TACALIT  I was planning to buy this software despite the price until I read more about the licencing policy. So I've decided to wait the first update after the full Snow Leopard version comes out, whitch should be the one without main SnowLeo issue...

This is a way to maximize the weird Qdea licencing program....

But in the meantime, I'm going to check the competitors.  
(Version 6.1)

SAMARB  I have been a Mac user for 25 years (yes, I started with the very first edition), and I've been a believer in bootable clones for as long as there's been software to do it. I've tried Carbon Copy Cloner and I have used SuperDuper and pretty well all the cloning software. Nothing is as good as SPX.

Firstly, Qdea has the next version of its software ready almost immediately there's a new system or system update. This is crucial. Carbon Copy Cloner works until there's a system update and then it's useless until they get around to doing an update, which can take months and months. If you want to update your clone every week, as I do, CCC is of no use whatsoever. And the same comment can be made about most of the cloning software out there. SuperDuper is pretty good, but way, way slower than SPX.

Secondly, the tech support from Qdea is very quick and very helpful.

Yes, SPX costs more than the other cloners, but, in my view, if you're serious about having bootable clones always ready, the money is well worth spending.

I've had several occasions where my clones saved the day in a big way. On holiday in Europe, my MacBook Pro was stolen from the hotel room. On another occasion, a brand new MacBook Pro had a failure of the logic board. In both cases, my little back-up drive with the bootable clone was not touched. I found another Mac and was up and running in five minutes. No data loss at all (in particular my Aperture library).

In short, for real world serious use of bootable clones, you really can't beat SPX. And I should make clear that I have no other connection to Qdea than having been a very satisfied customer for years. A licence lasts for two years and I get any and all SPX updates and new versions during the two years after renewal. Then I keep using the latest version until Qdea comes out with another update or version, and I renew the licence to be able to take advantage of the software for another two years.  
(Version 6.0.7)

MACVAULT  Synch Pro X is the best, most reliable backup solution I've ever used (and I've used almost all of them). It has never crashed on me, and simply does what it's supposed to do, when it's supposed to do it without fail. Very solid little program. My only complaint is that the GUI is in the dark ages and really needs a major overhaul in that area. I don't like that each plan lives in it's own window. It should be simplified to use one window that shows all plans and the interface should be spiffied up to look like it belongs on the Mac -Leopard platform. Other than that, I highly recommend this for all your backup and cloning needs.  
(Version 6.0.6)

KP.GORES  This was useful under system 9, but nowadays there are many alternatives and, even better, free ones that run more stable.

The user interface is confusing, support is almost non-existent.

It is stable, as long as all your disks stay online. But if a removable disappears or two disks have the same name (after all, it is a backup disk), synchronize gets confused.   
(Version 6.0.5)

KBEAT  An okay piece of software that does more or less what it's supposed to do, although I've had to deal with a few bugs.

Bugs are okay, in that they are a fact of life when dealign with software. An since Qdea, like most companies, releases software patches to deal with them, it would not be an issue. It would not be an issue that if, if it weren't for Qdea's horrendous licensing policy. Rather than being based on the version you own, it's time based.

So, for example, if you have version 5.0.6, and they release a patch that fixes a bug in version 5.0.7, you'd think that patch would be free, right? Nope, not if you bought version 5 twenty four months ago. You'll have to pay for a full version upgrade to get a .01 patch.

I'll happily pay for an upgrade when it brings new features to the table that I can use. But I simply won't pay for .01 bug patches. As a result, Qdea lost a customer and I moved to a competitor.   
(Version 6.0)

UNCOY  Every time you run Synchronize! Pro , it installs parasiteware in the background of your Mac which is very difficult to turn off. The parasiteware doesn't do much except steal processor cycles (going up and down between 0 and 6% in my experience).

That's a pretty heavy performance price to pay.

Synchronize! Pro X used to be a great product. Then the developer became more obsessed with all the unlicensed copies in use rather than the licensed copies that are in use.

Hugh Sontag would do well to make his customers advocates, knock his price down a bit and sell to a much wider public.

Instead he gives rude answers and cripples our computers.

Look elsewhere.  
(Version 5.1.3)

DONMONTALVO  I emailed qdea support to ask if they updated Synchronize! Pro to NOT expand *.graffle package files. I was very pleased to find out they added a pref doing just that. I've happily returned from my six month stint using Synk Pro (which has a horrible, unintuitive and frustrating interface).

I'm glad to be home again...there is SOOOO much I synchronize on a regular basis that the last 6 months have been pure hell.

Thanks qdea...thank you...thank you...thank you...

:)

Don Montalvo, NYC

Curmudgeon at large  
(Version 5.1.3)

PURDUEJIM  I have been using SyncPro for years for synchronizing data from a desktop to a laptop. It is very powerful and though I certainly do not use each feature, I have found it exceedingly reliable, fast and user friendly in many years of using it . I have never had a data loss using it and has saved me many times from losing valuable files. I have also found support to be friendly, timely, of excellent quality, and easy to understand. Most little problems I have had over the years were caused by my misunderstanding setup issues and support has held my hand and walked me through correcting my mistakes every time. I can also say these issues have been few and far between. I cannot recommend it more highly.

James Lee  
(Version 5.1.3)

DONMONTALVO  Long time owner...waiting for option to NOT display contents of *.graffle files when there's a difference...but rather to show modification of the actual *.graffle file.

Not looking to wrestle with the developer, merely asking for an option to ONLY show difference time. I asked for this back in the Spring. Switched to Synk (which ONLY displays *.graffle file but not contents), would like to switch back.

Don  
(Version 5.1.3)

RIDGES  I've been using SP for four years and it has been truly invaluable, keeping my documents folder on a desktop and laptop perfectly synched. It has not corrupted a file a single time to my knowledge. The bootable backups boot perfectly. I just updated to 5.1.3, but the prior version, 5.0.3x never crashed.

The setup is a little awkward, but not a big deal and you only do it initially - running the synchs is easy. Backups are critical to your happiness, so spend a little time to set things up right for yourself. Would I want a slick "metal" interface - noooo way. I want the programmer guy spending his time on data integrity and reliability. Do I want a creative kind of guy coding backup software? No, I want an anal-retentive, list making, accountant-type of unimaginative nerd.

A complaint about the backups is incrementals are done using a hierarchy of "archives". I would prefer to simply set a back date and browse files directly. It is, however, easy to find an earlier version by browsing the archive as necessary.

Bottom line is that for absolutely critical data integrity I have not had a problem for four years and for that I will put up with anything and the $99 is not unreasonable compared to all the buggy junk out there for cheaper. If you have a crashed computer you will pay anything to get your data back. Do not compromise on your backup strategy in order to save a few bucks.

#1 Gripe is license agreement as others have pointed out, although he's changed it so you can use it on two computers, but with restrictions on the second. To restrict use on the other computer is ridiculous - the software's purpose is to synchronize two computers, so the software has to be available on both computers - simple. Note to Qdea: please just remove the silly restriction on the second computer. How many users will actually pay you twice? Answer: the nicest, most ethical and well-meaning people on Earth. They deserve a break please give it to them.  
(Version 5.1.3)