Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Active@ Disk Image VS Time Machine

Compare Active@ Disk Image VS Time Machine and see what are their differences

Active@ Disk Image logo Active@ Disk Image

Data Backup Software helps you to backup whole disks and partitions and to restores them when needed

Time Machine logo Time Machine

Time Machine is the breakthrough automatic backup that’s built right into Mac OS X.
  • Active@ Disk Image Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-24
  • Time Machine Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-24

Active@ Disk Image features and specs

  • Comprehensive Backup Solution
    Active@ Disk Image offers a complete backup solution by allowing users to create exact images of their PC's hard drives, including all system and application files, settings, and data, ensuring full data recovery.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software features a straightforward and intuitive interface, making it easy for users, regardless of their technical expertise, to navigate and use the various features effectively.
  • Flexible Storage Options
    Active@ Disk Image supports a wide range of storage options for saving disk images, including local HDDs, network drives, USB drives, and CD/DVD/BD media, offering great flexibility to users.
  • Incremental and Differential Backups
    The tool offers incremental and differential backup options, which help conserve storage space and reduce backup time by only saving changes made since the last backup.
  • Boot Disk Creation
    Active@ Disk Image allows users to create bootable rescue media, enabling recovery of a system that cannot be started normally, which is critical in dealing with catastrophic system failures.

Possible disadvantages of Active@ Disk Image

  • Cost
    Compared to some free alternatives, Active@ Disk Image is a paid software, which might be prohibitive for individuals or small businesses with limited budgets.
  • Limited Advanced Features
    While it provides essential backup features, some advanced features commonly found in competing premium solutions, like cloud integration and extensive scheduling options, might be limited.
  • System Resource Usage
    Running full disk backups can be resource-intensive, potentially leading to decreased system performance during the backup process, especially on less powerful hardware.
  • Complexity for Novices
    Despite its user-friendly interface, the numerous options available might still be overwhelming for complete novices or individuals unfamiliar with disk imaging concepts.
  • Potential Compatibility Issues
    As with any third-party software, there could be compatibility issues with newer or less common hardware and software configurations, which might require technical support to resolve.

Time Machine features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Time Machine is built into macOS, making it simple and intuitive for Mac users to back up their data automatically without needing additional software.
  • Automatic Backups
    Automatically backs up the entire system, including apps, music, photos, emails, and documents, at regular intervals without user intervention.
  • Versioning
    Maintains multiple versions of files, allowing users to revert to earlier versions or recover deleted files easily.
  • Seamless Integration
    Integrates seamlessly with macOS, ensuring optimal performance and compatibility with other native Apple applications and features.
  • Incremental Backups
    After the initial full backup, Time Machine only backs up changed files, saving space and reducing backup time.

Possible disadvantages of Time Machine

  • Storage Requirements
    Requires a significant amount of storage space, especially for the first full backup, which can be cumbersome for users with limited storage capacity.
  • Mac-Only
    Exclusively available for macOS users, which limits its utility for those using other operating systems.
  • External Drive Dependence
    Requires an external hard drive or Time Capsule for backup, which can be an additional cost and inconvenience for users who do not already own one.
  • Initial Backup Time
    The initial backup process can be time-consuming, depending on the amount of data that needs to be backed up.
  • Network Performance
    Backing up over a network can sometimes affect performance and speed, especially on slower networks or with large amounts of data.

Analysis of Active@ Disk Image

Overall verdict

  • Active@ Disk Image is a reliable tool for creating backups and disk images, suitable for both personal and professional use. Its comprehensive features and user-friendly interface make it a worthwhile choice for safeguarding data.

Why this product is good

  • Active@ Disk Image is considered good because it provides reliable disk imaging and backup solutions. It offers features such as disk cloning, backup scheduling, and support for a wide range of file systems and storage devices. The software ensures data integrity by creating exact disk image copies and providing recovery options in case of data loss.

Recommended for

  • Users looking for a robust backup solution for their system or individual disks.
  • IT professionals who need a reliable tool for disk cloning and recovery.
  • Individuals and businesses seeking to protect sensitive data from potential loss or corruption.

Analysis of Time Machine

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Time Machine is highly regarded for its reliability and ease of use, making it a good choice for Mac users looking for an efficient way to safeguard their data.

Why this product is good

  • Time Machine is a robust backup solution integrated into macOS, which provides a simple and automatic way to back up all your personal data, including apps, music, photos, emails, and system files. Its ease of use, seamless integration with the macOS ecosystem, and ability to restore specific files or entire systems make it a valuable tool for data protection.

Recommended for

    Time Machine is recommended for Mac users who want an uncomplicated, built-in backup solution. It's especially beneficial for those who value automatic backups and seamless data restoration without needing third-party software.

Active@ Disk Image videos

How to backup your disk with Active@ Disk Image

More videos:

  • Review - Active@ Disk Image - Backup and Restore Windows system

Time Machine videos

Bad Movie Beatdown: The Time Machine (2002) (REVIEW)

More videos:

  • Review - The Time Machine (1960) Review
  • Review - THE MORLOCKS (The Time Machine) EXPLORED

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Active@ Disk Image and Time Machine)
Backup & Restore
43 43%
57% 57
Cyber Security
38 38%
62% 62
Antivirus
100 100%
0% 0
File Sharing And Backup
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Active@ Disk Image and Time Machine, you can also consider the following products

Acronis True Image - (Formerly Acronis True Image) Complete protection for your digital life

Clonezilla - Clonezilla is a suite of software that's designed to allow you to back-up and image new hard drives with your data.

Duplicati - Free backup software to store backups online with strong encryption. Works with FTP, SSH, WebDAV, OneDrive, Amazon S3, Google Drive and many others.

Macrium Reflect - Macrium Software - the creators of Macrium Reflect backup, imaging and cloning software.

Iperius Backup - backup software for Windows

rsync - rsync is a file transfer program for Unix systems. rsync uses the "rsync algorithm" which provides a very fast method for bringing remote files into sync.