CHAOTICPIXEL  I want to be very clear here. I have used SmartBackup for a long time, and I loved it. It works great and is reliable to use ... but with a HUGE caveat. DON'T USE IT WITH NETWORKED DRIVES! I have multiple back ups of many of my drives, and one was a "shared" drive between many computers in my home. I use the airport's usb port to "network it."

This drive failed last night, so I went to my backups relieved that I had SmartBackup religiously backing the drive up. Unfortunately, the folder was completely empty. NO BACKUPS. It had a very long log of how it was backing it up everyday, but somehow, it was not connecting to the drive. So, it thought there was nothing to backup.

I would give this software 4 stars if it were not for this realization of its massive Achilles heel. If it cannot give some kind of warning when it doesn't connect to the networked drive or finds no files or something ... then you are as good as dead when you find no backups when you really need them. I am having to find another solution, today. This is a sad day.

Again, this complaint is just about networked drives. If you have none, then I would recommend this software. All my other backups are in perfect shape.

[Cererbl]  
(Version 2.3)

ALBFAN  I've tried smartbackup to clone my drive to an external firewire drive. I could restart from the external drive, but it was impossible to open any application.

I'm on a G5 PPC running OSX 10.5.3  
(Version 2.2.4)

FARIBORZ  I'm dropping this review to thank the author of this gorgeous application. SmartBackup is not simply the best backup application around but is supported by a very responsive and courteous developer who solved my issue in a matter of minutes. The program is fast, stable and simple to use and yet powerful enough to meet the needs of the most demanding users. Add to this an invaluable support from a dedicated developer and you come up with the right answer to buy it or not! Fariborz AMIRSHAHI - Verona (Italy)  
(Version 2.2.2)

XPLICIT  The best backup program I ever used. Recently I switched to Leopard and didn't even try Time Machine.  
(Version 2.2.1)

MACSTERDAM  what an absolutely wonderful program this has become. it's very very good, as well as very very fast, especially when doing smart updates. seriously recommended. also noteworthy is how response the developer is - offer really great service!  
(Version 2.2)

TIM.DEHRING  Definitely worth the money. Easy to use and just simple and to the point.  
(Version 2.1.4)

SILIZIUM  The Automator Aktion saved as a programm, does unexpected quit. Also after installing a new system.  
(Version 2.0.2)

MUSI  After much research and demoing, I bought this over a month ago. This app is really fantastic and makes for very easy and customizable backups. I particularly like the fact that it does not require you to do disk images, restore, etc. You just set a hard drive as the backup device, then drag into the main window the items or folders you want to back up. It keeps those items (and any new items you later add to the list) associated with that particular hard drive, so you can just click and backup. You can add a whole new different list of items you want to back up to a different hard drive, thereby having multiple backup sets. You then choose any hard drive from a popup list, and the items list changes according to the hard drive chosen. Very cool.

SmartBackup operates like a true backup by only copying the changed files. It also archives the previous and deleted versions so you never lose anything.

Asthetically this app has a beautiful GUI, and I love the darkened "window shade" that drops down when it is working. Nice touch.

I do alot of research and demoing before I part with my money. SmartBackup easily beat out every other contender, hands down. I highly recommend it.  
(Version 2.0.1)

FREERIDECODING  The corrected dmg file (also working on Panther/10.3) is now online. Panther users, please just download once again. Sorry for the inconvienience and thanks for reporting.

Happy new year!  
(Version 2.0)

JUKI  For those who can't open SmartBackup; I emailed developer about the bug and he promptly emailed me a corrected download which works fine.

The bug is only in OS 10.3.

The corrected version should be up before long, if it isn't already.  
(Version 2.0)