Status of SuperDuper! and Big Sur

[naylom11]

Heres the reality, Dave runs a private company, and he/they can choose to release a product whenever they want, in whatever manner they want. But the market will dictate what ultimately succeeds. And the cost of being a few months late to the game could hurt. I only hope for Daves sake, they've taken this time to iron out all the bugs, and make a truly rock solid product (which they have in the past). Dave has been responsive whenever I've reached out, so I have nothing but positive things to say on a personal level...

However, the lack of communication to his license holders, and to the public at large is very off putting as a consumer. I don't care that its late, but just a couple updates here and there are much appreciated. Instead of posting political memes on twitter every other day, take that time to update your base. Don't be condescending when someone asks you for an update. And if you don't like all the questions, get out of the consumer space. Bugs happen, and everyone has to deal with them. If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen applies here.

 

[honestone33]

Well stated, naylom11. And yes, the lack of any kind of update is discouraging, especially since the last one was November 11th. For myself, it is definitely getting later and later "in the game", especially compared to prior years. What would bring back confidence is if the version Dave finally releases works flawlessly for both Intel and M1 Macs. That would be, at least now, a step ahead of Carbon Copy Cloner.

If I had an M1 Mac now, there is actually no alternative (not yet). Not sure if Bombich software is getting any closer regarding a version of CCC that works with M1 Macs. And when I say alternative, I mean a product that works like both SD and CCC do now with any Mac OS prior to Big Sur.

For me, given that I have 2 Intel-based Macs, the dilemma is going to be if Tech Tool Pro releases a compatible version (assuming my testing of Big Sur continues to go well). If at that time I wanted to make the move from Catalina to Big Sur, I would need to purchase Carbon Copy Cloner. That would be OK, and of course definitely worth the cost.

 

[AlteMac]

I am running 11.1. I waited for the dot 1 release. Because I am truly compulsive, and because disk drives are cheap and my time is not, I have a bootable CCC clone and a SD bootable Catalina clone. Any HD failure with my machine (2013 MP) wil be a PITA but not a disaster. I can wait for SD to come up with a Big Sur solution.
Oh, there is Time Machine too.

BS so far is quite stable. Two belts and a suspender.

 

[honestone33]

I am running 11.1. I waited for the dot 1 release. Because I am truly compulsive, and because disk drives are cheap and my time is not, I have a bootable CCC clone and a SD bootable Catalina clone. Any HD failure with my machine (2013 MP) wil be a PITA but not a disaster. I can wait for SD to come up with a Big Sur solution.
Oh, there is Time Machine too.

BS so far is quite stable. Two belts and a suspender.

Actually, I have 2 SuperDuper! backups for my Catalina-based Macs to 2 separate Samsung SSDs. I still do them once a week (on Saturdays), even though I am running with V11.1 of Big Sur about 98% of the time from another external SSD. I do keep my Catalina-based Macs up to date, usually for either updates to software, or Quicken transactions, and hence, the need for backups.

I am waiting for Tech Tool Pro to offer an update for Big Sur compatibility. I suspect V11.2 of Big Sur will be out by then. If that happened, with no SD update, I guess I could "switch" roles, ie, do a clean, fresh installation of OS 11.2 onto each of my Mac 's internal SSDs, then migrate needed files, folders, settings, apps, etc. from those SD backups. But I'll just stick with the way things are now, with installing V11.2 of Big Sur onto that external SSD, and when it comes out, apply the update for Tech Tool Pro. I'll then wait "some time" for an update to SD.

 

[Icevein]

I thought I had waited long enough before upgrading to Big Sur. After I upgraded I went to create a backup of the new configuration which is how I learned that SD wouldn't work. I was devastated as I love SD and it has saved me several times. I certainly would have waited had I known of this limitation with Big Sur. I agree that it has no earthshaking new capabilities, it was a matter of "keeping up". The SD limitation is not noted in the MacRumors summary of Big Sur, which I find disappointing as I checked it for warnings before upgrading. I have my backup of the Catalina version (made before upgrading so I guess I can restore the Catalina version although I worry about weird things that could happen. I think Dave does a fabulous job with SD and he was the person who alerted me to the fact that Time Machine can now backup/restore from APFS volumes, a recent change I was unaware of.

 

[honestone33]

First of all, the "warning" about SD not being compatible with Big Sur is stated in many different forums on this site. Also, if you visited the Shirt Pocket Blog, you'll see where Dave has clearly stated the issues involved.

Secondly, about keeping up, Big Sur still has some issues, and in fact V11.2 will be appearing shortly. Meanwhile, Catalina is mature and solid, and still actively supported by Apple.

Third, if you are using an Intel-based Mac, the latest version of Carbon Copy Cloner will work fine with Big Sur.

Myself, I have always planned all along that I will not be making the final move to Big Sur until all my third party applications are compatible with Big Sur. That list is down to 2: SD, and Tech Tool Pro. As has always been the case, Tech Tool Pro is the last one, and I don't expect to see an update for it until the latter part of January. While V11.2 of Big Sur will already be out by then, maybe V11.3 will also be out (or being released shortly thereafter).

I am testing Big Sur, V11.1, on a partition on an external Samsung SSD, and so far, except for one application-related minor issue, it is working fine. I'm actually liking it, although it has nothing earth shattering. I still use V10.15.7 of Catalina on both of my Macs.

