In Use (continued):
After selecting the folders to be backed up, you then let it know if there are specific file types to be backed up, or if you just want it to grab everything. The Custom option lets you specify files by extension, and there is quite an extensive list of options to choose from. The next step is to schedule the backup. You select the time of day, as well as what day(s) you want it to occur on. In addition to the scheduled option, you can manually execute a backup at any time.
One problem I found with setting up a backup is that the software did not check to see how much disk space was available until the backup was actually executed. It seems like something that should have been done while I was selecting folders and file types, and it shouldn't have been a surprise that the 160GB BlackArmor wasn't going to have enough space to backup the 450GB worth of data I selected. It never popped up any type of warning, and it wasn't until the drive was completely full and the bulk of the data had not been backed up that the issue was detected. At this point the tray icon that had been created went from green to red, and it let me know it was full.
The next set of screenshots are taken from the Sync tab. Much like the backup function, you choose folders you want to include, and you select options related to the synchronization. The goal is to keep the files on the BlackArmor current with the files on your system, and you can then go between systems to have the same set of "My Documents" files, for example. While this did work well overall, error messages later revealed that it will not sync hidden files, such as .dll and .db files, which might be an issue for some people.
The final screenshot is taken from HD Tune 2.55, which shows that the
Maxtor BlackArmor 160GB drive was not built for speed. While USB 2.0 is not the quickest interface to begin with, what we see here is that the drive is capable of transfer rates that are about 20%-45% slower than similar drives. The full disk encryption process is an obvious culprit.
Overall the drive performed respectably. It makes about zero noise, remains relatively cool even while active, and the software functioned well except for the two manageable issues noted. The security features are most definitely the major draw, and outweigh any minor issues that can be avoided or perhaps fixed in future software releases.
