- Quick specs
- Price: Free to try (15-day trial); $54.95 to buy
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows XP
- Date added: October 14, 2009
- Total Downloads: 14,294
- Downloads last week: 287
- See full specifications
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 123 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: CNET Staff
If backing up your folders is one of those good ideas you never get around to, Carbonite Online PC Backup might be for you. Carbonite tales the effort out of your contingency plan with software that automatically backs up your selected data and stores it, encrypted, on online servers. The format and services are useful and intuitive.
An entertaining video tutorial explains your options for selecting and deselecting individual files or folders to back up. You can set your preferences to auto-backup your data each time you change it, or run back-ups manually. You can permanently exclude some data from being saved, and quickly recover files from your online holdings. Carbonite has an unobtrusive color-coded system for communicating the status of your file back-ups, so you can determine you status at a glance. For instance, a green dot by the folder on your desktop signals a successful online back-up.
Some downsides we encountered were the high CPU usage and the long initial back-up. Any logging out activity, such as a screensaver session that needs a password to end, will stall the back up process. The download itself is lengthy and annoyingly requires a reboot. New users are also required to register an e-mail address. Despite the setbacks, users who want a hands-off and off-site back up solution should find Carbonite a worthy investment of time and money.
Publisher's description
From Carbonite :Carbonite Online PC Backup will automatically back up all the data on your PC. Most importantly, Carbonite is a "set and forget" service. It takes just one minute to download and install and then you're all set because we constantly monitor your PC for new and modified files (and backup only the difference). And we won't slow down your PC/Internet. Carbonite is also integrated with the Windows file explorer so you won't have to learn a new interface. Data is encrypted before it leaves your PC and remains encrypted on our servers. Carbonite is ideal for home use, frequent travelers, students, small businesses--we provide "Backup for Everyone.
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 123 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 25 user reviewsSee all 25 user reviews
This software version | All versions -
Version: Carbonite Online Backup 3.7.6.352
"Product seems okay. Chat support was terrible"
Pros: Seems to be a decent product
Cons: Chat support around in circles. I finally shut it off after 30 minutes of getting nowhere.
Summary: If you have as little patience as I do with the type of chat support described above, consider Replica from Seagate instead of putting your documents in a cloud. Twice the annual cost of Carbonite, but you own it. Does the same thing and Seagate has... read more >>
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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Carbonite Online Backup 3.7.6.352
"NOT for my MAC!! Downloaded software file corrupted!"
Pros: Did refund purchase price to my credit card in a fairly reasonable time frame.
Cons: Never received service. Online help required sending online to Carbonite all my HD info, download history, way too much stuff, & the problem with installation of their software was never resolved.
Summary: Notified Carbonite that their software download was flagged w/ a corrupted file notation. Told online help that I didn't want to install a corrupted file, was encouraged to do so anyway. Installation was never completed, all sorts of errors. New onl... read more >>
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Carbonite Online Backup 3.7.6.352
"Works very well, easy setup, no hassle"
Pros: Easy to set up, no fiddling needed, works in the background, shows a green spot on everything backed up,.
Cons: I've not had to get the backup back, as I've not had a crash so far so I can't tell how effective the recovery is but when I looked at it originally it seemed easy.
Summary: It's easy to download the prog, easy to set up and foolproof to use. Also I can't remember the price so it was either free or cheap!!
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Version: Carbonite Online Backup 3.7.6.352
"Not that great. Crashplan is better."
Pros: It backs up most of your files (not all, see below)
Cons: It really slowed my system down, especially the performance of Windows File Explorer. It also doesn't backup video files (including home videos), this was a show stopper for me. It doesn't give you much control over backup, either.
Summary: I tried it, but it really slowed my system down, especially the performance of Windows File Explorer. Carbonite integrates itself with Windows Explorer to add little color icons next to each file, so this is a flaw of the basic design. The fact th... read more >>
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1 out of 1 people found this review helpful
Version: Carbonite Online Backup 3.7.6.352
"Annual Flat Fee to Back up Everything You Select"
Pros: - One annual fee to back up any size computer
- Schedule the backup automatic or at your convenient schedule
- Select the standard files; add or subtract as you need
- Restore all or some of the files; look at them any time
- Check on status any timeCons: - would like to have more guidance on selecting files to back up
- would like more information about Carbonite's automated scheduleSummary: I've just renewed after 1 year of Carbonite use. This time I have selected 2 years. This product gives me comfort in knowing all my files are kept backed up. Carbonite monitors my system and knows when I have added files. They are almost immedia... read more >>
- See all 25 user reviews Write review
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