Windows 7 backup — adequate?

Previous versions of backup included in Windows received less than stellar comments and reviews. How is Windows 7’s version?

What, be less ambiguous? Okay.

My machines have the OS on C: and all data files on D:

My main priority is the data files. I’d like to back them up to a NAS (Dlink NAS 321) with a full backup once a week and incremental backups nightly—so I can go back in time if necessary and recover a deleted/edited file.

I see that MS does “block” backups, which some people have said are better than incremental, but I’m not sure why. I also only see an option to run it once a week—presumably that means one full backup and block/incremental backups from then on. When does the whole thing get resaved and preserved? And it looks like a specific option to save a backed-up file that has been deleted on the original. Does that mean it’s not keeping track of changes along the way?

My second priority is a disk image. I’ve never bothered with one before, always having all install disks and whatnot. But since I have the space … am I reading it right that if things go horribly wrong, I can put in a new HDD, load up the Recovery CD, pull from the backups, and have a no-need-to-do-anything-else fully functional machine as if nothing ever happened?

Is Windows 7 up to all this, or am I better off with a freeware (?) or paid (Acronis?) program?

Thanks,

Rhythm