Description:
Making regular backups of data is one of those onerous tasks many of us resent, but all it takes is one hard drive failure to make us wish we'd been more diligent all along. Although Connectix CopyAgent leaves users who rely on CD-R or CD-RW devices for their backup needs in the cold, it helps those with access to networked Macs or external drives create a routine for the archiving of files and folders, integrating a handful of features into your system that make day-to-day file management more convenient in the process. CopyAgent offers four different ways of copying files on your Mac, during a backup or otherwise. Normal Copy treats files like the Mac OS normally does; SmartReplace only copies new or changed documents; SmartMerge works like SmartReplace, but leaves files and folders in the destination folder that have been removed from the source; and Synchronize merges the most recent items in both source and destination folders. The Copy Scheduler itself is extremely easy to use. After stepping us through What (which files and folders should be included), Where (the destination can be an external hard drive, removable cartridge device, or networked volume), How (Normal Copy, SmartReplace, SmartMerge, or Synchronize), and When (setting your timed schedule), our backups ran flawlessly. Some of CopyAgent's other useful finder enhancements include the ability to delete files in a secure manner (preventing recovery), and circumventing the confirmation dialog that normally pops up when you try to trash a locked file. On the other hand, Fast File Erase's ability to empty trash in the background would be more impressive if recent releases of Mac OS didn't already have that capability. We also found that the speed gains promised by Fast File Erase and CopyAgent's Network Copy were minor in normal workday situations. CopyAgent's one major flaw, however, is its lack of support for CD-R or CD-RW devices. CopyAgent also includes TurboKeys, a utility that lets you navigate through any file menu with keyboard shortcuts, or use hot-keys to open folders, files, or applications. It isn't for everyone, but it can be a general productivity booster, adding a nice value to the CopyAgent package. --Jack Gardiner
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