The number one question about any backup application is whether it will create
INTRODUCTION
Backup is backup, right? Can there really be much difference from
one application to another? Earlier reviews of Sprite Backup
and Resco Backup
provide a look at these applications individually, but how do they stack up head-to-head?
Let’s take a look at them together and see if one stands out over the other.
a dependable backup that will provide recovery from a disaster. Both Sprite and
Resco are quite capable in this regard, so here we’ll want to take a closer look at 1) how easily the programs
allow you to backup and restore your data, and 2) what unique features are available in each
application. We won’t make a point to detail every difference between the two products, but
we’ll try to focus on those things that most separate the two.
We’ll start our comparison by trying to look at Resco Backup and Sprite Backup side and
PRODUCT FEATURES
by side. Throughout the comparison, when screen captures from both products are compared,
Resco Backup
will appear on the left
Sprite Backup will appear on the right
.
Both products make it pretty clear where to begin with clearly labeled backup and restore options, but the products begin to diverge a bit from here. .
Using Resco Backup, we create a backup project that defines what gets backed up,
where it goes, etc. Once that’s done, you can run the backup. This allows you to define multiple
backup projects and run them when needed with one click on the “New Backup” button. Resco Backup
also allows you to update your most recent backup archive instead of running a full backup to save
time.
Sprite Backup walks you through the backup process each time, prompting you to
select the files to backup and select a storage location. The process is not long or difficult,
but Resco does provide a little more flexibility here.
While we’re considering backup features, an important consideration is where
your backup data is going to be stored. Both programs will allow you to store your backups on a
storage card and you can specify how many backup archives will be kept in storage. Sprite Backup
does provide some additional features here that are not available in Resco Backup.
Not only can you specify the number of backup files to keep, but you can also
specify a space limit to prevent your storage card from becoming filled with backup data. Sprite
Backup also allows you to create self-extracting backups where the restoration application is stored
with the backup data in a single file. Resco backup archives consist of the application executable
file and a collection of files containing the backup data.
Another advantage Sprite has over Resco is its ability to backup to a networked
PC or FTP server. If storage space is a concern, the ability to store backup archives in a remote
location is a great addition. It also frees you from any concerns about losing your backup data if your
device is lost or stolen.
Restoring a backup is pretty similar with both applications. You select from
an available backup archive, specify the files you want to restore, and you’re done. Resco Backup
does allow you to run validation tests on a backup archive or compare it to the current state of the
device so you can see what files have changed since the backup. This could be helpful if you want to
avoid finding yourself partially through a restore operation when it’s discovered the archive is
corrupt or if you are unsure about which backup archive you want to restore.
Of course, backup archives aren’t of much use if they’re out of date. Fortunately,
both Resco and Sprite offer scheduling features to keep recent backups of your device.
As an added convenience, both Resco Backup and Sprite Backup offer desktop applications
for working with backup archives. You can browse or extract files from an archive set to your desktop
computer. Sprite’s desktop offering is more tightly integrated with the mobile
application, allowing you to configure and run backup and restore operations from the desktop.
The following table provides a nice overview of the features available in each
FEATURE SUMMARY
backup product for a quick comparison. A "Y" indicates the feature is supported, while a dash
indicates it is not.
Feature |
Resco Backup |
Sprite Backup |
| Backup to storage card | Y | Y |
| Backup to FTP | - | Y |
| Backup to PC | - | Y |
| Selective backup/restore | Y | Y |
| Incremental backups | Y | - |
| Self-restoring backups | - | Y |
| Device upgrade mode | - | Y |
| File exclusion rules | - | Y |
| Define and schedule multiple backup sets | Y | - |
| Storage space management | Y | Y |
| Compression and encryption | Y | Y |
| Desktop file extraction | Y | Y |
BUGS AND WISHES
After using both Resco Backup and Sprite Backup, I find they both have clear
strengths and weaknesses. Sprite Backup is now up to version 6.2, while Resco Backup is sitting at 1.2.
Obviously, the older product (that has been through more versions) is more mature and offers more features. Backup to either a
PC or FTP server stands out as a major feature that is lacking in Resco Backup. Self-extracting backup
files are also much easier to move around than Resco’s multiple-file archives. Integration with the
desktop is also much more advanced with Sprite Backup. Resco offers a few unique features, such as
incremental backup, archive verification, and multiple project configurations. However, I don’t find
them as compelling as the unique features offered by Sprite Backup.
But features are not all there is to building a superior product. I found the user
interface for Resco Backup far more easy to use than Sprite Backup. There are certain user interface
conventions that I expect programs to follow and I found Sprite’s user interface to be very awkward at
times. For instance, let’s walk through the configuration:
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