February 8, 2010

Sync Files With Dropbox

dropbox

If you use more than one computer regularly, then you understand the need for an easy way to access some of the same files from each of your computers.

I want to add Dropbox to the programs you consider to accomplish that. At the moment, it combines simplicity and exactly the right features – and the basic version is free.

The idea is simple: after installing one of these programs, you have a magic folder on your office computer and your home computer or your laptop. Anything you drop in the folder at one end automatically appears at the other end almost instantly. Edit an office document on your laptop on the road and the edited version is waiting for you at the office. Behind the scenes, the program is copying your files in the magic folder to online storage, then syncing them with the other computers, automatically and continuously.

I was an early believer in Microsoft Live Mesh and I still hope for the best, but it’s been in “beta testing,” unchanged, for quite some time. It has bugs and quirks (unintuitive setup, remote access features that are underbaked and inadequate), and I’ve become pessimistic about its future. I don’t suggest it for anyone not currently using it.

If you use JungleDisk for online backups, you can take advantage of its features for syncing files. They’re not strong enough to be the sole reason to use JungleDisk and there is no provision for sharing files, but file syncing works beautifully for a single user on multiple computers.

Dropbox has been a favorite of many people since it appeared in September 2008. It is focused on file syncing and sharing – no backup, no remote access, no other extraneous features. The basic version is free, permitting up to 2Gb of synced files; more storage is available for a monthly fee. Files are stored using Amazon’s S3 storage, also used by JungleDisk.

Dropbox has two features that are quite nice:

  • VERSION HISTORY  The service retains different versions of files that are changed. By default, all versions of a file are retained for thirty days; another monthly fee buys unlimited storage of different versions of files.
  • SHARING Folders can be shared with anyone that has the Dropbox software installed – and individual files can be shared with anyone, just by sending a link, whether they are a Dropbox user or not.
  • WEB ACCESS  As with the other services, Dropbox has a web interface for access to your files from public computers.

This is an elegant way to move your files from place to place. Make sure you’ve got good backups (better safe than sorry), and then give it a try!

Posted by Bruce Berls | February 8, 2010 12:42 am | backup, file_sharing, Microsoft, software, web_services
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7 Responses to “Sync Files With Dropbox”

  1. bruceb consulting – news » THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF LIVE MESH Says:
    February 10th, 2010 at 1:40 am

    [...] There is nothing intuitive about setting up Mesh. It has enough flexibility to sync any folder on your computer but that comes with a price – non-tech types are confused by the nondescript Mesh blue folders, while everyone immediately understands a special folder named “My Dropbox.” [...]

  2. Dropbox, Androids, And Security | bruceb consulting - news Says:
    December 4th, 2010 at 9:55 pm

    [...] Sync Files With Dropbox Dropbox for iPad, [...]

  3. Dropbox Updated To Version 1.0 | bruceb consulting - news Says:
    December 20th, 2010 at 1:03 pm

    [...] written about Dropbox frequently. The basic concept is easy: Dropbox is a free program to sync files among each of your computers [...]

  4. Google Cloud Connect – Part 2: Shortcomings And Comparison To Dropbox And Office Web Apps | bruceb consulting - news Says:
    March 4th, 2011 at 1:25 am

    [...] one of my favorite services. If you work on more than one computer, you should be using it – go read about it here. When you install Dropbox, you have a magic folder on your office computer and your home computer [...]

  5. Dropbox For iPad, Android | bruceb consulting - news Says:
    April 13th, 2011 at 1:00 am

    [...] Dropbox has become an indispensable part of my toolbox. It’s the free service that syncs files between different computers, so that files in the “My Dropbox” folder appear on all the computers running the software linked to your account. Edit a file on your home computer, save it in My Dropbox, and the edited version will be on your office computer in the morning. It saves different versions of files, allows you to share files with others in various ways, and gives you online access to them when you’re away from your computers. Here’s my recent writeup about Dropbox. [...]

  6. Dropbox Fixes Security Issue For Mobile Devices | bruceb consulting - news Says:
    April 19th, 2011 at 12:16 am

    [...] has added lightweight security that is sufficient for my level of paranoia. Dropbox was already an essential utility for anyone who uses more than one computer. What’s the next step beyond “essential”? [...]

  7. Dropbox–Tech’s Hottest Startup | bruceb consulting - news Says:
    October 20th, 2011 at 12:44 am

    [...] Sync Files With Dropbox Dropbox For iPad, Android Dropbox, Androids, And Security Dropbox Updated To Version 1.0 Sharing [...]

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