Time Machine is by far the best backup program I've ever used.

[alanp]

So my mac started slowing down. Then getting really crashy.  The OS had been up and running for a 2 years and was in dire need of a fresh install.  Only I had about 180 gigs of videos, podcasts, emails, pictures, etc. 

So I get this external hard drive that the second I plugged it in, it asked me if I wanted to backup my hard drive.  I did and it ran.  Then I put in my  OS X install disk and ran a clean install.  When it booted back up it gave me the option to restore what time machine had saved.  Then it gave options do I just want to restore settings, programs, documents or everything.  It ran and when it was done I was totally back in business again.  Every icon and setting was where I had left it before the erase and reinstall.  And it had the fresh install feel where it was fast again.  And hasn't crashed since.  Apple has really done a good job at this.  I would used to have to spend a day or two moving files, re-downloading and reinstalling programs, hunting for old disks, and customizing the settings. But this was so straight forward.

[Java The Hut]

that's cool, is there a time machine like program for windows ? ? ?

[alanp]

If not I'm sure there will be.  Once one side adds an exciting new feature, the other has it's programers hard at work at making a similar feature.  Maybe it Windows 7.