... both provide automatic remote backup.

I've used both and like them both; JungleDisk is a bit more flexible but is a little easier to back up.

I also use Unison to back up between Windows, Mac, Linux machines in my house.

I don't trust myself to do manual backups frequently enough (and frankly have better uses for my free time); automatic is the only way to go.

I have an iPhone and an iPod. My hard drive recently crashed, with most of my stuff backed up in various places. The only thing I didn't have backed up was some of my music. Luckily it was/is on one of two devices -- my iPod and my iPhone.

My iPod is first generation video, so I could just grab my files by viewing hidden folders. Easy peasy.

Now my frustration... the only music I am missing is stuff I bought on iTunes since I got my phone in December. I feel like I actually have two back-ups of this... one on my phone and one at the iTunes store. Problem is I can't retrieve my information from either source. Trying to put off syncing my phone for as long as possible, but thinking about just losing the songs.

TuneAid from http://www.digidna.net/

PodWorks from http://www.scifihifi.com/podworks/

My brother used PodWorks recently, so I can attest to it, but it is Mac OS X only. TuneAid has both Mac and Windows versions.

Thank you.

I will definitely check it out.

I use a Seagate FreeAgent Seagate FreeAgent drive that incorporates Ceedo software that enables me to not only back up all of My Documents, but also to install additional software so that I can access data using the Seagate FreeAgent drive with any computer. I keep the drive at a separate location from home, i.e., at my work office.

But why not just paint your credit card numbers on your ass and run down the street naked? Sprint has a remote backup too. Would you trust the phone company?

Hey, --fourpound. Have you tried iPod Access or iPod Rip or a similar utility to browse and copy your music off the iPhone? I recall purchasing iPod Access a few years ago to retrieve music I purchased from the iTunes store. Check MacUpdate.com (search on "iPod rip") to find iPod Access and other options that will hopefully help you get back what's yours. -JH

Been meaning to check out Unison and your mention of it put it on my to-do list. thanks, -JH

The T-mobile Sidekick has a synch program that works with Outlook... but I'm a Mac Person.

However, if you have a Sidekick, you can log into your T-Mobile account and go to the Desktop Interface. And from there you can access, well, everything. It automatically syncs your contacts, calender, notepad, to-do list, on-Sidekick web browser bookmarks and email.

I'm on my Sidekick3; I had an original Sidekick. I have the same SIM card, too. As long as I log in to the system with the username and password that ID's me, I haven't had to re-enter anything after entering it for the first time. That's the most convenient thing I've had to deal with in a long, long time.

There's also a big problem with Time Machine that no one talks about: you need to jump through a lot of hoops if you have a major physical issue with your Mac. I had to get the logic board replaced on my MacBook Pro, and as a result I could no longer access my Time Machine backups. It wasn't a lot of fun to find a fix, either.

SAN/NAS is painful until you run at near bus speeds. 100Mbps LANs just don't cut it. So you need to step up to a 1G LAN and you have to get 'real' 1Gb speeds out of the device. A lot of cheapo NAS are spec rated to 1Gb but run far slower than that in practice.

ain't worth it ......... baby sitting all this shit is like having a second job.