bruceb news

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 […] continued

Share on Facebook

Previously:
Jungle Disk Online Backups
Jungle Disk File Syncing

Jungle Disk has two more levels of service for businesses: the Workgroup Edition, $4/user per month for teams of 2-100 people; and the Server Edition, $5/server per month.

Small businesses might find a lot to like about the Workgroup Edition. Instead of a single login name and password, this version of the program lets each person have a separate login name and password and separate settings for access to synced files and folders.

Imagine that you’ve got employees in three locations.

• Each person

[…] continued

Share on Facebook

Previously:
Jungle Disk Online Backups

For an extra dollar each month, Jungle Disk Desktop Edition adds features to help you share files between multiple computers.

There are two ways to accomplish this. The easiest one comes first during the setup: check a box to add a network drive that will appear next to your hard drive and your CD drive in Windows Explorer. Let’s call it the “J:\” drive.

Anything can be placed in the J: drive – files, folders, as much or as little as you like.

When you […] continued

Share on Facebook

I’ve been hesitant to recommend online backups after some early poor experiences, but recently Jungle Disk introduced an upgrade to their online backup programs that is very impressive – I’ve had good experience with it personally and I like everything I see about the program design and the new features. I want all of you to consider whether you want to add Jungle Disk as part of your backup strategy. In most cases it should be in addition to backups on an external hard drive or NAS device, but some of you (especially Windows XP users) […] continued

Share on Facebook

Here’s an updated list of ways to be safe and secure with your computer.

Install updates from Microsoft promptly. Look in the lower right corner for the gold shield (WinXP) or update icon (Win7/Vista).

Install updates to Acrobat, Flash, Java, and Quicktime promptly. Each will alert you from the lower right corner.

• An easy and safe way to keep up with updates: visit Secunia Online Inspector once a month and follow its suggestions.

Install antivirus software and keep it up to date.

Know the name of your antivirus software. If you get a security

[…] continued

Share on Facebook

Microsoft has 25Gb of free storage space waiting for you online. The Windows Live SkyDrive web site makes it easy to upload and download files. You can store files in folders that are private, or shared with a few other people, or publicly available – whatever you choose. Photos are displayed with attractive thumbnails, and someday we might be able to edit Word & Excel files stored in SkyDrive using online editors that look just like their desktop equivalents.

SkyDrive deserves some of your time. Try it, learn how it works, figure out its […] continued

Share on Facebook

Philip Churchill’s WHS blog has more details on the HP Data Vault, built on Windows Home Server. There are some fuzzy screen shots in the HP white paper showing that HP’s software has been lightly overhauled to make it look more businesslike, with less emphasis on media streaming and sharing photos and music. The HP Data Vault is otherwise virtually identical to HP’s consumer MediaSmart boxes.

This strikes me as a good thing. The Windows Home Server devices deserve a businesslike look and feel – they’re tremendous for small businesses. I’m looking forward to setting them up.

Share on Facebook

Share on Facebook

Devices built on Windows Home Server can be perfect for backups and file sharing in small business networks. Here’s more information about what it means to use Windows Home Server to back up workstations in small businesses.

It’s been hard to explain that to business owners. The name “Windows Home Server” does not precisely shout out, “Backup System For Small Businesses,” does it? I’ve felt uncomfortable in law offices unpacking the HP MediaSmart from boxes festooned with dancing photographs and filmstrips and happy children’s faces.

The reality is that Windows Home Server backs up […] continued

Share on Facebook

Gadgets and services are flooding onto the market so quickly! It’s easy to find a “review” of a new product that recites its features from a press release. It’s much harder to get feedback from people who have actually used something and learned what works and what doesn’t work in the real world.

Let me give you four examples.

SEAGATE REPLICA    I wrote a hopeful article about the Seagate Replica backup device, which is intended to back up a WinXP/Vista computer completely automatically. I haven’t had my hands on one yet and I’m still optimistic. It’s a little […] continued

Share on Facebook

I recently wrote an article praising the use of Windows Home Server as a backup device for small businesses. Shortly after that, Microsoft put up a web page about using Windows Home Server in small offices. I can’t prove that Microsoft was reacting to my article but I think we all can draw the obvious conclusion.

Setting up a WHS device for backups couldn’t be simpler – the software installs like a dream on the first computer from the CD, the device spends a few minutes getting updates and settling down, and bang, it’s done. […] continued

Share on Facebook