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SwapDrive Backup

 & Nick Stam nickstam@comcast.net

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

Our Expert
LOOK INSIDE PC LABS HOW WE TEST
65 EXPERTS
43 YEARS
41,500+ REVIEWS
 - File Sync & Backup
3.5 Good

Pros & Cons

SwapDrive Backup Specs

Type: Professional

SwapDrive operates two online backup services: @Backup (which we covered last year) and the newer SwapDrive Backup. The priciest online backup service in this roundup, SwapDrive Backup performs basic backup functions via browser- and client-based applications. Like the client-based version, the drag-and-drop browser interface permits file and folder operations, but you must relax your browser's ActiveX security settings. Only the client version permits scheduled and incremental backups. But the PC client invokes the Web interface to perform a restore operation. Users can share data by sending file links using WhaleMail, an online file-transfer service. Additionally, you can share folders with other SwapDrive Backup users and configure them with read/write privileges. The client lacks an elapsed backup time indicator. SwapDrive Backup uses WinZip to compress files.

Final Thoughts

 - File Sync & Backup

SwapDrive Backup

3.5 Good

About Our Expert

Nick Stam

Nick Stam

nickstam@comcast.net

Co-Founder, ExtremeTech
Ex-Director, PC Magazine Labs

Nick is a founder of the ExtremeTech website. He worked with co-founder Bill Machrone designing the site, staffing up, and getting initial content developed for ET's formal launch on June 12, 2001. Nick was Senior Technical Director of ET until mid-2003, while concurrently performing duties in PC Magazine Labs.

Nick was a technical director in PC Labs from late 1991 through mid-2002, and was Lab Director from mid-2002 until March 2005. Prior to PC Magazine, Nick was in the computer industry in various development, systems engineering, and management roles since mid-1980, and he received an MS in Computer Science from SUNY Binghamton.

In March 2005, Nick decided it was time to leave Ziff Davis Media (parent of PC Magazine and ExtremeTech) to pursue other opportunities, but wishes all the best to the ET and PC Magazine staff and reader communities!

Nick can be contacted at nickstam@comcast.net

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