Review: Seagate Replica

The Seagate Replica external HD has a slew of positives: compact design, a cool looking docking base (available with the 500GB version for $200, as well as the 250 GB $130 version, and a very simple software configuration for continuous backing up of the system. In select scenarios, the Seagate Replica can easily perform backups. However, unfortunately, the overall performance of the Replica was lacking in ease of use.

Backup is a chore that many computer users do not want to do. The promotion behind Seagate Replica's marketing was that you simply attach the drive to your computer, software will be installed, and then it will automate the process of replicating your entire drive's contents. After the initial backing up of data is finished, Replica will continue to back up and protect your files in real time, so long as the hard drive is connected to your computer.

The Replica does not perform as a regular hard drive. It cannot be used for storage as your typical external hard drives can. Rather, it performs in the background, continuously backing up your files. Replica uses its own interface within your Explorer to allow access to your data.

Replica uses a minimalist software and hardware style. There are no buttons to press, and you do not need to baby sit it. The Replica unit simply has a status light that will blink when the drive is being used, and a miniature USB port in the back. This simplistic style extends to the GUI of the software. You do not have to run any software and there are no menus or windows that you need to find and use. Instead it has a system tray icon that can be right-clicked for a few select options. The options include: check for update, properties, selection of drives to backup, remove a pc, select password, help, safely disconnect, and open. The point of all this is that this drive will run almost completely automatically.

On initial backup, which actually can take quite an amount of time, I witnessed the Seagate Replica's system go awry. The minimalism actually works against it as I did not notice exactly what the Replica was backing up. Instead of backing up both the C: and D: partitions, the Replica only recognized my C: partition.

Though on a conceptual level, the Seagate Replica is a great tool. In practicality, the lack of options is a hindrance. No computer user wants to be guessing what files are being backed up. They are on the right track, backing up should no longer be a long, arduous chore. However computer users still need a certain amount of control, which the Seagate Replica lacks.