Status of SuperDuper! and Big Sur

[Apple_Robert]

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.

Do you work for free?

If a program works to make sure your important files are backed up like they should be, that is worth a price to me and it should be to you as well.

Is $40 for a license that much money, compared to how much you spend on Apple products?

 

[mdgm]

If a free program works just as well as a paid one why would you pay for one?

I don't clone drives regularly so the limitation of having to do a full clone each time if I want to do one is acceptable for me.

It may be just $40, but the costs add up if you buy several different software packages. Then if you have several Macs you have to wonder will there be issues with activating a licence too many times etc. Free software avoids those issues.

I do use some paid software, but only where in my view the benefits over free software justifies the cost.

 

[Apple_Robert]

If a free program works just as well as a paid one why would you pay for one?

I don't clone drives regularly so the limitation of having to do a full clone each time if I want to do one is acceptable for me.

It may be just $40, but the costs add up if you buy several different software packages. Then if you have several Macs you have to wonder will there be issues with activating a licence too many times etc. Free software avoids those issues.

I do use some paid software, but only where in my view the benefits over free software justifies the cost.

There is nothing wrong with using a free program, provided it is secure, doesn't data mine etc.

The thing I have a problem with is when people who spend thousands on Apple and then complain and buck like a wild horse at the thought of paying for quality software.

In my opinion, too many people expect free software and don't take into consideration all that goes into quality software.

 

[flowrider]

If a free program works just as well as a paid one why would you pay for one?

Simple - If a product works for me and I use it regularly, I firmly believe the author should be rewarded for his work and for making my life easier.

Lou

 

[SaSaSushi]

If a free program works just as well as a paid one why would you pay for one?

The expression, "You get what you pay for." tends to be true for the most part in my experience.

It's definitely true in the case of CCC. The app is constantly updated, always ready for new MacOS upgrades and their customer support is stellar.

 

[Airsculpture]

I paid for SuperDuper a long time ago. It has been supported through many OS versions on the same licence. I believe I have had more than my money's worth from it. Must be over 10 years of use.

I will do the same, pay for it, if or when I use CCC. People need to be paid for what they do.

 

[MarkC426]

I am sure SD will be updated at some point to support BS.
Personally I am fine as I am on Mojave....... 🤪

 

[Airsculpture]

I am sure SD will be updated at some point to support BS.
Personlly I am fine as I am on Mojave....... 🤪

But that's the whole point of the thread. Why does it matter to anyone in this thread that you're on Mojave ?

Everyone is sure that SD will be updated "at some point".... the point is people need to do safety back ups inbetween updates and we are now in January for those on BIG SUR.

 

[naylom11]

But that's the whole point of the thread. Why does it matter to anyone in this thread that you're on Mojave ?

Everyone is sure that SD will be updated "at some point".... the point is people need to do safety back ups inbetween updates and we are now in January for those on BIG SUR.

This. The whole, "well its not advisable to upgrade til release 11.x anyway, and I'm still on past release x so it doesn't matter" is irrelevant, and an excuse. As a developer, this is such a weak position to take, and quite frankly a good reason to look at other options. Nobody upgrading to these newer OS's does it without a backup plan. I have my old Catalina install ready to go as well. But as the newer OS rolls out I like to work with it and make sure all my apps are supported and running well before I convert full time. I know a lot of people that do this, and having a clone is always critical in that testing process.

Unfortunately, like many others, I too have purchased an SD license and would like to be able to use it with Big Sur. The official release has been out for 2 months. And the beta has been out since June. We're approaching 7 months. Just some perspective

 

[AlteMac]

I use both SD and CCC. If you have paid for SD, it is IMHO perfectly appropriate to be annoyed that it hasn't been updated. But CCC remains a viable option, even if Apple now makes it difficult (but not impossible) to have a bootable clone. The fact that CCC has figured out some workarounds that work should be an impetus for the SD developer; I don't know how Bombich and Shirt Pocket compare on resources but CCC is the prime competitor for SD and they seem to have theor act together. In the end, the real beef is with Apple which ought to understand that many users want to have bootable clones and do not want to rely solely on Time Machine. There may be even bigger backup problems ahead for M1 machines.

