Backup expert Joe Kissell provides all the latest advice you need to create a backup strategy that protects your data and enables quick recovery. Joe compares backup media and all Mac backup programs to help you make the best choices. You'll learn to set up, test, and maintain your backups, plus how to restore!

In this comprehensive book, backup guru Joe Kissell helps you pick the best backup strategy for your needs and understand the whys and hows of what you are doing, helping you go far beyond the false security of turning on Time Machine or copying a few files to CD. You'll find an at-a-glance comparison of different backup strategies (low-cost, easy, safest), along with advice for backing up digital photos and massive video projects. You'll learn the pros and cons of many types of backup media; discover how to pick the best backup software for your needs; and find time-tested recommendations for setting up, testing, and maintaining backups, complete with the essential instructions on how to restore after a crash.

Free online appendixes compare almost 100 backup products. Bonus! Includes coupons worth $30 off Data Backup and 10% off CrashPlan. Covers Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, as well as Leopard and Tiger!

Find answers to questions such as these:

• Should I use an online backup service to back up to a different location?
• How do I minimize the downtime I might suffer if my boot drive fails?
• How can I maximize the benefits of using Time Machine?
• What's a hard link, and how does it relate to Time Machine?
• What are the important gotchas relating to Time Machine?
• How do I migrate an existing backup system to Time Capsule?
• How can I back up easily and safely while traveling?
• How can I create my own command-line-based backups?
• Is the Drobo a useful device?
• How do I deduplicate my backups?
• Which hard drive should I buy for my backups?
• What are the pros and cons of running Retrospect 8?
• I'm running Windows on my Mac—how do I back up my Windows files?