The Clickfree Transformer is a very easy to use USB device that turns your USB hard drive (or memory key) into a simple backup solution.
I’m sure some of you are confused why I’d be posting this here on Gadling, so let me explain why I feel a product like this is so important – far too many people travel nowadays without paying enough attention to their data security (yeah, you know who you are!).
I’ve heard horror stories from people who took 1000 photos on their trip, copied them all onto their laptop, and through some kind of accident, lost every single file.
Making a backup is so easy to do, yet so many people simply ignore the warning signs until it is too late. This is where (in my opinion) the Clickfree Transformer can help. The cable goes between your PC and storage device, and provides an install free backup solution.
Install free means the backup software runs off the cable, and does not require you to install anything on your computer. This is especially convenient if you are traveling with a machine that is locked down, and does not allow for the installation of third party software like many corporate PC’s.
Using the Clickfree Transformer is as simple as could be – you plug it into your PC, then you plug your storage drive into the cable. After about 20 seconds, the Clickfree backup application starts, and with just a few clicks, you are already making your backup. The software recognizes over 400 different file formats.
The software does not require any “tweaking’ for basic operation, but more advanced users can still access and change a large variety of options, including the type of files backed up, and the locations of these files.
Once a backup has been completed, the next backup is incremental, which means it will only copy new or modified files, greatly saving the time it takes to make a complete backup.
Once the backup is completed, you can check the results and see an overview of all backup volumes stored on the drive. Of course, if disaster strikes, you can also instantly restore files, or extract individual files from a backup.
One additional feature that can be installed to your PC is the Clickfree scheduler – this small tray icon can schedule your backups, and provide reminders when it is time to safeguard your files again.
There really isn’t much more to say about the Clickfree Transformer, which is probably how they intended the product to work – you simply plug and play. The Clickfree Transformer costs $59.99, which is in line with the cost of many commercial backup applications.
There are several things the Clickfree Transformer can not do – it won’t make a bootable backup of your computer, and it won’t work on your Macintosh (Windows only).
The storage device can be any spare external drive you have lying around, and with the current insanely low prices of portable drives, you can put together a nice backup system for under $100.
To come to a conclusion about the product, I really need to think like a computer novice – I’m pretty sure that most experienced computer users will have their own backup solution of choice, many of which may even be free. But from the perspective of an amateur, the Clickfree Transformer seems perfect. You plug it in, it makes a backup.
You’ll find the Clickfree Transformer cable here, which is where you’ll also find an assortment of other backup solutions.