I use it, it is basic, no settings can be changed, and notes cannot be attached, it can store multiple image dates though, so when you restore you can pick a date, kind of like system restore. Very Basic but works well.

One limitation I came across early on was I made an image, then later I shrunk the C partition, then tried to restore the image, it failed because the partition was not the right size, I forget the exact error message. I did learn that you can go to a larger partition size if need be, just not smaller.

It is all I use with Vista now, not great but good enough.

The real advantage to acronis is you can mount and browse an image if need be, not possible with complete PC backup.

I have seen references to a microsoft tool that allows you to mount the images.  Details were sparce though.

Really though, if there's no compression, it's kind of a deal killer for me.  I don't have that much space.

It does compress, I have backed up 4 times and the backup folder is 12 gig, My C drive has 26.4 gig of used space. Sorry if I misled you. It does look like they are incremental backups, 4 backups and only one image file.

that's interesting ... and good to know as well.  i assume part of that is from not backing up the page file, hibernation file, etc ...  but it definitely looks like compression as well.

i'll give it a try this weekend

More info here on restoring images.

http://professionalinsight.net/VistaBackup.aspx

"So with these results, it appears that Complete PC Restore will only restore to an identical or nearly identical size drive"

Mount vhd image file

http://www.pronetworks.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=84349

http://thelazyadmin.com/blogs/thelazyadmin/archive/2006/12/11/Mount-Vista-CompletePC-backup-VHDs-to-quickly-recover-files.aspx

Looks like Acronis is the real answer for most of us.