MyPC BackUp is an online backup service that is well-known in the United Kingdom and is attempting to gain a following overseas. Their website urges visitors to secure their data and shows a statistic gleaned from CNN which states that ‘a laptop is stolen every 53 seconds’. If you have online backup (and presumably insurance), your loss will be minimal as you can simply retrieve your data from them.

What Does MyPC BackUp Do?
MyPC BackUp is fully automated which means that backing up your files is a walk in the park. When you use this application, it will appear on your desktop and it doesn’t take up a huge chunk of memory. With this desktop application, you will be able to view all the files you have backed up thus far. This is a unique feature and differentiates MyPC BackUp from other online storage methods.

In terms of price, MyPC Backup keep things extremely simple. You pay between $4.95 and $9.95 a month for the service. Multiple computers can be used and it is compatible with Windows 7, Vista or XP. You have unlimited storage space and a 14 day free trial to see if this is the online backup service for you.

Pros
It is almost mandatory these days for an online backup service to be easy to install and MyPC BackUp doesn’t fail to deliver. Just go the their website, download and choose one of the available deals. It takes approximately 2 minutes for the application to be downloaded. When you log in, all you need to do is enter your account information and you will be able to manage all your files with ease. You have the option to manually select the files you want to backup though this could be a time consuming process.

There are some online backup services that limit the amount of storage space. MyPC BackUp is not one of them. The moment you become a customer, you have unlimited storage capacity, a bargain for less than $10 a month. You can also customize the backing up of your files. This means you can schedule the system to backup the files at any time you choose. Changing the scheduling is child’s play and is achieved by altering the easy to use control panel. With 24/7 technical support and a free trial, MyPC BackUp makes it as alluring as possible when it comes to using their product for backing up your files.

Cons
The biggest disadvantage of MyPC BackUp is the lack of compatibility with Linux and Mac users. It is only designed for Windows which is a real shame. One hopes that the company finds a way to increase compatibility. Another minus point is the fact that file sharing is impossible. This is a standard feature of most online backup companies.

Overall Review of MyPC Backup
Despite these issues, MyPC BackUp is one of the best value for money online backup services on the market. The flexible subscriptions on offer are the icing on the cake. You can utilize a month to month plan, a 6 month package or 1 and 2 year packages. All in all, this is an online backup service worth considering. You should at least try the 14 day free trial to see what the fuss is about.

While Elephant Drive may not be one of the top names that come to mind when you think of backups, it nevertheless offers an alternative solution. The company offers some unique features at affordable prices. For this reason, it has developed a following among users who want to get good value for their money. In this article, we’ll take a look at the pricing structure offered by Elephant Drive, its backup speed, ease of use, and configuration settings.

•    Pricing Structure – there are three main pricing plans, which cater to both home and business users. For personal users with basic backup requirements, the company offers a plan that allows you to backup up to 5 computers in the home. The total storage is 500GB of files. So if your brothers and sisters are active computer users as well, their family plan can certainly look attractive. For enterprise users, Elephant Drive can provide as much as 1T of space. Their plans range from $9.95/month for 100GB to $415/mo for 1T. All plans already include various configuration settings and file sharing.

•    Backup Speed – when it comes to speed, this service is at par with the best in the industry. In fact, recent testing of various online backup providers has shown that it’s even better than a lot of competitors. Elephant Drive doesn’t cause unnecessary slowdowns on the system because the designers of the software made sure that it won’t interrupt users.

•    Ease of Use – in terms of user-friendliness, you won’t have any problem with Elephant Drive. It has a drag-and-drop functionality so even beginners and intermediate users can comfortably use the software. Simply place everything you want to save on the “My Trunk” folder. It is also east to share your files with people with an Elephant Drive account. However, take note that there is no public sharing feature.

•    Configuration Settings – if you’re an advanced user, you’ll appreciate the configuration setting that are offered by this provider. It allows you to control the backup process and restoration according to your specific needs. The backup folders can be scheduled daily, weekly, or monthly. You’ll have peace of mind knowing where your files are where they’re supposed to be.

There are certainly a lot of things that makes Elephant Drive stand out in the online backup industry despite tough competition. But there are limitations to the service as well. For example, the provider places a limit on individual file size. Personal users can only use up to 1GB, family users up to 2GB, and enterprise users up to 50GB. This might not be a problem for most people but if you’re handling multi-media files, it might become a hassle.

Another weakness in the service is their customer support. The support staff at Elephant Drive sometimes reply late to tickets, voicemails, and emails from users although this may not be a serious issue for most. Overall, Elephant Drive offers excellent value for your money. Backup for two computers cost as little as $9.95/month; it is an attractive option for those who are just starting to try out online backup services.

Protect your important files. Get Automatic Backup Storage with Anywhere Access from ElephantDrive – Free Trial.

Total Defense is a large security technology firm with operations in California, New York and various sites in Europe and Asia. They specialize in anti-crimeware and malaware solutions but have also dipped their toe into online backup. Their site proudly boasts that more than 50,000 businesses worldwide and 4 million customers use Total Defense products. As well as promising anti-virus solutions and PC tune-ups, they have a specific sector dedicated to online backup.

What Does Total Defense Backup Do For You?
Their online backup service supports processors with a minimum speed of 300MHz and with a disk space of 30MB or more. It supports Windows systems such as XP, Vista and 7. Total Defense has 11 global data centers and those who purchase their online backup package will be able to backup their data to 2 of these points everyday. Their price list depends entirely on the amount of space required:

• 10GB: $49.99
• 25GB: $59.99
• 50GB: $79.99
• 100GB: $149.99
• 250GB: $374.99

Pros
With so many data centers, users are spoiled for choice when it comes to backing up their data. Total Defense’s flexible scheduling is really advantageous for its users because you can backup your data anytime you choose. For example, you could back up your music folder on an hourly basis, your hard drive every evening and your entire system every week. You are able to set up a time interval between backups which means you are always in control of your data.

One of the most important aspects of online backup is the ability to file share. With Total Defense, you have one click file sharing which enables you to share pictures, files and videos to friends and family in an instant. The days of having emails bounce because of extra large attachments are long gone.

The encryption system used by Total Defense has three different levels. Your files become encrypted on your computer, are encrypted a second time after they are sent and a final encryption takes place when they are stored. Even the engineers at Total Defense are unable to decipher your information unless you give them your password.

The time machine feature is also a real bonus. This enables you to have a quick glance at your files from a specific date. You can then retrieve all files from that date if you wish. This is especially handy when it comes to financial matters such as the retrieval of tax documents.

Cons
For all its features, various online customer reviews have been less than complimentary when it comes to customer service. Although most of these negative comments relate to their malaware service, it is worrying that the company seemingly takes such a lax attitude to customer service. This is despite their 24/7 technical support claim. Also, the pricing system is puzzling. Companies buying 10GB are punished and can purchase 40GB extra for just $30. However, the difference in price between 100GB and 250GB is zero when you calculate the price per GB of storage. Total Defense needs to look at this situation.

Overall Total Defense Online Backup Review
Total Defense appears to have provided an excellent online backup service. With a 60 day money back guarantee, businesses and individuals have an incentive to try it out. Once you purchase one of their plans, you automatically become entitled to free software updates.