Windows "Copy" command.
 
I have backups from 1991 I can't access on a tape format I can't even remember, and more yet on Iomega Zip discs.
 
Nothing gets between me and my data, ever again. First thing I do after bringing a box up is OS patch to date, AV, AV patch to date, and create  a directory named DATA on the root. Every file I create with almost zero exceptions is filed there, and the exceptions like Bookmarks, Projects, etc, get filed to BACKUPS under DATA, on backup day. Then its simply a matter of copying the DATA directory to the backup medium, and opening three files, top, middle and bottom, to verify.
 
No verify, no backup.
 
(That's a simplification of the process, for users with a single machine. Here, DATA directories from each node are first integrated into the DATA directory on the master file server, then the file server is backed up as described above.
 
Transfer is via a 1TB MyBookLive hanging off the switch on the LAN side of the demarc, no more Windows version networking BS tolerated either. Backups go one of two 2TB  USB drives, rotated on and off site to a safe deposit box. That gives me at least 3 copies of all files at all times, except incrementals. Lost the LAN twice to virus, individual drives at times, but I have every digital file I ever created except noted above, and I can find them when needed, too.)
 
 

Your post mentioned trustworthy and simplest. These are the two most important factors to me. For this reason, I don't use third party software for my backups. I use Windows Robocopy - I'll post the command line options below if anyone is interested. I schedule the backup weekly with Windows Task Scheduler and leave my computer on overnight when this is done. My backup goes to an external drive and it is an exact copy of my content files on my working drive. If there is any problem, I can drag and drop missing files or directories from the backup with Windows Explorer. I can also browse the backup before I restore, verify that it was done, etc. I think this scheme give the most flexibility and is least likely to fail. It also doesn't require any additional software purchase. I've come to this after going through numerous third party packages, which are always more complex than this and often don't allow direct browsing of the backup itself.
 
My actual external drive is a Linux box running Raid 5 with multiple 3TB drives, although the scheme I am suggesting will work nicely with external USB drives. 
 
I use Paragon for an image copy of the C: partition, but I don't run this except when I do fairly major system updates that I wouldn't want to have to recover manually.
 
command line:
robocopy /source-directory /destination-directory /MIR /FFT /Z /XA:SH /R:0 /XJD /NP
 

Yes the paid version of Macrium Reflect is good backup software. I always prefer to use it.

I've seen lots of interesting backup solutions in my time, whatever you choose, remember that it's when you are restoring the data that it's key to be in control. in the end my experience is that you can check this . You can save up to 100 TB of free data storage. It supports majorly Windows, Mac, Linux ,etc.

Got a NAS server with bacula and cruciblewds, getting full hard drive backups and also serving system images so i can pxe boot from it if i want to test anything (windows/linux).
 
For full system backup it can also be manually done using, well, nothing, just Windows Powershell:
In Windows 8.1 you can still do it, open Powershell and hit:
wbAdmin start backup -backupTarget:E: -include:C: -allCritical -quiet
Target is where you want to store the backup
Include is the drive you want to backup
 
To restore, create a windows bootable usb pen, boot from it, choose repair and then restore from image.
In my laptop i always have a system image in my third hdd, when going to a gig take a backup drive (same as your system) even if your drive dies, just replace it and restore.

Acronis has saved my bacon probably more than a dozen times already.

It's amazing how if you try out a freebie, or even visit a web page, how sometimes something gets added to the system. I'm pretty good at problem solving but there have been a bunch of times where something inexplicable was going on, while just a few days prior everything had been great. When I restore from Acronis, which is just a couple clicks, everything pops back to the previous backup and eliminates the guesswork to remove the issue. It's been a remarkable help for me.

I used Acronis 2013 yesterday to restore and then re-installed some software after learning the quirks of how it installed itself the first time.
 
I was reminded that on my system the Acronis CD will sometimes launch and get hung up. I've had to cycle through power up a few times to get Acronis to launch from the boot CD. That's what I did yesterday.
 
I might try Paragon as a back up to my back up strategy.
 
If I were to try it which package would I use? They seem to have a few tiers ranging fro free to enterprise. What's the best all around choice if you don't mind spending a few bucks?
 
Thanks.

bump

I have the Macrium Pro version.  3 PC license package.
 
I like Macirum's utility to create a WinPE bootable rescue disc.  It is not a completely manual process as Acronis has.
I had problems with the Acronis Linux version rescue disc not loading or working correctly on one PC. The WinPE version worked perfectly.

Thanks.
 
I'm thinking I'd like to try Paragon. I'm wondering which version I should try. They have a free version as well as some small business packages.