Revised book has Mac backup strategy

Last week I mentioned a bunch of New Year's resolutions a computer user might want to make, among them being sure to properly back up your data. Those readers who are Mac users will appreciate the new, revised edition of "Take Control of Easy Mac Backups," part of the fabled "Take Control" series available as e-books and in print. Details follow:

Everyone knows that backups are essential to protect against file corruption, hardware failure, and theft, but to go beyond the limited security of turning on Time Machine or copying a few files to a disc, Mac users can now turn to "Take Control of Easy Mac Backups," by award-winning author and backup guru Joe Kissell. 

Kissell explains how to create a complete backup system for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard or 10.5 Leopard that includes versioned backups, an all-important bootable duplicate, and an offsite backup. Readers will learn how to identify backup hardware that best matches their needs and budget, and find instructions for using Time Machine as well as alternatives for nine situations where Time Machine lacks crucial features. Kissell walks readers through every step of the way, from setting up a backup drive or Time Capsule to explaining how to recover precious data in case of a deleted or corrupted file, a dead drive, or a stolen laptop. 

The 108-page book costs $10 in PDF or $19.99 in print and is available for immediate download at http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/backup-easy-mac

Questions answered in the book include:

* How can I get the maximum benefit from Time Machine?

* Should I use a Time Capsule, Apple's all-in-one Wi-Fi router and backup appliance?

* What features should I look for in an external backup drive?

* Should I use an online backup service, such as Backblaze or CrashPlan?

* Should I use USB or FireWire to connect my backup drive?

* What's a versioned backup, and why should I care?

* Why is having a bootable duplicate important?

* How can I easily and effectively keep an offsite backup?

* Time Machine is acting strangely. What should I do?

* How do I migrate existing backups to a Time Capsule?

* What's the difference between an online sync and a backup?

I've skimmed the book this morning, and I like what I see. The chapter covering online backups is itself worth the price. Read and prosper.