Seagate Replica

Seagate Replica 500GB

Specialized external hard drive offers automated set-and-forget backups. The Seagate Replica external hard drive has a slim design, a nifty docking base (only with the $200 500GB multi-PC version; the 250GB drive costs $130; prices are as of August 31, 2009), and simple software for performing continuous system backups. In most scenarios, the Replica handles backups with ease, with hardly any intervention. The premise underlying the Replica--and the Rebit 500GB Appliance, whose software it uses--is straightforward: Attach the Replica drive to your PC, and the Replica will install some software on your PC and then automatically replicate your drive's contents, including all system files. If you want to use the Replica for system recovery, you may need to configure the system that will accept the restored data to match the one that the Replica is tied to. After it completes its initial backup (which may take a long time, depending on how much content your have), the Replica drive will continue to protect your data in real time, as long as the drive remains connected.