Mark-

One option which works on any Linux/Unix machine (including OSX) is rsync with the --link-dest option.  This does the same thing as Time Machine: it creates backups that hardlink to existing copies of files (if they exist) saving disk space on unchanged files.  There are lots of instructions for how to do this, e.g. http://blog.interlinked.org/tutorials/rsync_time_machine.html

This doesn't provide the same UI as Time Machine for restoring files, though.

-Esme
--
Esme Cowles <[log in to unmask]>

"Necessity is the plea for every infringement of human freedom. It is the
 argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves." -- William Pitt, 1783

On 12/16/2011, at 1:06 PM, Mark Jordan wrote:

> Apologies to anyone who is not interested in this thread, but I'm curious to know what backup software comparable to OS X Time Machine Linux users have on their lap/desktops. Time Machine is one of those parts of OS X that would make it hard for me to emigrate from the garden.
> 
> Mark
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
>> I just had a Howard Beale moment with Apple. I'm mad as hell and I'm
>> not going to take it anymore.
>> 
>> I'm curious what people can suggest for linux laptop?
>> Any suggestions for distros and hardware?
>> 
>> thanks. b,chris.