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SpiderOak Offers 2GB of Free, Cross-Platform Backup
Posted by Kevin Purdy at 11:04 PM on July 15, 2008
Windows/Mac/Linux (All platforms): Online backup utility SpiderOak is notable for its true cross-platform availability, but it also offers (like Mozy) 2 GB of non-expiring free storage space and the ability to run in the background, making persistent backups as you change the contents of any folders you want to watch. The creators boast of a compression algorithm that speeds up both uploads and restoration, and unlimited bandwidth for paying customers, but its real value comes in its simple interface and set-and-forget nature. For any user—but especially Linux newcomers—who doesn't quite feel comfortable setting up their own automated backups, SpiderOak is a viable option. SpiderOak is free to download and create a 2 GB account; each 10 GB increment after that costs about $US5/month.
Tags: backup | linux | mac os x | online backup | organise | spideroak | storage | windows
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
E_Merlin
Posted 11:53 PM 15/7/08
I wounder how this will compare to dropbox...
E_Merlin
rawbzilla
Posted 11:39 PM 15/7/08
Neat. I can always use more storage space!
rawbzilla
caedus
Posted 12:56 AM 16/7/08
Amazon S3 offers unlimited storage for about 15cents/gb. I'd rather use that and pay a few pennies as opposed to one of these fly-by-night ones. plenty of free utilities to help in backup up files there too.
caedus
jlangley
Posted 1:16 AM 16/7/08
I use Carbonite ([carbonite.com]). It has unlimited backup for ~ $50/year and runs in the background capturing changes like this service. Right now it only works on XP and Vista, but Mac support is supposed to roll out mid-2008.
jlangley
Methusalah
Posted 1:10 AM 16/7/08
@caedus: I only looked at the amazon pricing plans briefly, but based on the montly pricing calculator that they provide backing up 10 gigabytes of data 10 times a month would result in paying over $10 a month for their services. I know you'd normally only backup changed and new files, but when you consider the additional fees for data transfer and other services that amazon charges I don't think that the choice is as clear-cut as you seem to believe.
Methusalah
caedus
Posted 1:43 AM 16/7/08
If you're backing up 100gb a month, online storage isnt for you anyway.
caedus
dwroth
Posted 4:50 AM 16/7/08
So does this offer any improvement over mozy?
dwroth
ross.m
Posted 5:27 AM 16/7/08
@dwroth: Linux support. Beyond that, they're basically the same service.
ross.m
dchadwick
Posted 6:26 AM 16/7/08
Been using SpiderOak for a while side-by-side with Mozy on OS X. The Mac client is a little rough around the edges, but it uploads very very quickly. It also preserves all versions of changed files. Mozy's processor usage creeps up and up the longer you run it, whereas the SpiderOak client seems less resource-intensive. It's a cinch to retrieve a file off SpiderOak, but I've waited DAYS in some cases to restore a few files from my Mozy backup. Once they polish up the interface a bit, I'd choose SpiderOak.
dchadwick
rekcah
Posted 6:25 AM 16/7/08
"...I think this might be the best online storage solution so far." says Simple Help, LF's source.
I just spend some time playing with it. For now, it surely looks and feels a lot of nicer and better to me. Watch out, Mozy!
rekcah
prom77
Posted 7:49 AM 16/7/08
My concern is the price. Mozy is a flat $4.95 a month for unlimited storage. SpiderOak charges $10 per month for the first 20GB, then $5 more for every additional 10GB. Even if you're storing under 20GB, SpiderOak is DOUBLE Mozy's cost. And Carbonite is even cheaper than Mozy by a few cents.
Are there any features of SpiderOak that make this wild price differential worth it?
prom77
azpat
Posted 8:01 AM 16/7/08
I wonder how long before the RIAA/MPAA makes these services scan for and report all instances of any media files. Sue-first, ask questions later and your ITunes library that you paid for gets flagged and now you're cross referencing itunes purchase history and physical cds with your upload list.
That said, using one of these sky-drives (perhaps not one tailored to system backups) and sharing the account username/password amongst trusted friends/family would be a great way to get new tunes. Like the old invite-only ftps, only hosted by professionals (who can ran you out).
azpat
raphsabb
Posted 9:56 AM 16/7/08
I use both.
Mozy backs up my windows docs and SpiderOak backs up my linux docs
raphsabb
stubear
Posted 10:43 AM 16/7/08
I've been using Adrive (adrive.com) since they began public beta. The desktop backup client is currently available for XP/Vista only, but their webDAV is quick, clean, and clear.
Can't beat 50gb for free with no ads.
And if your primary 'puter is XP/Vista, the desktop backup client is flawless.
stubear
abhiroop
Posted 11:26 AM 16/7/08
finally a simple online backup solution for linux...definitely going to be using this tonight.
abhiroop
John Williams
Posted 12:33 PM 16/7/08
Dropbox ftw.
Wouldn't recommend anything else.
John Williams
garbanzo-bean
Posted 2:28 PM 16/7/08
i can't bring myself to trust any of these backup services. if my data is important enough to back up, then it's too important to be in the hands of strangers. what happens when these flash new companies go belly-up or lose their servers in a raid? then you're pretty much screwed...
is the potential risk work gaining 2GB storage? not when DVDs hold more than twice that much!
garbanzo-bean
MrCrispy
Posted 4:43 PM 16/7/08
I don't get the appeal of online storage for home users. Its fine if I want to sync data like my bookmarks, email etc which I want to access from any pc anywhere. Other data like that might be my bank account, which is already online.
For personal data, why not spend $99, get a 500gb external hard disk, and backup as much as you want, keep it versioned, accessible at all times even without a connection, safe and private, and faster and easier to do as well.
Combine that with a 4gb usb drive for $15 that contains all my personal documents and important data (in an encrypted container) which I can carry with me.
If you really want to keep your data online, use a free service like Live Mesh/Foldershare/upcoming GDrive/Dropbox.
In all the rush to use these web apps, people underestimate the value of privacy these days.
MrCrispy
jstonedotorg
Posted 6:14 AM 22/7/08
This is interesting. Currently I use Mozy and copy all my files from linux to windows and backup. I guess it saves me $5 a month, but it is kinda a pain. Maybe one positive is that if Mozy goes belly up at the same time my linux hard drive crashes I'll still have all my files.
jstonedotorg