Backup Bundled With New PCs
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Why is it we can buy a PC, yet while we are being pitched with printers and scanners, we are NEVER pitched with the wild idea of a smart backup scheme? Seriously, is it too much to ask for HP, Dell and others selling to Joe and Jill Consumer to provide a simple to use backup setup? Am I asking too much here? If these companies really want to bomb people with add-ons, this is one area that is sorely being missed.
Now granted, Windows has plenty of backup software options - but the PCs these options can easily being installed with are not coming with external drives unfortunately. Bear in mind that I am not talking about some RAID array or advanced network storage of any kind. No, all I want to see is PCs coming in bundles with a simple USB/FireWire external hard drive with software that is ready to go out of the box, as the PC is being “unboxed.”
I say this as I was looped into recently helping a friend of my wife’s family with a PC issue gone wrong. The dell stopped working, looks like possible drive failure coupled with plenty of malware (let’s hear it for running as an admin!) and you guessed it, no backup of important data in sight.
Clearly this is not all that revolutionary as 99% of the casual users fully understand the importance of backing up. They may hear the term tossed around or even see the drives sold at their local big box stores. Yet leave it to the folks at these same stores to not put together the obvious and provide simple, ready to go bundles that allow their customers still new to computing to safely and easily backup their computers with what they need. Perhaps I am asking too much here, but I just do not think so.
8 Comments
Robin
August 18th, 2008
at 7:44pm
Amen to that! As far as I am concerned, not doing so is a crime!
When most PC users were geeks or techies, this wasn’t such a big deal. But these days, most of the people I know who are using computers are simply not able or interested enough to learn how to take care of this issue, unless the process is already set up for them.
Marcus Hamaker
August 19th, 2008
at 7:00am
Couldn’t agree with you more on this one. I don’t see them doing it because it’s a potential loss of support revenue due to any PEBCAK errors but it’s a great idea. I suggest that to all my friends, family and customers.
Computer Consulting Kit Blog
August 19th, 2008
at 8:33am
This is a really interesting concept. I think part of the reason is that backup systems can get a lot more complex than printers and other peripherals and in fact are a part of an important security plan that all home users and business users need. It seems to me that probably major computer companies could be thinking of their solution provider partners, especially when it comes to business customers since backup systems tend to be a big part of comprehensive security and data protection strategy (and are typically integrally linked to a larger business plan for professional users). However, it seems like a simple external hard drive, etc. (often on the low end within a similar price range as a printer or a scanner) would be a really good idea for those selling to home users that probably wouldn’t think to establish a relationship with a regular technology provider (or would not have needs that require it) would be greatly appreciated.
Bobzilla
August 19th, 2008
at 9:13am
The PC manufactures are in business to sell PCs. Why would they sell you something that would slow their sales at a later date? Do you really think that the average Joe user will shell out bucks for a backup system…. much less use it?
Jonathan
August 19th, 2008
at 12:11pm
I guess you are ignoring that every Apple Mac comes with Timemachine which can be used with an ordinary external harddrive or Apples TimeCapsule which has wifi built in.
Matt Hartley
August 19th, 2008
at 12:23pm
Jonathan: Ignoring? No, rather speaking of PCs - not Macs. We have a Mac in our home, too. It’s great and so is time machine. Now if PC vendors can just take a page from this and apply some of this thinking on the platform that this article was talking about… ;)
Frank Schnyder
August 20th, 2008
at 11:31am
The only people who need to backup are those who do work with their PC. Writers, graphic artists, developers, musicians, etc. know this and consider that when getting a new system.
I think the AVERAGE user always says the same thing “Oh I just want to surf the web, email…you know.” Later they decide to start doing things like balancing their checkbook or produce a church newsletter. It’s not often they think ahead like that and it’s hard to sell a backup system on the premise “you’re going to change your mind, trust me.”
Matt Hartley
August 20th, 2008
at 12:13pm
Frank: I disagree both on past and present experiences. Despite not being in the repair business any longer, I have seen instance after instance where people had lost data such as pictures, school documents or even just Outlook Express email. You would be mistaken to assume that most people do not want to have their stuff saved should disaster strike.
That said, Joe User will need backup that just “works”. Fully automated and not something that has to be thought of. ;)