Video Backup System V3.0 Review By Guy Nathan Once in a while a package comes along which really catches your attention. The product may be one which takes a totally new approach to old methods. Video Backup System (VBS) V3 was this type of package. VBS is, as the name suggests, a Video Backup System, a system which doesn't require a tape-streamer, or an endless supply of disks, if you wish to back up your hard disk. In VBS's earlier incarnations, not much was thought of it, and the general opinion was a case of use it at your own risk. Using a video to backup your files may leave you with the important question of, well, how reliable is it? Those of you with experience of the likes of AmiBack(tm) and Quaterback(tm) will know that when backing up your hard drive to disk all may seem fine, but when it comes to the ever essential restoration process, one disk has been stuffed up and depending on the program, you've either lost the whole backup or lost all the files on that disk. No, that doesn't always occur but can quite easily happen. With VBS, your not guarenteed that your backup will be foolproof against the likes of a crazed person with a electric-magnet going through all your videos and wiping them, ( I hate when that happens! -the Ed ) but you can be assured with VBS's built-in error checking the likelyhood of an error occuring are greatly reduced. V1.5 of VBS was generally not accepted due to the problem of unreliable restorations, V3.0 more than fixes this. Another advantage of VBS is the total costs involved, or lack of them. This is one of VBS's strongest points. With the likes of Tape-Streamers at 150$US per unit, and 30-40$ per tape, it is no cheap affair, and those who backup to disks, and have a big hard drive, the bill may even be comprable to those who own tape-streamers. All that is required for VBS 3.0, however is is one 4 hour tape (high-quality prefered) and a little patience, and for far less than the other alternatives you've got yourself a full backup suite. One 4 hour video tape can allegedly store up to 520MB's! I have not been able to properly test this with my 300MB HD for two reasons. Firstly, my hard drive isnt 520MB's, and secondly most of the files on my hard drive are compressed with file compressors (LhA's, Powerpackered, LZX's, ZIP's, and mainly StoneCracker) - meaning the actual amount stored on my hard-drive is probably equal to around 500MB+ uncompressed. With a 4 hour video tape I was able to backup 76MB of archives (mainly LhA's), 130-140MB of StoneCracker crunched executables, 50MB of unpacked executables, and 40MB of text on the one video. A neglible inclusion with the program is V1.5 of VBS. Documentation: -------------- Documentation comes in a small ring-bound booklet. Although it is small, for most peoples purposes it is sufficient, and even goes into the complexities of issues such as its compression methods. I would have liked a bigger section for dealing with problems. Otherwise the documentation is simple to read and very good. Software Installation: ---------------------- Installation is a breeze. Simply bootup your system as normal, insert the supplied disk, and double click on the install icon (which uses the great Commodore Installer). From there you'll be requested where you'd like VBS installed, and a line added to the user-startup assigning the location of VBS. Once complete, simply go to where you installed it and double click of the VBS icon and your ready to run. Hardware Installation: ---------------------- Now most reviews I have read so far of VBS 3.0 (3 different reviews) state that VBS 3 hardware installation took them minutes. Being no big-time reviewer, I found things took a little more time (;-)). Self-installation without the manual is NOT recommended unless you have a competant knowlegde of this sort of thing. I found, after reading the instructions in the manual, that it merely involved plugging in a few plugs into the back of the Amiga and in to your video player. An important thing to note here is this package comes in two versions, one for newer video players (SCART version), and one for older video players (PHONO version). Before purchasing be sure to check which one you have. If like me, you own a box Amiga, I recommend picking up a RF Modulator if you don't already own one, as chances are the monitor currently connected to it doesn't have the same type of plugs as your video player. If you can't do this try a cheap genlock (eg.Lola's range). If the above paragraphs on hardware installation has confused you, don't worry, as the pictures supplied in the documentation will explain it for you. Software Use: ------------- The programs simplicity is part of it's winning combination. On starting the program there is one button for Backup, one for Restore, and one for Verify (for checking the backup was successful). In general even the worst of Amiga users shouldn't have much troubles using this package. Problems: --------- Obviously, being a video backup, it does have its trade-off's. The main thing lost is speed. Backing up a 500MB HD will take you 4 hours as opposed to tape-streamers which would blitz this time. To overcome this problem they have included the abilitiy to backup several partitions one after the other or at any time you schedule for it to start. To verify the backup (which I recommend), it means going through a tedious process of finding Image headers (which the program uses to identify the beginning of a backup) on a tape and then choosing verify, and choosing play on video. This can be a real pain with 5 partitions, like I have, or even for 2 partitions it can be annoying. If they allowed the program to verify one lot then go onto the next, everytime it finds a new image header, this would solve alot of hassles. Conclusion: ----------- This program is a must for any user with an Amiga with a hard drive and who are not loaded with cash. This program will solve all your problems in a cheap, and reliable way. If you're after a backup solution the cheap way, then this is definately for you. Note: For Amiga users without RF Modulators built in try and buy one, they probably can be picked up for around 20$ or so. (Or go for the slightly more expensive Lola alternative). Price: UK - SCART Version - 65 pounds PHONO Version - 60 pounds V3 Upgrade - 20 pounds Australian and US Prices unknown Distributor: Power Computing in UK Company: Lyppens Software Productions Generaal Coenderslaan 25 5623 LT Eindhoven The Netherlands (C) Guy Nathan. All Rights Reserved