 

[stridemat]

MOD NOTE​

Less of the bickering please.

 

[flowrider]

I thought I had waited long enough before upgrading to Big Sur. After I upgraded I went to create a backup of the new configuration which is how I learned that SD wouldn't work. I was devastated as I love SD and it has saved me several times. I certainly would have waited had I known of this limitation with Big Sur. I agree that it has no earthshaking new capabilities, it was a matter of "keeping up". The SD limitation is not noted in the MacRumors summary of Big Sur, which I find disappointing as I checked it for warnings before upgrading. I have my backup of the Catalina version (made before upgrading so I guess I can restore the Catalina version although I worry about weird things that could happen. I think Dave does a fabulous job with SD and he was the person who alerted me to the fact that Time Machine can now backup/restore from APFS volumes, a recent change I was unaware of.

Again let me apologize for your experience on this site. There are a lot of GREAT folks here who are willing to share their knowledge in an appropriate fashion👍 See again you soon.

Lou

 

[Icevein]

Again let me apologize for your experience on this site. There are a lot of GREAT folks here who are willing to share their knowledge in an appropriate fashion👍 See again you soon.

Lou

Thank you. I appreciate all the experience that Forum members have and the solutions they are willing to share.

John

 

[Dr. Dr. Evil]

Thank you. I appreciate all the experience that Forum members have and the solutions they are willing to share.

John

Your conversation is really very touching.

But back to topic. SD still fails, while CCC delivers.

 

[Airsculpture]

Still no SD update.

Clock is definitely ticking to when I take the plunge and go with CCC.

 

[Airsculpture]

Unfortunately I can't register on the website to ask if there is an update on progress as the secret word I'm supposed to submit doesn't appear on the browsers I have tried.

Give it to the weekend I think then shell out the $60 for Carbon Copy Clone

 

[flowrider]

^^^^^"Secret Word"❓The latest version is STILL 3.3.1👎 An update is supposedly in process, but Shirt Pocket will not share if or when that update will come to fruition

Lou

 

[Airsculpture]

^^^^^"Secret Word"❓The latest version is STILL 3.3.1👎

Lou

To set up an account on the discussion forum it displays a word and you have to type it in to conorm registration

The word doesn’t display on Safari, Firefox or another browser I tried so I gave up.

 

[flowrider]

^^^^You mean here:

Shirt Pocket Discussions - Powered by vBulletin

This is a discussion forum powered by vBulletin. To find out about vBulletin, go to http://www.vbulletin.com/ .

www.shirt-pocket.com

A password❓ Browsers don't assign passwords, the user does🤔

Lou

 

[Airsculpture]

No. To set up an account you create a user and password

Then at the bottom you are asked to type the word which is displayed (probably in order to confirm you aren’t a bot) but no word is visible just grey space

 

[Airsculpture]

Still nothing and no update or ETA. I think if we hit 11.2 and there's nothing, it will have to be Carbon Copy. I'd like to update and don't want to do it without a safety net, especially if I'm going from 11.0.1 to 11.2

 

[naylom11]

The latest update on 1/7, from Dave on the SD forum:

"No, SuperDuper cannot currently be used to back up a startup drive. I do not have a timeline for you; as I've said elsewhere, we're gated on factors that aren't under my direct control."

This doesn't bode well for a release anytime soon. I would start looking at CCC. That kind of language is less than reassuring, and tells me they are nowhere near a finished, or beta product for that matter.

 

[Airsculpture]

Thanks for that update

 

[flowrider]

Geez -

"we're gated on factors that aren't under my direct control."

Bombich is working with the same "factors"🤔

Lou

 

[naylom11]

Geez -

"we're gated on factors that aren't under my direct control."

Bombich is working with the same "factors"🤔

Lou

Exactly.

 

[ProTruckDriver]

I sent Dave an email in late December about compatibility with Big Sur and I got the same answer.

"I don't have a date certain, no. We're gated on some factors that are out of my direct control..."

Time to start looking at CCC or some other product that is compatible with Big Sur. Makes me wonder if I wasted my money on a SD license?

 

[mdgm]

I'm in no rush. Only one of my Macs can officially run Mojave or newer let alone Big Sur. My desire to continue to use a perpetual licence for an old piece of software means that I'll probably still be running High Sierra on that machine for about 6 more months and even then will probably move to Mojave.

Big Sur is still very new and from what I've read needs a lot more work to be an advisable choice if your machine can run an older version of OS X.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I sent Dave an email in late December about compatibility with Big Sur and I got the same answer.

"I don't have a date certain, no. We're gated on some factors that are out of my direct control..."

Time to start looking at CCC or some other product that is compatible with Big Sur. Makes me wonder if I wasted my money on a SD license?

In my opinion, none can compare to CCC. Mike and his team get the job and they will do the same again with Big Sur.

It sounds like your SD license won't be usable going forward with the kind of attitude the Developer displayed.

 

[mdgm]

In my opinion, none can compare to CCC. Mike and his team get the job and they will do the same again with Big Sur.

CCC only offering a free trial versus SuperDuper letting you do full clones for free makes a big difference for me. I like using free software where possible. If SuperDuper changes their licensing model with a Big Sur update then I may reconsider.