Time Machine -- have you noticed?

[rbpeirce]

I was backing up my wife's computer and happened to monitor the process. I noticed it first said 2 minutes remaining. A bit later it said 4 minutes remaining, but it was the longest four minutes I've ever endured.

The estimated time bears zero connection to reality so why does Apple bother?

 

[MacInWin]

Cupertino minutes are not the same as minutes anywhere else?

Apple's estimates for anything are wildly off. Lots of reasons why, the chief of which is that the forecast is based on the performance to the current time, but without any detailed analysis of what is left. So, if there are 10 files, with 5 small ones and 5 huge ones, the system thinks that when it has done 5, it's halfway through, but if the 5 it's done are all small, and what's left are all large, that estimate will be wildly short.

Frankly, I only use the timing estimates to show that it's actually still working.

 

[MacInWin]

Oh, and it's not just Apple. CCC, SD!, and Chronosync all have wildly varying estimates both of how long a process will take and how much time is left.

 

[IWT]

Oh, and it's not just Apple. CCC, SD!, and Chronosync all have wildly varying estimates both of how long a process will take and how much time is left.

Totally agree. It's a guess - pardon - an estimate; that sounds more professional

Ian

 

[rbpeirce]

Apple's estimates for anything are wildly off. Lots of reasons why, the chief of which is that the forecast is based on the performance to the current time, but without any detailed analysis of what is left. So, if there are 10 files, with 5 small ones and 5 huge ones, the system thinks that when it has done 5, it's halfway through, but if the 5 it's done are all small, and what's left are all large, that estimate will be wildly short.

Oh, and it's not just Apple. CCC, SD!, and Chronosync all have wildly varying estimates both of how long a process will take and how much time is left.

Thanks. Makes sense.

I use SD! a lot and I've never seen an estimate of time remaining. Consequently I don't even think about it.

 

[MacInWin]

I have SD!, but I don't use it. I use CCC and Chronosync and both have estimates. I though SD! had it somewhere, but I guess I was mistaken. In any event, it is, at best, imprecise.

 

[OliviaClaire]

Many users have reported experiencing unusually long Time Machine backup times after updating to macOS Sonoma. While there isn't a definitive solution yet, creating additional backups is a good precautionary measure.

 

[rbpeirce]

Many users have reported experiencing unusually long Time Machine backup times after updating to macOS Sonoma. While there isn't a definitive solution yet, creating additional backups is a good precautionary measure.

I don't really care how long they take. It is the time estimates that I noticed, especially when they get longer.

 

[JesseMorrison]

I never even paid attention to the estimated time shown, when backing up SSD and HDD I already got used to wait one hour on a 10 minutes estimation.

 

[Rod]

As has been said already, the time estimated and it's progress is more of an assurance that something is happening which I find reassuring.
Maybe it's more like a any maintenance job I do at home, eg; I went to change a light globe, I estimated it would take 5 min but, the lightbulb shattered when I tried to unscrew it. Now I need to use a pair of long nose pliers to remove the base, I estimate the job will now take 10 min but, I can't find my long nose pliers.
After a search long nose pliers found in the kitchen drawer, job actually took 25 min.

 

[IWT]

I went to change a light globe,

Don't do DIY, Rod.

I do GSI.......(Get Someone In).

Ian

 

[Jimmysb]

Don't do DIY, Rod.

I do GSI.......(Get Someone In).

Ian

Tried that with both the Kitchen and Bathroom, both of which I had refurbished in previous houses, and in both jobs I ended up sorting out their errors, I find today's tradesmen(women) are not as particular about the finish of a task, just want to complete (in their opinion) and go, no real pride in their work.