Dropbox allows you to share and manage files among multiple computers.
Recently I was introduced to a piece of cloud based software called Dropbox (thank you John L).
At first I just thought it was another one of those around for a short time file sharing tools. Of the others I have looked at this one is the best.
After installing Dropbox, there is a folder placed in your My Documents named “My Dropbox”. To sum the service up in one sentence: any files placed into this folder will both be uploaded to the Dropbox servers, and will be synchronized with any other clients in your account.
So, in a single computer situation, this Dropbox folder is effectively a backup solution. If you have more than one PC in the account, any files placed into this folder on one computer will automatically be synchronized onto all others running Dropbox in the same account.
At my church Community Baptist Church, our media team who puts together the video for the worship services needed an easy way to transfer sermon graphics and other media to the people who needed it. We started using drop box and haven’t looked back. It is like having a network. It works like any other folder on your computer and then replicates the folder to others of your choosing via a internet connections. Dropbox works on both Windows and MacOS X systems. This is nice since some members of our media team use Mac’s.
Dropbox installs a small application on your desktop or you can use the convenient web application. One nice tool that I like about the software is that it keeps your last revisions and deletions for back reference.
So throw away those aggravating thumb drives and starting using one of the best secure file sharing options out there-Dropbox!
What do you like about Dropbox?
I LOVE Dropbox and use it on a daily basis. I just started grad school this year and I use Dropbox to sync all of my work between my home computer and office computer. There are times that I work from home too, and although we do have a VPN to access the network at the office, Dropbox is much faster for pulling up documents that I need.
I also have a huge recipe folder on my home computer that I added to Dropbox as well. That way, when I'm at the office telling someone about this amazing meal I had the night before, I can immediately print off the recipe without having to remember to do it that night.
Great post Nibby!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Dropbox. I actually have 2 dropbox accounts. One for back up of data files such as Quicken, TurboTax, etc. That one runs on the 2G free Dropbox. Then I have a 100G account for all other docs, pics, etc. I love that I can access any file I need from any computer and I don't have to maintain any backup software or online backup service. I just cancelled my online MozyPro account yesterday once I was sure Dropbox was my answer.
Great post Nibby.
Hey Nibby, don't forget about the excellent (and free) iPhone app for dropbox. Need mobile access to a file, just throw it in your dropbox, then you don't have to worry about emailing it to yourself, etc.
Hey Nibby—thanks for the post. I've been considering Dropbox. Have you used Google Docs? If so, do you find Dropbox more functional? Peace.
Michael: Yes, I use Google.com/docs too! The nice thing about Dropbox is the tool they give that enables you to drag folders/files to dropbox icon and it takes care of syncing the files and folders online. Some people are using Dropbox as a backup solution.