Sitback for Windows. (backup software) (Evaluation)
by Barry Brenesal

With computer viruses, power spikes, and software incompatibility lurking out there, we have every reason to follow the advice of computer professionals: Back up your hard drive frequently. Because of the time it takes, however, few of us do. Sitback and its new relation, Sitback for Windows, help.

You don't have to take time out of Excel or Word (or Tetris or Solitaire) while saving your precious files. Sitback for Windows initiates backups while you continue with more immediately pressing business. Or it waits until your computer is unattended and then institutes the backup itself.

The first method makes use of Windows' multitasking capabilities and Sitback's own support for backups on a user-chosen day of the week and time of day. You determine Sitback for Windows' buffer size and priority level as a background activity as well as which files to back up.

The second method--the lazy person's preference in backups--earns Sitback its fame. This backup utility waits a predetermined length of time (anywhere from 1 second to 60,000 seconds--slightly under 17 hours--is acceptable. If the computer remains unused at the end of that period, Sitback goes into action. Since most of us work on just a few files during any given computer session, an incremental backup of the day's effort makes perfect sense. Just slip in a floppy, move on to other business, and Sitback eventually takes care of the rest.

Menu selections are sensibly chosen, and documentation (both online and in the accompanying booklet) is more than adequate. Sitback for Windows' implementation is as carefully thought out as that of DOS-based Sitback. Data security and ease of use make both versions of Sitback well worth considering.