Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 4

I am planning to buy a visor soon, and just have a question. What is this "backup" module i've heard about? I thought hotsyncing into the computer would backup all the data in the visor. Why is it useful or necessary to buy an extra backup module?
Thanks.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Monroe, Michigan, USA
Posts: 244

It's not really necessary to get the Backup module, but it could be really useful if you are going to be away from your computer for a while and your Visor crashes (software conflict, dead batteries, screen cracks, etc). When you HotSync, the data for the 4 built-in apps (datebook, to-do, memo pad, and address book) does get backed up, but any other apps or data you put in may or may not be backed up, depending on whether the "backup bit" for each is enabled or not. (I have several third-party apps and stuff in my Visor, and only a few were written to have the backup bit enabled. When I hotsync, only those would be reinstalled to a completely wiped-out Visor.)
The Backup module backs everything up--all data, all apps, preferences, etc. If your Visor gets completely wiped out, like by a hard reset, you can restore everything with one tap even if you're nowhere near your computer.
(Of course, if your screen cracks, you need to replace the Visor; but you would be able to reload the replacement quite easily.)

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

The only real drawback to the backup module is that it can not do a selective restore. By this I mean that it restores everything that was on your Visor the last time that you used it to perform a backup. For most folks this is just fine, and it certainly keeps things simple.

However, if you want to test BETA software, test combinations of hacks/DAs or known flakey applications AND perform routine tasks (including backups), you should use a software backup solution. If you have to perform a hard reset, you have the option of selectively restoring just those programs that you have confidence in.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Monroe, Michigan, USA
Posts: 244

That drawback is why I got the 8MB Flash module. Yes, you can back everything up on it, but one thing at a time, and it would take a long time that way. (I keep non-changing DB's and several apps on it, though; many run well straight from the module.)
I wanted the extra storage and liked the idea of being able to keep the vital stuff in nonvolatile memory. If not for that, I would use Backup Buddy or some other software solution.
(Regarding AddressDB, etc.: If you copy DB's to Flash, rather than move them, you can overwrite the Flash copy every so often to keep it up to date; you don't have to delete it and re-create, so to speak.)