As Simple as saving on a Time Capsule - Review Apple Time Capsule

Backup is a word we don’t like, mainly because of the fears and pains attached to it. However, the fact is that there are thousands of options available, from hard disks that can plug into your USB port, to those with e-Sata or firewire port, and even some that come attached to your home network. Still, many of us have asked whether this option could be automated, without the clutter of cables and additional power adapters.

Well, Apple, with its keep-it-simple policy and aptitude for innovative design, has found a solution, and it is called the Time Capsule. It is painfully expensive like other Apple products, but is the only good looking, wireless and backup device in the market.

The design is so simple that all you see is a plain white box with the Apple logo—the three Ethernet ports and USB Port are tucked away at the back—never guessing that it is actually a backup device with wireless capabilities. It is a bit too big for a wireless router, but small, sleek and smart for a network-enabled hard disk. There are no buttons, antennae, or switches, just a small LED lamp that stays green if all is good and starts flashing amber if something goes wrong.

This is as simple as things can be.

To setup the device, you need to run an Airport Utility (available both on Windows and the Mac OSX); the wizard mode takes you through most of the settings. But it seems Apple has done something wrong, for every change needs a reboot of the device. So if you were sharing your Internet connection through it, all your PCs get disconnected during the reboot.

The Time Capsule has a 802.11n wireless that offers higher speed and range compared to the 802.11b/g commonly used in homes.

Though your computer should have an 802.11 n card to utilise this feature, the device is backward complaint and can offer a slower speed if you don’t have the latest.

The good part with the time capsule is, that if you are an Apple user, the data backup to the device is automatic using the built-in Time Machine utility. Plus, Mobile Me subscribers can access the files through a password-protected page on the Internet, as long as the Time Capsule router at home is switched on.

Windows has no equivalent for the brilliant Time Machine software, and users will have to use free tools like Cobian Backup, which are just no match. Moreover, on Windows, I ran into trouble setting up a USB printer I had attached to the Time Capsule. So, I suggest this only for Mac users.

This is an ideal product for Mac users, that is, if you are willing to pay the price. It is smart, quiet and you really don’t feel there is a hard disk in your room. It does heat up a bit, as Apple does not believe in putting fans in their devices.

The Time Capsule costs Rs 17,700 for 500 GB and Rs 28,200 for 1TB.

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The above article / review appeared in the Indian Express, on Sunday 5th July 2009