Web based backup services
June 16th, 2008 by Dave. 6 Comments »I’d like to expand on my tweet:
Web backup services need to take ideas from netflix.. moving large data efficiency in eyes of the masses
I want to use a web based backup service. Something that just works in the background, throttled as not to affect my bandwidth too much. The problem is they want me to upload all my data. How many gigabytes, or even terabytes do they expect people to upload? So here’s my opinion & suggestion. It’s based on no metrics, just opinion. Here’s what should happen:
- Signup to web based backup service
- Download & install app
- Select what you want to backup (to calculate space)
- App detects if I have CD-RW or DVD-RW drive and notifies service
- Service posts correct number (+1?) of CD-RW or DVD-RW’s to me, with free-post container to return
- Put CD/DVD’s into tray, open app, and click backup.
- It copies data onto CD/DVD’s
- You package CD/DVD’s into free-post container
- Post
From then on, their service works fine, like they currently do. Online & in the background, just without a ~50Gb barrier to entry. Then service can either keep the CD/DVD’s as a hard copy (extra backup), or make sure they’re RW’s and reuse them. Note security issues of re-using though.
Why do I compare it to Netflix? General public has a problem with large amounts of data, they leave it up to their IT expert. However, general public has no problem with posting movies (large amounts of data). I think it is a pretty safe assumption (again, based on no stats) that people have CD-RW or DVD-RW drives these days.
Thinking ahead when can solid state media take over & make that assumption redundant? When will uploading be fast enough? What about posting cheap 40Gb hard drives? Time machine?