For years, I've been evaluating backup products. Every time a new concept comes out, I examine it to see how easy it is to use, and how well it protects data. This has led me to standard hard drives with built-in software, online backup services and various configurations of both types. In general, each generation is better than the previous -- but, in most cases, not all that much better.

The result is that most people still don't back up their computers, putting themselves at risk of losing their files.

Yet backing up is becoming more important for consumers every year, because each year we put more of our lives on our computers -- from important credentials to favorite music, to photos that document the days of our lives.

But if you dream long enough, it is possible that your dream will come true. In this case, it means a back-up product that actually stands out.

The Clickfree Transformer SE is an unexpected delight. It's a palm-sized hardware product that makes backing up your computer fast and easy. Housed in a case of black plastic about the size of a Ghirardelli chocolate square, the Clickfree Transformer SE has a USB plug on the end of a short cable coming out of one side and a USB port on the opposite side.

Plug it into your computer to get the process going. Plug your hard drive into the Clickfree to continue.

The Clickfree automatically copies the files from your computer onto your hard drive. It takes no effort to configure. It just does it.

And it takes up less file space on your hard drive than typical backup programs as well as completing the task faster, because it doesn't try to copy the entire computer. It just copies your data -- up to 400 file types.

The first time I plugged the Clickfree Transformer into my computer, it did exactly what it is supposed to do. Ten minutes after I plugged it in, all my data was copied onto my hard drive, including my photos, music files, e-mail and work documents -- except one (my online e-mail).

When the backup was complete, Clickfree displayed a bright blue window that showed me how many of each type of file had been copied and how much space each type used. It showed a breakdown of which files were newly copied, and gave me additional pages with which I could browse or search for files, and even a special photo page.

According to the sparse literature, restoring files is just as easy, using that bright blue window interface. I can't vouch for the restore process, though, because I haven't done it. It also works with multiple computers -- using the same or different hard drive, at your option.

The coolest thing about the Clickfree Transformer SE, though, is that you can back up your computer to your iPod or iPhone instead of a disk drive -- so you can use it when you travel without having to carry around that extra drive. And it will back up your iPod music to your computer.

The only thing I saw that bothered me was that it ran hot. I don't know if this will affect how long it will last.

The Clickfree Transformer SE works with Windows computers using XP, Vista or even Windows 7, as well as Macs. It's available online or at retailers for $90 (not including the hard drive). The company also offers its own hard drives with the same capability built in.

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