FastBack[1] is a software application developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s for backing up IBM PC and Macintosh computers. It was originally written by Fifth Generation Systems, a company located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.[2] When the company wanted to expand into the Apple market they purchased and rebranded a product from TouchStone Software Corporation.
The original FastBack was unique in the industry in that it was able to read from a computer hard drive and write to the floppy drive simultaneously using the full capability of the dual-channel DMA chip found in personal computers of that time. When combined with compression techniques[2] and a proprietary disk format that stored 720KB of data on each 360KB 5¼-inch floppy disk (only in 1.2MB drives), this made FastBack one of the fastest PC backup programs at the time.[3]
By 1984, FastBack (Version 5.13) was already on the market.[3]
In 1987, FastBack Plus 1.0 for DOS was released. This version, or subsequent DOS versions, was released with an unconditional guarantee against harm resulting from use of the software in the terms and conditions. The guarantee contrasted itself with industry norms.
In 1991, FastBack Plus 3.02 for DOS was released.[4]
In February 1992 the company released FastBack Plus 1.0 for Windows, written for PCs running Windows 3.0.[5]
FastBack Plus 2.0 was included with Novell DOS 7 in 1994.
FastBack II was at one point bundled with the "Drive 2.4" floppy disk drive marketed by Kennect Technology.[6]
By 1992, FastBack had been purchased by Symantec Corp., who went on to bundle the application as "Norton Fastback" through version 3 of Norton Utilities for the Macintosh. However, by version 4, Norton Fastback was dropped from Norton's software utility package, bringing an end to FastBack.
Fastback For The Macintosh v1.01/1.02 - 1987, v1.3 - 1988
Fastback II v2.10 - 1990
Fastback Plus v2.6 1991, v3.0.1 - 1992
Featuresedit
The New York Times wrote about the standard DOS (MSBACKUP) utility, that it "cannot automatically awaken itself at 3 A.M. to make a full backup onto a quarter-inch cassette drive."[7]
Receptionedit
BYTE in 1989 listed Fastback Plus as among the "Distinction" winners of the BYTE Awards, stating that "if you have a hard drive, we recommend this package".[8]
Referencesedit
^Lewis, Peter H. (June 7, 1988). "Backup Copy Of Hard Disk Averts Loss". The New York Times. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
^ abLewis, Peter H. (July 25, 1989). "Personal Computers - Of Inevitable Sudden Death And Backing Up Your Files". The New York Times. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
^ ab"The Great Floppy Backup Shoot-Out". December 21, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2020. Fastest backup: Fastback v5.13 (1984)
^Bigley, Tom (September 16, 1991). "Latest Fastback Plus won't let you down". InfoWorld: 81. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
^Bigley, Tom (April 6, 1992). "Review:Fastback Plus offers reliable backup under Windows". InfoWorld: 121. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
^. TidBITS. 1991. Archived from the original on March 15, 2007. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
^Lewis, Peter H. (January 4, 1994). "It's 1994. So Where Are Your Data?". The New York Times. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
^"The BYTE Awards". BYTE. January 1989. p. 322. Retrieved September 14, 2020 – via archive.org.
External linksedit
Pearce, Michael (February 1998). . Computer Bits. Archived from the original on 2006-11-30. Retrieved September 14, 2020. A note by Dave Decker entitled "Beware of FastBack"
April 17, 2024
fastback, software, application, developed, late, 1980s, early, 1990s, backing, macintosh, computers, originally, written, fifth, generation, systems, company, located, baton, rouge, louisiana, when, company, wanted, expand, into, apple, market, they, purchase. FastBack 1 is a software application developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s for backing up IBM PC and Macintosh computers It was originally written by Fifth Generation Systems a company located in Baton Rouge Louisiana 2 When the company wanted to expand into the Apple market they purchased and rebranded a product from TouchStone Software Corporation FastBackFastBack Plus 1 0 for DOS circa 1987 Original author s Fifth Generation SystemsInitial release1987 37 years ago 1987 Operating systemDOS Windows Mac OSAvailable inEnglishTypeBackup softwareLicenseProprietaryThe original FastBack was unique in the industry in that it was able to read from a computer hard drive and write to the floppy drive simultaneously using the full capability of the dual channel DMA chip found in personal computers of that time When combined with compression techniques 2 and a proprietary disk format that stored 720KB of data on each 360KB 5 inch floppy disk only in 1 2MB drives this made FastBack one of the fastest PC backup programs at the time 3 Contents 1 Version history 2 Features 3 Reception 4 References 5 External linksVersion history editBy 1984 FastBack Version 5 13 was already on the market 3 In 1987 FastBack Plus 1 0 for DOS was released This version or subsequent DOS versions was released with an unconditional guarantee against harm resulting from use of the software in the terms and conditions The guarantee contrasted itself with industry norms In 1991 FastBack Plus 3 02 for DOS was released 4 In February 1992 the company released FastBack Plus 1 0 for Windows written for PCs running Windows 3 0 5 FastBack Plus 2 0 was included with Novell DOS 7 in 1994 FastBack II was at one point bundled with the Drive 2 4 floppy disk drive marketed by Kennect Technology 6 By 1992 FastBack had been purchased by Symantec Corp who went on to bundle the application as Norton Fastback through version 3 of Norton Utilities for the Macintosh However by version 4 Norton Fastback was dropped from Norton s software utility package bringing an end to FastBack Fastback For The Macintosh v1 01 1 02 1987 v1 3 1988 Fastback II v2 10 1990 Fastback Plus v2 6 1991 v3 0 1 1992Features editThe New York Times wrote about the standard DOS MSBACKUP utility that it cannot automatically awaken itself at 3 A M to make a full backup onto a quarter inch cassette drive 7 Reception editBYTE in 1989 listed Fastback Plus as among the Distinction winners of the BYTE Awards stating that if you have a hard drive we recommend this package 8 References edit Lewis Peter H June 7 1988 Backup Copy Of Hard Disk Averts Loss The New York Times Retrieved September 14 2020 a b Lewis Peter H July 25 1989 Personal Computers Of Inevitable Sudden Death And Backing Up Your Files The New York Times Retrieved September 14 2020 a b The Great Floppy Backup Shoot Out December 21 2015 Retrieved September 14 2020 Fastest backup Fastback v5 13 1984 Bigley Tom September 16 1991 Latest Fastback Plus won t let you down InfoWorld 81 Retrieved September 14 2020 Bigley Tom April 6 1992 Review Fastback Plus offers reliable backup under Windows InfoWorld 121 Retrieved September 14 2020 TidBITS 51 Drive 2 4 TidBITS 1991 Archived from the original on March 15 2007 Retrieved September 14 2020 Lewis Peter H January 4 1994 It s 1994 So Where Are Your Data The New York Times Retrieved September 14 2020 The BYTE Awards BYTE January 1989 p 322 Retrieved September 14 2020 via archive org External links editPearce Michael February 1998 Macking 31 Computer Bits Archived from the original on 2006 11 30 Retrieved September 14 2020 A note by Dave Decker entitled Beware of FastBack Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title FastBack amp oldid 1125617723, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
