a compressed ZIP file, and anyone in their right mind should not want a file as big as I tried to download. Conveniently they suggest that you choose 20 GB chunks, but will allow you to continue (and shoot yourself in the foot if you want.) I wish there was an option to have Backblaze breakup the chunks for me as most compression programs come with that built-in technology (WinRAR).
One thing to note is that Backblaze does not provide the files to you instantly like you are downloading a program, rather prepare your files for you behind the scenes. I selected three chunks; one 6 GB, one 26 GB, and one 58 GB. Backblaze emailed me when the first two files were ready for download, which took only about an hour.
Another "feature" they push on you, for convenience and reliability purposes, is to use their home grown downloading tool. I normally don't have a problem with this practice as many companies try to reinvent the wheel some being more successful than others. However, I HATE Backblaze's downloading tool. I wish it were a piece of paper that I could wad up into a little ball and use as kindling in my fireplace, it's that bad.
First, take everything you're use to about using the Tab button to navigate and pushing the Enter to key to, you know, execute functions and throw them away as they don't work in the downloader. Next, if you have multiple downloads, guess what Backblaze downloader doesn't care, it only chooses the latest restore and starts downloading it. There is no way to select any of the available downloads which is AWFUL. I would say it's completely useless, but it does download the latest restore, so in developer speak "it functions as designed."
Transfer speed of the 6 GB and 26 GB archive files was more than adequate, completing in about an hour and four hours respectively. The 58 GB chunk took around seven hours to complete, but also required installing a ZIP reading application to open the file as Windows couldn't handle the size of the file natively; I used WinRAR and it worked fine.
Even though I pay for the cheapest internet connection from Charter, my download speed is pretty good. I can see the times for download ballooning depending on how good your connection is. You can test your speed at any number of sites, but the most user friendly is SpeedTest.net.
Hiccups aside, I will definitely continue to recommend Backblaze as an affordable online backup service. Backblaze will protect you from permanent loss of valuable files in the event of a hard drive crash, and just like auto insurance...you shouldn't be without it! -
"Cheap, simple but they do limit upload"
Version: Backblaze Online Backup 1.7
Pros
Simple to use and configure.
Cons
No matter what they say, if you have a very fast upload pipe such as fiber you will without a doubt be limited. Backblaze is slower than Mozy which admits they have a 5mb upload cap. Backblaze should admit the cap or limits of their technology.
Summary
I get 2 meg up on a 20 meg upload connection. Graphed connection draws a line at 2 meg. Start an upload to mozy and it jumps up to at least 7mb up with both running.
Great bargain but they should admit they either cap the upload or have upload speed issues! -
"good deal; 10GB per day upload currently"
Version: Backblaze Online Backup 1.7
Pros
$95/2yrs, control panel shows status, seems simple enough, includes local external hard drives (not networked)
Cons
suggestion: need to allow for sending hard drive for intial backup > 50GB
Summary
I am using Backblaze right now to upload 750GB of mostly photos, but most other user docs as well ("Backblaze backs up everything on your computer except your operating system, applications, temporary files, or those over 4GB"; BackBlaze also backs up local external drives (but not those network connected) which is very helpful). The speed from Santa Barbara to their Oakland 365 main data center (I think this is their only place of storage) is about 1mbps, even though the Speakeasy test to San Francisco showed up to 5mbps possible. So far, 20,000 files and 25GB in 3 days, so it will take a couple of months to complete the first upload. (So I am doing better than their FAQ #8 of "...on a typical high-speed home Internet connection, you will be able to backup approximately 2 to 4 GB per day.") I wonder if anyone has done a uploading speed comparison between the various backup companies? Paying $95 for two years of unlimited use. I am also using a 2GB free account with Mozy, which seems ok; and Norton 360v3 is free for up to 4GB, if small documents is all you have.
Another good note: BackBlaze support has humanly answered two of my questioning and commenting messages within one business day each.
Too bad the file versions will only go back 30 days, I think some companies can have unlimited versioning, back to the start of use, but those plans cost much more. For restoring, if free internet will be too slow, they have a shippable USB hard drive ($189) transfer available, which is nice for a large amount of data. Does not seem they allowfor initial backup to send a hard drive to them to avoid the long startup wait over the internet upload; but we are trying to keep costs down anyway. I also am paying for Flickr to be able to upload unlimited photos, but that would take a lot of time to catch up many years of photos. Hope no one hacks into my backup to Backblaze, but my stuff is mostly memories that would be of little use to anyone...not even a replicant. Just playing the insurance game, hoping not to need the service.
Updated on Jul 4, 2010
However, I would like to see more information at their website on what will make them secure, as a functioning business, into the future. The initial personnel seem solid enough business folk.
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