Carbonite Automatic Online Backup Review (& Giveaway Ends 10/31)

 

ABOUT:

Carbonite is an online backup service for home or small business users.  It is a software program that you install on your computer and it backs up your files automatically to their state-of-the-art data centers.

Some Scary Stats:

• Up to 13% of hard drives fail every year
• 50% of computer users have lot or accidentally deleted files from their primary computer
• Approximately 2 million laptops are stolen every year, and only 2% are ever recovered.

With Carbonite there is no hardware to buy for your computer nor do you have to remember to back anything up.  Once you set it up initially (which is quick and painless) Carbonite will take care of your files going forward.  Their data centers where your files go are highly secure and protected with your files even sent to the data centers using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Technology (the same technology used in online banking and e-commerce transactions.)  Then if and when you need file recovery, with just a few simple clicks Carbonite will restore the file where it used to be!  Since 2005, Carbonite has restored over 7 billion files that would have been lost forever!

Home & Home Office Version Features:

• Unlimited backup space
• Automatic, continuous backup
• File and Folder backup
• Easy recovery/Restore wizard
• Web and mobile access
• Phone, chat and email support
• $59 per computer
• Works with both Windows and Mac computers

With the Small Business Version the cost is more but you do get more features.

MY THOUGHTS:

Loosing my family photos, videos, and personal documents is something that it irreplaceable.  There is no way to re-create them and it can be devastating to loose.  I had actually accidentally erased all of my son’s home videos from his first year and we were never able to recover them.  We of course afterwards purchased external hard drives and try to also backup to DVD discs but it is something that we have to be diligent about transferring ourselves.

Carbonite is great because it is automatic!  First you simply install Carbonite on your computer which is where you manage your online backups and check what’s being backed up.  Next you choose to either choose the files yourself or Carbonite atomically finds them.  Once you choose your files they will start transferring to the Carbonite secure servers and will continuously update daily.

Need to access your files while away from your computer?  No problem!  Free with your Carbonite yearly subscription you receive “Anytime, Anywhere Access.”  So you can securely access your files in your backup from any computer or smartphone connected to the Internet!  You can browse, view, listen or share your files instantly too through the Free Carbonite Access app for the iPhone, Android, or BlackBerry smartphone.

Overall, we have become big fans of Carbonite.  For just $59 a year (that’s less than $5 a month!) we have the peace of mind that our files are safe and that you can restore them if need be.  No more screwing around with external hard drives, remembering to back up files, searching for discs to download files to!  Carbonite really does it all and the ability to access your files from any other computer is just icing on the cake.  I also want to add that Carbonite is super easy to install and setup.  You do not have to be a computer wizard to set it up, just follow the simple steps and you will be on your way!  I think the price too is super reasonable and worth it, especially to save my time and sanity!

BUY IT:  You can purchase Carbonite for just $59 per year for home use and even Try It Free for 15 days (no credit card required).

WIN IT:  (1) US winner will receive a one-year subscription to Carbonite Unlimited Online Backup

Rafflecopter Entry:

Mom and More Disclosure: I was given a subscription to review and share my honest opinion. Please see my Disclosure Policy.