Dropbox and similar services
 

Have you ever used a service that synchronizes files between computers, over the internet and through firewalls, as well as letting you access those files from their website?

Dropbox gives you 2GB for free and works perfectly. I have been using it for years and I love it.

Microsoft Live Mesh is more powerful. It worked great for a couple years but after March 31 they're discontinuing the beta version...and the new version won't run on Windows XP. The new version uses 5GB of your free 25GB SkyDrive, as well as letting you sync folders between computers without putting them in the cloud. Both versions also gave you a tunneled Remote Desktop connection from any computer (or from their web site) to any computers where you have it installed.

I just found out about SugarSync. I installed it and am using it now. 5GB free and quite similar to Dropbox. Seems to be more powerful and the client is better. Googling it, I've found some people giving it bad reviews for sync conflict resolution problems.

I tried Wuala a while back and hated it. I can't remember why.

I have not tried Syncplicity, SpiderOak, or Ubuntu One, but they seem similar to SugarSync and Dropbox.

There's no shortage of synchronization programs and services. There's no shortage of cloud storage. But, are there any combined ones that I've forgotten? That is, programs that keep your data locally, store it in the cloud, and keep everything synchronized?

How about hacks that accomplish the same thing using existing cloud storage? I've seen programs that mount your GMail or SkyDrive as a local drive, but they don't keep your files locally and sync them; instead they just mount those things as (basically) a network drive.

:nerd:

Box.net gives you 5GB to sync. I just wish they would support larger file sizes.

I just use Dropbox because they have an app for Android.

That is one of the best spam bot posts I've ever seen. :jester:


nah...srs though. Prolly will look into this. Im always in need of crap off laptop/desktop. Ive been using Orb recently though :shrug: Mostly just for watching random shows/movies at skoooool

Box.net looks like exactly what I'm talking about. Cool, another free 5GB.

How does Orb work? Looks like it's just for making your computer into a streaming media server.

Re: Dropbox and similar services
 

Since my home connection is so horrid I haven't used these much but a lot of times I've used DropBox because if the android app.

Yea, thats mostly all it is. I only use it for movies and tv shows when I go to friends to watch stuff on my comp there...can upload documents to it as well, but I haven't used that a whole lot.

These programs seem to let you just remote into your computer? Or do you have to upload and then retrieve?

upload and download

You don't upload or download. You just store your files (and kind of file) in a folder. The folder is synchronized with your other computers, and the web site, automatically.

So, I create c:\dropbox\notes.txt on my home computer and put something in it. When I get to work, c:\dropbox there already has my notes.txt. If I'm using someone else's computer I can go to dropbox.com, log on, and download/upload notes.txt there. I make a change on the website or on my work computer and when I go home the change is there.

I just found out that if anyone uses my SugarSync referral link I get some extra space for free, and the person who used my referral link does too. What the hell, might as well put it here, right?
https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=d733faoyrnp2p

(cool spambot bro!)

Dropbox and similar services
 

I use dropbox for small files, but, I want something that will work for free on a 1TB directory.

Microsoft Live Mesh includes syncing that doesn't require you to use their online storage. It should work.

Dropbox news!

Get 5GB free additional space:
- Install the beta of their new client software. http://forums.dropbox.com/topic.php?id=53104
- Plug in a camera, SD card, USB hard drive, etc containing photos and videos.
- At autorun dialog, choose import to dropbox.
- For every 500MB you upload your capacity will increase by 500MB, up to 5GB.
- Supposedly, you keep the bonus space even if you delete the uploads and even after the beta period ends.

I also found out about Dropbox's other free bonus space options:

1. 250MB free for completing introductory tasks: https://www.dropbox.com/gs (They didn't have this when I started)

2. Referrals are good for 250MB...or 500MB if you give them your .edu email address! http://dropbox.com/edu

In non-Dropbox related news, you get 512GB (not a typo) with Beecloud (a Livedrive reseller) but I don't think it synchronizes across computers, I think it just backs up to the cloud. There's also doubts about their encryption. I plan to use it for stuff that's not sensitive, if I ever get stuff sorted like that...probably most of my photo collection, at least.

---------- Post added at 12:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:54 AM ----------

Oh hey, I just realized I can post a Dropbox referral link just like Sugarsync.
http://db.tt/fkUngjDJ
If you sign up from that URL, you get 250MB extra space and I get a bonus too.

You have to upload 500MB at once in order to get the extra space.

I havent used Minus in a while but if they updated their desktop client to be more like DB then it would be the best :imo

---------- Post added at 10:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:06 AM ----------

minus referral http://min.us/rdLnTJd

I use dropbox (for android-aot sharing) and box (for school/personal stuff).

IIRC, box gives away 50gb pretty readily with referrals.

Minus gives you 50GB too IIRC. They also use to allow uploads of up to 1GB in size, not sure if thats the case anymore.

---------- Post added at 10:26 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:19 AM ----------

oh and that referral link gets you another GB.

Box.net isn't bad but only 5gb I think

So, to review: Do Box and Minus clients automatically upload everything that happens in a folder on your PC? Do they synchronize to your other PCs/devices? Any thoughts on encryption and security?

Just trying to sort it all out and spend the most time on the ones that will do what I want.

I known that at work we won't use dropbox because so.severe in the EULA it says that they have the right to sell your data and some other NSIW things, they've also been hacked before I think. I guess some coworkers looked over Box's EULA and it seems to sound better from that standpoint and hasn't been hacked AFAIK. But my coworkers might just be being anal lol

Not sure about Minus or any of the clients.

You have to pay money in order to use the Box desktop client. Minus' is just an upload/download tool I believe.

Aw crap. I guess I should have kept up on Dropbox news. Back when I signed up, the terms of service were good and there was no record of compromises.

Mike, now that you mention it I remember that's why I didn't go further with Box, and that's what Minus looked like but I hoped I read it wrong.

I have used the desktop client in months though, probably around the time they had launched.

---------- Post added at 11:04 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:01 AM ----------

You could also try CX :shrug:

https://www.cx.com/mycx/referral_sig...EeGSpxIBOBubSA

Cool, looks like CX is good for 10GB with sync like Dropbox.

---------- Post added at 01:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:11 PM ----------

:lolwut:

rofl at service that lets you sync stuff but only to one computer :rofl2:

Can't even view the website on another computer. :roflsquared:

Also can't link to any page other than their front page. I guess those referral links are grounds for termination!

:roflfp: