CrashPlan review
CrashPlan is an innovative utility that allows you to back up your computer to another computer or to an external drive, either manually or on a schedule. If you have multiple computers in your household, you can back them up to one another, or you can back up to a friend's computer and invite them to do the same.
Pros
Backup options: Every time you use this program, you'll have several options for where you want to store your backup. You can send it to another computer by downloading the app to that computer and then logging in with the same account information you used on yours, you can backup to an external drive, or you can take advantage of the cloud storage available to paid users if you opt for that plan.
Automatic backups: You can configure this app to create automatic backups once a day. And if you're a paid user, you'll benefit from continuous backups, so if something does go wrong, you can quickly pick up right where you left off.
Cons
Confusing setup: This app doesn't boast the most accessible interface, making it a bit difficult to get the hang of at first. There is also no Help option, so novice users could really be stuck trying to make heads or tails of the available options and have a hard time taking full advantage of all program features.
Wireless complications: Backups completed through this program do take a long time. And because they're sent to the second computer wirelessly, the bandwidth use can interfere with other things you may want to do. You can work around these limitations a bit, but it does require some planning.
Bottom Line
CrashPlan is a good option for backing up your important files or entire computer, and it's nice to have the added options it provides. It's not perfect, and getting the hang of using the program can take some time, but it's worth checking out if you're in the market for new backup options. The free trial runs for 30 days and includes advanced features available in the paid plan only. After the trial period, you can continue to use the program for free with only basic features, or you can subscribe to the full-featured version for $5 per month for one computer or $12.50 per month for two to ten computers.
