Backup4All

By admin | Sep 25, 2005

Softland has a backup software suite called Backup4all. I was asked to do a review of their professional version of the software. I will look at a few areas: installation, features, interface/usability, and price.

Installation

Installation was a snap. I downloaded the software and then inputted the given software key. This unlocked it and provided me with a fully functional software package. Backup4all is compatible with Windows products, including Windows 2003 server.

Features
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Once you startup Backup4all, you can create a new backup group by running the New Backup Wizard. This walks you through the source destination for the backup. This can include different drives and directories. It also asks for the destination drive for the backup. This can include cd, dvd, usb, Zip, hard, and network drives. However, the lack of support for tape devices is a major drawback for professional/corporate users. You can also schedule your backups on any interval you want. This is a must have for any backup solution. In addition to scheduling features, you can password protect your backup jobs. This adds a layer of security to your backups.

There are many options when configuring your backup jobs. You can run on different levels of compression, split the backup files at pre-determined intervals (like cd sizes), backup based upon filters, erase the media, etc. You can utilize incremental, differential, and full backups. This backup software covers most options of other backup suites. Professional users will probably want an option for FTP backups, especially in the professional version. But for most users, the destination options will be sufficient. Restoring jobs is easy and efficient in the event of the inevitable data loss.

Interface/Usability

This is a tough area to review because it is highly subjective. I thought the interface felt a little clumsy. I found navigation to be somewhat cumbersome. The action icons on the top of the screen didn’t translate well into actions. It might be more useful to stay closer to home with typical Windows iconography. But again, other users may have no problem with the icons. Some options were a little buried in menus, but for the most part the interface did an okay job of guiding the user through processes. This was the weakest area for the software package.

Pricing

Backup4all comes in three flavors: classic($30), mirror($25), and professional($45). The prices are reasonable for these types of packages.

Overall

Backup4All attempts to bring a full featured backup software suite to home and professional users alike. The professional version is easy to install and configure. The backup wizard does a good job at walking you through the steps. But the interface is sometimes awkward and unintuitive. The lack of FTP backups is disappointing. And the ommission of tape device support is a major drawback for professional/corporate users. I give this software 3 stars out of 5.