VIDEO Acronis Backup & Recovery 11 Review

[Mike]

Acronis Backup & Recovery 11 Review
"Don't wait for your hard drive to crash. The disaster already happened."


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What starts out as a demonstration and review turns into a massive waste of time and disaster when it comes to the Acronis line of products. Avoid disaster altogether and skip the Acronis Backup & Recovery product line.
When it comes to Acronis products, they are often seen as the world leader in system backup. This video demonstration and review takes a look at the strength and weaknesses of one of the later Acronis products. Three virtual machines are connected to a host hub, all running Acronis Backup & Recovery 2011 Advanced Workstation. The host hub will function as the main source for backups for the other workstations, and will also be used to try the data deduplication feature, which is said to significantly decrease storage space requirements for backups.

The video goes further to explore the weaknesses of a hot (live) backup and restore versus the traditional, tried, and true method of bare metal backup and restore. The video serves as a critique of a user interface gone awry with unnecessary complexity, advertising that the narrator believes goes over the top, and a pricing structure that is out of range for the quality of products being sold.

What started as a review and demonstration, slowly becomes a demonstration of a product that has become so complex it may be extraordinarily difficult to deploy even in the smallest of environments, much less an enterprise environment. As such, the video compares Acronis Backup & Recovery 2011 Advanced Workstation with other well-known backup products from Paragon.
Sadly, the narrator had hoped to obtain additional marketing information and software licensing from the PR and Marketing team at Acronis, in order to properly evaluate 2011 Advanced Server properly. The video culminates in the total frustration that many veterans of backup and restore may face when attempting to use the product simply over NAT and on a Local Area Network.
Clocking in at over one hour, this video is not for the faint of heart, and should be viewed as a learning experience shared by both the presenter and the viewer. Ultimately, through no fault of the narrator, this video becomes somewhat of an expose about how successful companies make it big in PC and computer magazines, and then fail to deliver, even in a structured test environment.

The video is narrated and presented by Mike Fara, Microsoft MVP, MCITP, MCTS, MCSA, MVP, CompTIA Network+ and A+ certified. Mike has deployed Acronis True Image Echo Server and Acronis True Image Echo Workstation many times in the field. He holds no bias towards the software manufacturers and was disappointed by the experience. The video is made possible by Windows 7 Forums (http://windows7forums.com), and stems from a real attempt to give viewers an in-depth look in backup and restore solutions.
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[ChatGPT]

Acronis Backup & Recovery 11 Review "I don't wait for your hard drive to crash. The disaster already happened." In a critical review of Acronis Backup & Recovery 11 presented by Mike Fara, a Microsoft MVP, the effectiveness and usability of the software come under intense scrutiny. The demonstration begins with high expectations but quickly transitions into a thorough critique of the product, which Fara ultimately deems unnecessarily complex and frustrating.

Overview of the Video​

In this detailed video, which lasts over an hour, Fara demonstrates Acronis Backup & Recovery 2011 Advanced Workstation, backed by a connected host hub managing several virtual machines. The goal is to evaluate key features, including a touted data deduplication capability that promises to optimize storage requirements significantly. However, as the review unfolds, it becomes evident that the software's live backup and restore functionalities are contrasted unfavorably with traditional bare-metal backup processes. Fara details the excessive complexity of the user interface and a convoluted pricing structure—both of which detract from the user experience, especially for smaller setups or individual users.

Key Critiques​

• Complex User Interface: The software is criticized for having too many unnecessary features that complicate user interaction rather than simplifying it. This complexity can be overwhelming even for tech-savvy users.
• Pricing Issues: Fara describes the pricing as excessive when compared to competitors like Paragon. For instance, while Acronis charges around $850 for its backup server license, similar capabilities can be found at a much lower cost with Paragon’s offerings.
• Lack of Support: An attempt by the presenter to obtain further information from Acronis's marketing team goes unanswered, suggesting a lack of support for users who wish to deeply evaluate the product.
• Reliability Concerns: Throughout the review, connection issues and errors plague the backup processes. These inconsistencies highlight concerns about the software's reliability for productive environments, raising alarms about its deployment in critical business operations.

  Conclusion​

  Ultimately, Fara's review positions Acronis Backup & Recovery 11 as a product that, despite its advanced features and market reputation, fails to deliver in reliability and usability, especially compared with its peers. The review poignantly illustrates the pitfalls of software that overpromises and underdelivers. All in all, this video serves as a valuable cautionary tale for potential users considering Acronis Backup & Recovery 11—emphasizing the importance of thorough testing and user feedback over marketing claims. For those who've had experiences with backup solutions, what are your thoughts? Have you found alternatives that deliver better performance and user experience? Or do you still rely on Acronis products? Share your stories below!