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A word about Dropbox

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shmokes:
This information is partially, but not entirely, self-serving.

Dropbox is awesome.  A folder on your computer (which you can put anywhere) syncs with the online Dropbox servers (a free account gives you 2 GB of space).  So files in your dropbox can be accessed from any computer with internet access through the web interface.  This is great for keeping important files backed up off-site or just so you always have access to particular files or folders.  What's more, inside your dropbox folder is a folder called Public.  You can right-click on any files in that folder and click "copy public link".  You can then paste the link from your clip board into an email, IM, message board post, facebook wall, etc., and anyone who clicks the link (whether they have Dropbox or not) will download the file.

The best part about Dropbox, though, is the sharing.  Any folder in your Dropbox folder can be shared with anyone else in the world running dropbox.  If I have a folder called Arrested Development in my Dropbox folder and I share that folder with you, an Arrested Development folder will automatically appear in your Dropbox folder and the folder on your computer will stay synchronized with the corresponding folder on my computer.  Any files you put in (if I give you full read/write access) will automatically appear on my computer and vice versa.  And it all happens behind the scenes.  It's something where you just set it and forget it.  Very cool.

So now for the (not entirely) self-serving part:  If you want to sign up for Dropbox, don't just go to the website and sign up.  Have someone officially recommend the service to you.  That person will then get an extra 250 MB of free space added to the initial 2 GB.  But here's the kicker -- so will you!  If you go to the website right now and sign up for a free account you'll get 2 GB of space.  If I send an invitation to your email and you click the link to sign up you will start out with 2.25 GB of space, right off the bat.  And, of course, I'll also get an extra .25 GB added to my total.

So, anyway, awesome service.  I've been using it for a couple years now and never had a complaint.  If you're interested, sign up under someone you know who already has an account (remember, you can't just specify that person during the sign-up process--he has to send you an invitation first!).  And if you don't know or prefer someone else with an account, I would be happy to be that person for you--just send me a PM with your email address.

Benevolance:
My wife uses this service and she raves about it frequently. And then mocks me for carrying my data on USB keys. What can I say? I'm old skool. I didn't know about the bonus space for referrals, though. That's really good information.

massive88:
Seconded about drop box, its pretty awesome.  I also use it very frequently to transfer files between PC and Android, or to send people files off my phone, works very well.

For instance, taken from my phone, easily shared with all of you:  http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7947895/snap20100715_145516.png

RayB:
how is the syncing handled? Do you have to install software that keeps a background process running all the time?

AtomSmasher:

--- Quote from: RayB on July 15, 2010, 04:53:14 pm ---how is the syncing handled? Do you have to install software that keeps a background process running all the time?

--- End quote ---
Yes.  This is my biggest annoyance about it, although it does keep it pretty seemless.  I have the program set so it doesn't start at system startup and only turn it on when I'm working with the dropbox stuff, which works pretty well.

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