I have an insanely comprehensive redundant backup and archive routine. I don't think I'm of help on this.
'Lessons'
Buffistechnology 3: "Press Some Buttons, See What Happens."
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If you don't need the whole hard drive backed up, I am a fan of dropbox which essentially syncs files across multiple computers. The free accounts start small, but you can get a premium account which adds more space. The premium account gives you more space (50Gb or 100) also lets one keep multiple version of files, so if you delete one today, you can go back to your acct archives to find it in June.
I'm trying Carbonite -- which through cloud connectivity, lets me access backedup documents on other computers, INCLUDING my iPod Touch. Maybe I should try the Mozy free solution for the less critical docs on my Mac iBook....
Dropbox is more expensive than carbonite for the paid versions. And Carbonite does multiple file versions too, though old versions of files do expire, so still backup not archiving. But have tried neither and if DropBox works better than it would be worth the difference.
I have never used carbonite, but I understand there are people out there who have had problems with the service. I think this may have been an issue 2-3 years ago and they have worked out the kinks now.
I'm letting the Carbonite backup run -- it's up to 33% after a day and a half.
I didn't realize I can use a Carbonite app on my iPod Touch to get at my backedup PC docs like photos and PDFs and whatnot. That's actually kind of useful.
Dear, kind techistas, once again I storm on this thread to ask for your kind advice, as I'm clueless who googled till she couldn't google anymore, and you're not as confused as I am, at this point.
Here goes: after the last consultation with you, I've been recommended on a certain portable document camera with projector. All is good and shiny, except for one thing: all of the portable document cameras with projectors I found are part of a whiteboard thingy, and we don't have the whiteboard in itself. Is that a problem? Will we be able to use it as a kind of an advanced overhead projector, without the whiteboard? In particular, I thought of this: [link] for its class recording/podcasting feature, but I can't see any evidence that it'll work without the whiteboard.
Help, anyone?
If you look at the full description here: [link] it looks like it at least requires a computer monitor for output.
Of course, I forgot to state what I do need, not only what I don't need: I don't mind if the output is to a computer monitor or a projection screen or to a projection screen via another computer - as long as it's not a whiteboard mandatory.
Thanks (and thank you, Deena)!
On the drop box vs. carbonite, here is what someone said in a tech forum: [link]
Well, let's take a step back and think about the sync problem and what the ideal solution for it would do:
There would be a folder.
You'd put your stuff in it.
It would sync.
They built that.
Why didn't anyone else build that? I have no idea.
"But," you may ask, "so much more you could do! What about task management, calendaring, customized dashboards, virtual white boarding. More than just folders and files!"
No, shut up. People don't use that crap. They just want a folder. A folder that syncs.
"But," you may say, "this is valuable data...certainly users will feel more comfortable tying their data to Windows Live, Apple Mobile Me, or a name they already know."
No, shut up. Not a single person on Earth wakes up in the morning worried about deriving more value from their Windows Live login. People already trust folders. And Dropbox looks just like a folder. One that syncs.
"But," you may say, "folders are so 1995. why not leverage the full power of the web? With HTML 5 you can drag and drop files, you can build intergalactic dashboards of stats showing how much storage you are using, you can publish your files as RSS feeds and tweets, and you can add your company logo!"
No, shut up. Most of the world doesn't sit in front of their browser all day. If they do, it is IE 6 at work that they are not allowed to upgrade. Browsers suck for these kinds of things. Their stuff is already in folders. They just want a folder. That syncs.
That is what it does.