Back-up Bundle
Apps like this will typically back up certain file types - JPEGs, MP3s, DOCs and so on - and may even, or alternatively, allow you to specify which folders will get backed up. BackItUp gives you the choice of both - and chucks in full disk partition back-up too. You can save jobs for future use and to have them run to a schedule.
Nero's BackItUp 4 Essentials: comprehensive
It'll also let you create a boot disc which can be used to start up your computer and restore the backed up data.
BackItUp isn't tied to the Insight - I was able to back up files to my network storage just as easily, and Nero has an online facility you can use too. It's all very flexible, and for once the wealth of options are accessible and don't get in the way if you want to perform basic tasks.
The only downside is that BackItUp compresses archives, so you can't make use of the back-up without the app. There are check boxes to disable compression - archive encryption too - but these were greyed out for me.
The InSight aquits itself well when it comes to performance, yielding class-average read scores in the CrystalDiskMark 3.0 benchmark and presenting average or better write speeds.
Verdict
It's a nice little drive, the Insight, but it's pricey, with the cheapest I've seen it being £70. Not expensive per se, but you can get other, equally good brand-name 500GB external hard drives discounted to £50. The InSight's slim styling, capacity read-out and back-up tools are nice, but not so essential as to be worth paying the premium. ®
More External HDD Reviews |
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 Round up
500GB Portable HDDs |
 Iomega
eGo USB 3.0 |
 Buffalo 32GB
external SSD |
 LaCie
Rugged USB 3.0 |
Verbatim InSight 500GB external hard drive
COMMENTS
can get others for less
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Re: "It's a nice little drive, the Insight, but it's pricey, with the cheapest I've seen it being £70. Not expensive per se, but you can get other, equally good brand-name 500GB external hard drives discounted to £50."
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Yes, you can get other brand names for less but what the article failed to mention is that this portable drive comes with a 5 year warranty and the others do not. This difference more than offsets the price differential and makes it a winner in my books. I bought 2 of these devices to back up both my PC and Laptop. I rotate my backups onto these pocket-size portable drives and then I keep one at home and take the other to work which in effect gives me secure offsite storage.
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+1
A whopping 5 year warranty is almost certainly worthy of mention in a review like this. Good point.
Software
I disagree with the conclusion because the capabilities of the backup software would indicate it probably is worth paying the "premium".
Look at how much a copy of retrospect is for example, given you can also buy external drives with retrospect personal backup included it would be worth comparing prices.
Stupid feature!
"Fill up your drive, and the InSight itself won't tell you that you have no more room until you unplug it, forcing the display to refresh."
Utterly pointless then, because you'll only know it's full after plugging it in, by which time you could just check the capacity using Explorer anyway!
How's this storage meter thing work then?
And if you're ever thinking of repartitioning it in any manner other than default... hehehehe... I wonder what would happen.
