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EMC Dantz Retrospect Professional 7

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Performance
System backup: Software backs up the entire PC, including operating system files. Some applications may perform a full backup without copying open system files.	Yes
Incremental backup: Application backs up all the files that you've changed since the last incremental backup. The software keeps multiple backup sets, and each contains different files or different versions of files.	Yes
Differential backup: Program backs up all files that you've changed since the last full backup. The backup application keeps two backup sets: one for the full backup and one that contains all of the new files plus the last versions of any changed files.	No
Synchronization: Application lets you set up folders in two different locations that contain the same files; when you add or change a file in one location, the software adds or updates it in the other location.	No
Imaging: Software performs a sector-level backup of an entire hard drive. Its main disadvantage is that you generally can't pick and choose which files and folders you want to protect--you must image the entire disk.	No
File monitoring: Application continuously monitors folders of your choosing. When you add a new file or change an existing one, the app automatically backs up the file.	No
Versioning: Any backup application that performs incremental backups will save different versions, but a versioning app will let you browse the versions in one interface.	Yes
Disaster recovery: Program examines system files, applications, user settings, and everything else on a hard drive and copies it all to a bootable partition or disk. When your primary boot disk fails, you can use the copy to get back up and running quickly.	Yes
Open-file backup: Program has the ability to back up files another program is currently using. An option only in Windows XP.	Yes
Compression	Yes
Verification: Utility compares the backed-up files with the source files to ensure completeness and accuracy.	Yes
Encryption	Yes
Password protection	Yes
Traditional backup: Backs up to a single file; the copy can be opened only with the backup application that created it.	Yes
Native backup: Program backs up files and folders in their original format so that you can view and open them with any file browser (such as Windows Explorer).	Yes (no compression, no encryption)
Scheduling	Yes
Push-button support: Software is compatible with an external hard drive that has one or more buttons on its enclosure for initiating a backup.	Yes
Network-capable	Yes
Multisystem license	Yes (includes two client versions)
Media supported	Hard drive, flash media drives, optical disc, tape

User Reviews for EMC Dantz Retrospect Professional 7

Reviewed by: juliansdad

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Smooth Operation, Good Attention to Detail, minimal slowdown of computer while running.

Weaknesses: Overly difficult to set up and operate. Missed a virus that safety.live.com picked up in an online test.

Overall Evaluation: Use of it's own language rather than widely accepted computer terminology adds to it's already overly complicated operation. It's builders may have been thinking "why get to our destination in 5 minutes when we can waste time and get there in 15 minutes?" To a geek, this program is great. To a guy who likes things competent but simple, there's a lot of overkill here.
Reviewed by: liqflame

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Highly configurable backup sets,Backs up to a wide variety of different media types,Minimal licensing restrictions on using network drives,Fairly affordable

Weaknesses: Some quirks in user experience when backup does not run successfully. "Disaster recovery" add-on (sounds awesome) is expensive. Might be too complex for some users to wrap their mind around

Overall Evaluation: As an I/T consultant, I have spent a lot of time locating that ideal piece of software to fit whatever my clients' needs may be at the time.DVD RW drives and media seemed an ideal way to inexpensively perform unattended backups when I first started setting them up. 5GB of media for only a couple bucks. In practice, many of the other applications out there for this purpose fell far short of my expectations.Retrospect, however, changed my opinion on backup software that supports writing backup sets to optical media.Retrospect is a full-featured, highly-configurable backup program designed for professionals who need maximum reliability, as opposed to offerings by various disc-burning products that largely target the consumer market.There are, however, a few small quirks in the UI. For example, when a backup does not run for whatever reason (damaged media, wrong disc in the drive, etc) it is easy for the end user to put the program in a mode that defers all scheduled backups until a special button in the program is "un-pushed". This took me quite a bit of time to figure out when one of my clients started having issues.Furthermore, I find "wizards" (the default configuration mode of the program) somewhat annoying in any software, and quickly enabled the advanced mode upon installation.When I saw the amount of configurability, I was a bit overwhelmed, and it took me quite a while to figure out how to set up a fairly simple configuration to my liking. A thorough scan of the documentation is highly recommended.One other small gripe, the disaster recovery add-on sounds really awesome, but costs an arm and a leg. More than 4 times the amount of the program itself. I can understand the pricing for a server-oriented license, but it seems high for home and small business users who are looking for this kind of solution.All in all, I am pleased with its performance. Every option you would expect from backup software is available, and many optical drives have been certified by the developers for use with the program. A full list is available on their web site. The software even tests out your media for compatibility and max reliable write speed before you start backing up.I haven't needed to restore anything yet, but given the thorough validation process available in the app, I have no doubts that it will get the job done when the need does arise.