Time Machine is super!
2009
Time Machine is a backup and restore program from Apple, it comes standard with OS X Leopard. To use Time Machine you need a USB or Firewire drive, or an Apple Time Capsule (officially).
Since I have a MacBook I do not want a drive, I have to connect to the MacBook. So I went with a LaCie d2 Network. This is a NAS that is Time Machine compatible. You have to have a NAS that can communicate over AFP and is Time Machine compatible , or it will not work (very well).
I have the LaCie d2 Network hooked up to an AirPort Extreme which uses the N based wifi network. I have noticed this helps a lot when making backups. It goes about 3 times (if not more) faster, compared to a G based wifi network.
Time Machine makes backups every hour so you can go “back in time” using Time Machine to restore individual files or folders.
I had made all these backups, but would they really restore?
I had installed a lot of applications just to try them out, and I felt my MacBook was a bit cluttered with junk. I wanted to reinstall my MacBook, but did not want reinstall all the settings, applications, etc… so I did a full restore. A full restore can be done via the OS X install.
I did have some problems. The LaCie d2 Network was not found, but turned out I needed to use the original cable that came with the LaCie d2 Network (usually connected to the AirPort Extreme) to connect the MacBook. And voila, there is was. OS X install will just copy a full backup from the NAS to the Mac and after a few hours I was ready to go. All I needed to do was restore some files that where added and backupped after the full backup and I was done.
I know some people prefer iBackup, or the better known SuperDuper! or Carbon Copy Cloner. I personally use Carbon Copy Cloner to make a second backup just to be sure. But Time Machine is a very good backup program and I do advise everyone to give, it at least, a try.
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