A word about Dropbox

[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]

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

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.

[shmokes]

I personally try to keep my piracy a little more anonymous....

A little more anonymous than what???  It's a thousand times more anonymous than bit torrent or even newsgroups.  It's actually not a very good tool for piracy for the same reason.  It's only good for sharing with people you know and you're limited to the upload bandwidth of that person (as opposed to distributed bandwidth you get with bit torrent).  Just don't share copyrighted material with people you don't trust.  Publishers can't see what you're sharing and then get a court order to have your identity revealed. 

[shmokes]

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

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.

With that said, it's tiny, unobtrusive, extremely stable (I have not once had it crash or cause a crash in two years) and its resource usage is invisible.  It may as well not be running.  And, of course, not running it is an option.  It's just not an option I find worthwhile.  There are VERY few programs I would say that about.

[AtomSmasher]

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

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.

With that said, it's tiny, unobtrusive, extremely stable (I have not once had it crash or cause a crash in two years) and its resource usage is invisible.  It may as well not be running.  And, of course, not running it is an option.  It's just not an option I find worthwhile.  There are VERY few programs I would say that about.

At 40mb of memory usage at all times, it's hardly tiny, but I do agree with unobtrusive, stable, and minimal cpu usage.

[javeryh]

Wow this is a good way to share music with friends.

[jimmy2x2x]

Very useful, I use mine as a backup device.

Thanks for the headsup!

[shmokes]

My laptop is a 6-year old 17" Powermac.  I'm currently crashing on the couch of a friend in NYC while I job hunt.  I've been using my laptop to write cover letters and so on.  Tonight the right-half of the screen went all vertical bar rainbow haywire.  Thank god I've been working directly from my Dropbox folder.  Sucks that the laptop finally kicked the bucket.  It was slow as ---steaming pile of meadow muffin---, but otherwise still really nice and perfectly usable (with a little patience).  People regularly still mistake it for a brand new Macbook pro.  Apple's been making some well-designed hardware for quite a while.  But it's a lot less painful when you can pick up on another computer instantly exactly where you left off.  And also when I at least got a good six years out of the thing.

Dropbox +1

[yotsuya]

Dropbox is the best service of it's type. I haven't used the sharing function, but it's great for my personal stuff.

[mountain]

Dropbox is great! I have used it daily for backing up files I use at work and at home. If i design something in my CAD program at work, on my lunch break of course , it is sitting there waiting for me when i get home. All of my hobby related stuff is saved in my dropbox folder.

[RayB]

Ive never used any sort of online backup service. I always fear that deep in their Terms of Use is a clause that grants them access and rights to my files.

[ark_ader]

And what is wrong with desktop sync?

[shmokes]

Ive never used any sort of online backup service. I always fear that deep in their Terms of Use is a clause that grants them access and rights to my files.

The majority of your files are of little value and contain no compromising information.  Just don't use it for stuff that worries you.

[RayB]

The majority of my files are business related IP.