February 25, 2010
CONFIDENTIAL FOLDERS IN SMALL BUSINESS NETWORKS
Here’s a procedure for people working in a very small business that don’t want to call me for every routine task.
Very small businesses frequently have a single folder for all company or firm files. It’s almost always mapped to a drive letter, so everyone stores all work files in the “N:\” drive or the “P:\” drive. Everyone has full permission to add, edit, and delete files and folders in the COMPANY or FIRMDOCS folder. There are subfolders for each client or project, so things get a little cluttered and messy after a while, but it works well […] continued
February 10, 2010
THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF LIVE MESH
Live Mesh is Microsoft’s program for syncing folders between multiple computers and online storage, making your files available to you wherever you are.
I think Live Mesh is dead, and I think I know why: Microsoft is deliberately cutting back on what it could have delivered to protect the revenue it wants from Office 2010.
Live Mesh was built on promising technology and it fulfills part of its promise: once it’s set up, it syncs files accurately and quietly.
Its quirks were easy to overlook – for a while. Two examples:
- There is nothing intuitive about setting up Mesh.
[…] continued
February 8, 2010
SYNC FILES WITH 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 […] continued
February 3, 2010
JUNGLE DISK FOR GROUPS
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
February 2, 2010
JUNGLE DISK FILE SYNCING
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
January 13, 2010
ACCESS ONLINE FILES WITH GOOGLE DOCS
Google announced today that you will soon be able to store any kind of file online in Google Docs, which until now has been basically limited to text and spreadsheets. Anyone with a Google Account will be able to store 1Gb of files online and access them from any computer.
If you’ve been following along, then this sounds like old news. Microsoft has let you store files online for free using Windows Live Skydrive since 2008, with a current storage limit of 25Gb, not a paltry 1Gb. There are some differences – Google will allow […] continued
January 7, 2010
PASSWORDS: GOOGLE ACCOUNTS AND WINDOWS LIVE ID
Previously:
Passwords: computer login
Passwords: e-mail
Google and Microsoft have created single sign-on systems where a master password provides access to a broad range of free services. When you sign in to your Google account and Windows Live ID, the companies’ online services will act like an extension of your computer, giving you seamless access to your online files, your pictures, social networks, messaging, games, file sharing and syncing, and many more ways to interact with your friends […] continued
December 21, 2009
EASY ACCESS TO SKYDRIVE
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
September 30, 2009
HP DATA VAULT FOLLOWUP
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.
September 29, 2009
HP & WINDOWS HOME SERVER FOR BUSINESS
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
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