upgrade from ATI 2017 to 2018 ? Worth it ?
I think so - I like the new media builder which now supports Windows PE natively with driver injection and/or can use your system's own Winre with driver injection. I think they fixed a lot of the little bugs and the new "online" clone feature is nice too (although I still recommend backup and restore over cloning every time). If you're not itching to make the jump, wait for a deal/discount - they usually pop up around black Friday or Christmas. We've seen 3 license packs go for $20 in the past. Someone had posted a NewEgg link not long ago that had a rebate offer which paid for the box license too - I think that deal is over already though.
If anyone is still pondering on this decision, it might tip you over the edge if you get the "three for the price of none" offer that reached me by email. At that price, £20.99 in unreal money, £7 per PC, it was hard to resist.
As a long-time True Image user, and part of the Beta-Testing group for 2018, I can tell you that 2018 is a significant enhancement to 2017. Don't get me wrong. 2017 is a great product. If you are happy with it then no need to read on.
#1 reason I prefer 2018 is that the "Set to Default" checkbox actually works. In 2017 you can check that box every time you set up a backup, and then find it is as if it is merely a placebo. In 2018 it actually holds the majority of settings you make. Examples: Exclusions, Backup Splitting, Compression levels, and such. It relieves the user from having to revisit each setting with each new backup scheme - you can simply trust it to work as you have set it.
#2 reason is that it makes more efficient use of the network used to connect the user machines to the server. In 2017 you can set encryption levels and system priority manually. In 2018 you still have those options but the defaults already make it utilize your network more efficiently. This isn't just about switch contention - it is also about saturation levels at the server.
#3 reason is that working with Acronis closely has convinced me that they actually listen to feedback from the users. I never had that same level of confidence in the past. I take this as a sign that the company is growing not just in revenue but also in how well they understand the user base.
#4 reason - Have you ever tried to clone an internal HDD to an external SSD before being willing to crack the case of your favorite portable system? There is no other solution (other than Acronis True Image 2018) that has done this successfully for me. It actually works, boot sector and all. When it finishes you can have full confidence that your SSD upgrade will go as easily as possible.
#5, and most important to me, is that just like how the Military has moved to launch-and-forget missiles, so has gone Acronis True Image 2018. As opposed to all previous versions, it is much more Services-based which means that once you have begun a process you can close the GUI interface and trust that it will do the job right without needing to be watched. Once you go there you'll never want to go back.
There are other reasons people will like it, to be sure, but to me those are the big 5.
I find it indispensible. My system needs very high uptime. Most functions can be performed while the system is up.
'nuff said.
It is like you've heard before: ---> Try it. You will like it. <--
And if you are not fully convinced you can always downgrade back to the old girlfriend.
BUT ULTIMATELY YOU MUST ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION:
WHAT IS YOUR DATA WORTH? NOT JUST SITTING IN A DATABASE; JUST IMAGINE THE COST OF RECREATING EVEN A PORTION OF IT, OR KNOWING WHICH PORTION NEEDS RECREATED.
It is well worth the cost of the upgrade in simple economic terms. IMHO.
Solar, that's a really good writeup. Featurewise there is much more that seperates 2017 from 2018,
some are "nice to haves" like the new backup status page in the product, some others are more important like the integrated WinPE recovery media feature and ability to integrate drivers which is very important for special occassions as NVMe support or RAID. 2018 still has issue with 4k resolutions in WinPE but it is a big step forward that users do not have to deal with Linux recovery anymore / as only option. Also the Active Protection for backup and system is a benefit of 2018.
Your summary question is really a good one and I fully agree every bit of change from 2017 to 2018 might be worth it to have the ultimate data protection tool at hand.
Anyones input in the betas are really important, and I am happy that you choosed to join, just I did in 2015 because the quality wasn't good enough for me back in the time.
In risposta a As a long-time True Image… di truwrikodrorow…
Hi @ SD Solar ,
Nice write-up. However, Acronis True Image 2018, can't read or see existing Comments from previous Acronis True Image Versions, including that of Acronis True Image 2018, when one Dual-Boots their Computers.
It is always faster to Restore one operating system from another operating system, then to use the Acronis True Image 2018 Bootable Rescue CD, for Desktop Computers and you still have access to the Internet at the same time.
Comments are important, when one uses Comments or Description of the created Backups.
Hi theCreator,
I suppose this issue is known to Acronis? Have they released an information whether this will be or can be fixed?