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Other backup solutions are no comparison.

The type of backup system that will work best for you depends on the type and amount of data you need to backup. SureWest's online backup service is a better solution than other backup alternatives. There's no expensive hardware or external media to purchase or maintain. With our backup service, everything is accessible from your computer or any Internet connection. Check out some alternative backup storage methods and compare for yourself. Other backup storage options include:

Floppy disk drives are built in to most older model computers but are no longer installed in the newer high-end computers, due to space storage limitations. Advantage: cheap ($.50/ea.) and portable. Disadvantages: manual backup process; slow with minimal capacity of 1.44 MB; backup disks stored onsite or must be physically moved.

CD-ROM drives are also commonly built in to your computer. The cost of having one installed runs from $150 to $300. Advantages: moderate speed, data storage of up to 700 MB; media is about $1/per disk. Disadvantages: large quantities of data require multiple CD-ROM libraries; backup discs can be scratched or damaged; manual backup is cumbersome; effective automatic backup requires media rotation; backup discs stored onsite or must be physically moved.

DVD read/writable disk drives are often included in your computer or can be installed for around $300 - $600. This removable media can hold more backup data, and the copy/transfer process is fairly fast. Advantages: media cost is only $3 to $5 each disk; moderate to fast copying speed. Disadvantages: still a limited space, manual backup is cumbersome; effective automatic backup requires media rotation; onsite storage for backup disks or must be physically moved.

Hard drives are a possible backup method. You can backup to your existing hard drive, a partitioned section or an alternate, external hard drive. Advantages: accessible, fast. Disadvantages: fixed; onsite; can be destroyed with your data; external drives cost from $50 - $600 and backup data must then be physically moved offsite.

Zip drives are a common type of external hard drive. Advantage: They cost less than above hard drives (about $150 for the drive and $10 for each blank storage disk). Disadvantages: slow; still a manual backup solution; effective automatic backup requires media rotation; onsite storage or must be physically moved.

Tape drives are a common backup solution for many large companies. Advantages: tapes can hold up to 110 GB and are very fast. Disadvantages: the backup process should be automated to be worthwhile and needs a sophisticated user to setup this backup routine; retrieval of backup data is cumbersome and offsite storage is an additional expense.

Printers can serve as your data backup in lieu of anything else. A hard copy is better than nothing. But most would agree this is not an optimum backup solution. Advantage: cheap. Disadvantage: cumbersome; paper copies can document work done but they don't save it electronically.

Internet online backup is the superior solution.
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