 

[OldCorpse]

Not to take this into another directions, but:

Apple which ought to understand that many users want to have bootable clones and do not want to rely solely on Time Machine. There may be even bigger backup problems ahead for M1 machines.

I think Apple understands - from reading Linux websites, it’s clear that Apple left open the option on M1 of booting into altogether different OSes, so it would stand to reason that they’re perfectly fine with users booting from their own clones. Unfortunately they’re on their own schedule, and are very secretive, so when they’ll release enough info to make this happen is anyone’s guess. From what I gather, the Linux community for example expects zero help from Apple, and they’ll just have to reverse engineer everything which will take a long, long time. It’s possible that this is what’s happening with CCC and SD! too - they’ll need to reverse engineer what they need to make bootable clones - an easier task than the Linux folks who need to get M1 macs to boot into Linux

 

[Airsculpture]

Purchased Carbon Copy Cloner. Currently doing my first Big Sur clone prior to updating to 11.1

 

[MarkC426]

Unrelated to BSur......but, does anyone know how things stand if cloning (either CCC or SD) from a larger to smaller disk, if the smaller disk has enough space...?
I was always under the impression disks need to be identical size.

 

[naylom11]

Unrelated to BSur......but, does anyone know how things stand if cloning (either CCC or SD) from a larger to smaller disk, if the smaller disk has enough space...?
I was always under the impression disks need to be identical size.

In terms of SD, it can be done as long as there's enough space on the smaller disk. I've done it many times. Shouldn't be a problem. Can't speak on CCC

 

[AlteMac]

CCC allows cloning to any disk that has enough room. Does not need to be same sizes.

 

[mdgm]

File-level cloning depends on having enough space to hold the space you’ve used whereas block-level cloning is at a lower level than the filesystem and needs a disk with at least as big capacity as the disk is being cloned.

CCC and SD both use file-level cloning.

 

[MarkC426]

Has anyone used the user script function in SD, to just copy one folder?

 

[Ifti]

Given up waiting for SuperDuper.
CCC here I come!

 

[Airsculpture]

Can't blame you. I gave up at the weekend. CCC works like a dream.

I did have one question about it. I did a full clone at the weekend. I did a sub sequent clone yesterday and it copied over 6GB of data and I was unaware of any changes I had made, no downloads, no updates. Very strange.

 

[ProTruckDriver]

Given up waiting for SuperDuper.
CCC here I come!

Well it getting close for me too for giving up on SuperDuper. I'm still running Catalina when I decide to upgrade to Big Sur and SuperDuper is still not compatible I'll have to run CCC.

 

[Ifti]

Can't blame you. I gave up at the weekend. CCC works like a dream.

I did have one question about it. I did a full clone at the weekend. I did a sub sequent clone yesterday and it copied over 6GB of data and I was unaware of any changes I had made, no downloads, no updates. Very strange.

I'm most likely going to use it like SuperDuper, where I made a fresh clone every time, usually just before an update or large software install etc.
I use Time Machine (not on a schedule) manually every so often, which I would use for general documents or file recovery if need be - and CCC as a disaster recovery.

 

[Airsculpture]

That didn't really answer my question. I was doing a clone each time, bit like smart update in SD. I was curious at the size of the new data copied to the back up drive.

 

[Mike Boreham]

I did have one question about it. I did a full clone at the weekend. I did a sub sequent clone yesterday and it copied over 6GB of data and I was unaware of any changes I had made, no downloads, no updates. Very strange.

Lots of things going on the background, logs, spotlight indices etc. Photos is one the biggest, creating memories analysing faces etc

 

[Airsculpture]

Thanks Mike. I wasn't concerned but definitely curious as I hadn't added anything at all.

 

[Dr. Dr. Evil]

For me, SD is a thing of the past.
If after 2 months not even a status notification is to be found, then I ask myself how seriously the developer develops his product and what importance he gives to his customers.
I have now got rid of SD and landed happily with CCC. Here you get 2 weekly update, you notice that further development work is done and feels appreciated as a customer.

Bye bye SD