Apple Backup - 3.1.2

I've read here several negative comments about Apple's Backup program, and I don't doubt that users are having these difficulties. However, I'd just like to add my own experiences, which have been good so far with my G4 Powerbook running OS X 10.4.11. I can set the date and time of automatic backups, and the backup works fine. It backs up automatically to my iDisk (we have the family plan, so two computers back up to their respective destinations in the cloud), and so far everything has been smooth in that direction. Further, twice I have successfully restored backups in their full and unadulterated condition — the ultimate test. (I would urge anyone using this or other backup programs to test the restore function.) You can restore all or partial elements of a particular backup, and do so going back in time ... thus, if you've backed up a flawed version of your work today you can go back to yesterday or last week's incremental backukp, and restore that version. For me, this worked. Are there improvements I'd like to see Apple make? Of course. 1) I'd like to see a way to set auto backups more frequent than daily, ideally automatically in real time, as per Leopard's Time Machine; 2) I'd like to see the program eliminate previous incremental backups after, say, 1 or 2 weeks. Right now Backup saves every backup, going back months or theoretically years. My solution is to go back once a month, erase previous backup versions, and force a full backup from scratch. It's an inelegant solution. However, with these and other sought-for improvements, the program works for me, and does what it says. It's fine, hasn't failed me yet, and I'll continue to use it happily. I'll give it 4 stars for effectiveness, and with a ways to go toward being better.

Probably the worst piece of software Apple has written with the possible exception of their migration software. It requires an internet connection each time it runs to "verify" that you are paid up on .Mac. It holds you hostage. Then it will spend hours "backing up" and at the same time tying up your machine, only to freeze at the end. This has happened so many times I have given up on it. I'd hate to actually have to rely on it to retrieve valuable data.