After people finally decided that backing up all their files to Gmail wasn't a great idea, I started to search for an easy off-location backup solution, just for a few files for ease of use. I found it in the form of Mozy, a very simple backup tool that's currently only for Windows, but promises a Mac client as soon as possible.

What really drew me into this service in particular was the fact that it was free for an entry level account and that you get 2 GB of storage at the very base level. Signing up on their website is easy, with just a few basic pieces of information, and an interests survey. This lead me to believe that I'd end up getting some email newsletter that I couldn't opt-out of, so I promptly signed up with my spam email account. Well, needless to say I got my account, and downloaded the light client which, as I mentioned before, is still Windows only. It immediately lets you choose which folders you want to backup, along with a list of predefined backup locations, such as Firefox bookmarks, or even if you're living in the past, Internet Explorer.

I've yet to require restoring the files, but there's the option in the program to simply restore the files to their original location. The backups can be configured to be done at any time, including whenever the computer is idle. I personally chose to do it nightly at 3:45 AM, when I'd definitely be asleep.

Another benefit of this program is the fact that you get even more space for referring people. As you might've noticed, the link further up the page is a referral link. For every 4 people you refer, you get an extra GB of storage. So, feel free to create an account, and get me more space for my account.

Of course there is always the option to get a whole 30 GB of space for $5 a month, but I know you all like to be cheap. You can also upgrade your account at any time to this aforementioned "Mozy Plus" level. There's also a more "advanced" tier, or 60 GB of space for $10, which really sounds like a good deal to me.

Might I also add, that all of your backed up files can be easily restored or transferred to other computers via the excellent website that's shoved full of AJAX. This said restore function can only be done 5 times a month though, or at least that's what the website infers. You might possibly get more with a paid account, but I don't know. The ability to back up from multiple machines also makes the larger accounts more of a tempting offer, keeping their own separate spaces for each computer.

Overall, I really like this service so far for 3 reasons:

1. Ease of Use
   Everything from the website to the client is very simple and easy to configure, making for an inviting user expirence.
2. Very Lightweight
   The client is a matter of kilobytes, which compared to other backup software I've tried in the past, is very small.
3. Feature Rich
   For the non-existant price tag for the base Mozy expirence, the entire program is packed full of useful functions, and even moreso for paid accounts.

Linking

• Mozy