SLOW_RIVER  Outstanding support!

I bought MimMac on 10 March and had problems activating the app, which refused its (legit) Key number. I emailed support@ascendantsoft.com and got a prompt reply from Benjamin Timm. He suggested a fix. Did't work.

We exchanged 19 emails, over a period of 6 days. Benjamin remained patient, courteous even, at all times, and kept coming up with something new to try. He eventually found something that worked for me.

I expect--and get--support like this from the likes of Adobe, when I bought Photoshop, which is painfully expensive.

Benjamin gave me the same quality of support for a little app for which I had paid $10.

You gotta like the guy!

The app now works as advertised. Yes, it does backups, quite nicely, too.

slow_river  
(Version 1.8.4)

EYELESS  A very good backup utility, that is the only backup software I have not had one problem with (and I have tried a dozen of them). This is also the only software that has actually saved data for me in connection with a hard disc failure. -This was the only program that could even could be started - CCC, SuperDuper and others crashed (and I could not reboot the disc one more time). Scheduling would be a helpful addition (and then it would be better than nearly every other program out there), but it is low priced and works. (This was perhaps the only backup program that did not need any big upgrade to handle Leopard backups.)  
(Version 1.9.1)

FONSR  Besides MimMac being an excellent app, the support from Benjamin is superb. Via email, he worked me through a couple issues with promptness, patience, and clear instructions. I am certainly glad I stumbled on this sync utility. In my opinion, it's worth every bit of the $10 registration fee - and (don't tell Benjamin...) even more.

Appreciate MacMim's trial to be a timed trial, not a crippled version trial.

Documentation is straitforward and clear. Not wordy and obscure like so many.  
(Version 1.8.7)

STEVE SILANSKY  I've looked for backup software for quite some time now - MimMac really fits the bill and of the shareware programs, it is also the cheapest. It has heaps of options and when I did have a query, the developer went to amazing lengths to make sure my question was answered.

Highly recommended both on terms of product functionality as well as support.  
(Version 1.8.4)

ASCENDANT SOFTWORKS SUPPORT  Maskman:

First, MimMac does not make any changes to file permissions on your source drive -- never has, and never will. Second, MimMac reported skipping files during your clone because, obviously, your destination drive was not completely empty (there were identical files on your destination) -- this almost always ends up in a clone that is damaged, or unbootable, especially if the files on the destination were the remains of a different system. When making a clone for the first time, it is vital that you start with a completely empty destination volume -- which is why MimMac comes with a quick-start guide that gives comprehensive instructions on how to make your clone right the first time.

And as always, contacting Ascendant Softworks support is always a better way to get timely help that can save you a lot of trouble -- we're happy to help, and more often then not, the solution is quite simple.

Thanks anyways,

Ascendant Softworks Support

  
(Version 1.8)

XENOS  the trouble is that nowhere i find clearly stated whether or not scheduled backups are possible with this otherwise highly flexible tool.  
(Version 1.10)

GRIDLOK  Having used this reliable and comprehensively featured back-up program for years, I immediately purchased the latest upgrade. What a steal!! I mean really … US$10! … and I can vouch for the friendly and prompt support I received the one time I did strike a glitch.  
(Version 1.9.2)

UNCOY  After another interaction with Benjamin, I can tell you he really cares about his users. I bought a new computer and again ran into licensing trouble but Benjamin had me sorted out within 12 hours.

MimMac also handles packages well (iPhoto, Aperture generate packages into the hundreds of Gigabytes), treating them as folders so you only have to update the files which have changed not the whole database (minutes instead of days of copying).

MimMac is the only affordable high quality sync tool available on OS X. SuperDuper! is the way to go for volume backup but SuperDuper! doesn't handle folders or partial drives well and won't do two way syncing at all.

MimMac and SuperDuper! are a killer combination though.

I've since bought another license to support the developer's efforts with MimMac, despite our rocky start.

What's even better is the licensing scheme will be changed so that your license will continue to work even if Ascendent Softworks disappears (hopefully not!).

All that's left on my wishlist for MimMac is dry run preview of two-way syncing.  
(Version 1.9.2)

UNCOY  While the MimMac registration system is extremely dangerous (if Benjamin stops his software business you'll have no way to install MimMac on your new computer), otherwise the software is sound. And little else in this sector is. Drive Utilities are difficult to program and seem to attract a peculiar breed of developer (very expensive, locked down in non-user friendly ways, buggy).

MimMac scores very well on two out of three. And that is a lot better than the competition.

For full bootable backup, I recommend SuperDuper! but for sync, MimMac.

I am reviewing MimMac again as there is no way to edit my recent rating.

If MimMac were did not require developer intervention to move to a new computer, it would be a 5.  
(Version 1.9.2)

UNCOY  You cannot reformat your hard drive or sell your old computer and move on and keep using MimMac. You have to personally contact the developer and hope that he will get around to allowing you to reactivate your software.

If I had to this much babysitting for all the shareware I buy, I would be out of a job as I would be spending all my time just sending out authorisation emails (for what it's worth, I switch one of three Macs at least every six months and when I do a reinstall I've moved to doing clean installs and putting everything I need back on).

Stop worrying about the pirates - they get whatever application they want anyway - and start worrying about the legitmate users.

Take a page out of Dave Nanian of SuperDuper fame from shirtpocket software.

1. The basics are free.

2. Pirating is easy, but you'd be a few dot versions behind.

Anyone who pirates mission critical applications like backup isn't going to be a customer in any case. When the pirates grow up, they'll buy SuperDuper. In the meantime, Dave doesn't have to deal with them. This model scales. Microsoft and Adobe used a similar strategy for years, although Adobe seems to be moving towards making their applications unpiratable. The consequences - huge hassles for legitimate customers with licensing. Those who do pirate the application actually have less hassle in the end.

What is happening is that the Adobe crackdowns and their absurdly high prices ($2000+/suite/workstation) are making the shareware - reasonably priced photo and graphics space attractive again.

Anyway the point is you won't defeat the pirates, you'll just annoy legitimate users with the heavy handed authorization scheme you are using.

KISS is the golden rule. You follow it almost everywhere else. I ask again, Benjamin, what are you thinking about with this heavy-handed and unscaleable authorisation scheme?  
(Version 1.9.2)