New Vendor, Better Program Veritas upgrades this valuable backup tool to support multiple platforms and more devices. Recently acquired by Veritas from Seagate, the venerable backup program leaps from version 3.1 to version 4.2 and gains a number of improvements. The NT support doesn't include the Windows 2000 beta, but Veritas intends to support the new OS as soon as the retail version ships. The main program uses three tabs to control backing up, restoring, and comparing archives. Each tab features a Windows Explorer-like folder window and a file window that lets you specify backup location, full or incremental backup, and file compression with a single click.
More obscure options are never more than a click away.
Both products performed flawlessly, and version 4.2 completed tasks about 4 percent faster, supporting Veritas's claim of quicker performance. Veritas offers a number of upgrade paths for Backup Exec, including a free download for users of Seagate Backup Exec Desktop 3.x and Windows NT Workstation 4.x. Still, users who qualify for the free download should certainly avail themselves of the opportunity.