Dropbox or similar service idea I had ...

[thecomputerguy]

I have already done this for a client and it seems to have worked pretty well for him, and I think I might do it myself for my own personal stuff.

The basic idea is you sign up for a paid account at dropbox or a similar service ... Install the folder to %USERPROFILE%\Dropbox

Then redirect all of your personal folders inside the dropbox. So inside your dropbox you have the normal tree you are used to seeing.

%USERPROFILE%\Desktop
%USERPROFILE%\Documents
%USERPROFILE%\Pictures
%USERPROFILE%\Music

This basically automatically backs your stuff up. If you include packrat for like $2 more you can save versions of files.

AND

If you have a laptop, after completing the initial sync, your laptop/desktop will always have the same set of files ... everywhere...

God idea bad? Thoughts?

 

[thecomputerguy]

Looks like google drive would work very well too.

 

[seedubya]

Sounds like a good idea alright.

 

[PC Ops]

Not a bad idea at all

 

[JustInspired]

I've seen this mentioned some other places online. Wouldn't it start to choke if you're working on a large file and you have a poor internet connection? Or does it wait to upload? Upload changed parts only or the whole file?

 

[Xander]

I've been doing this for myself for a couple of years. I've got 16GB with Dropbox so I've moved Pictures under it. I've actually made my main Docs folder here on Win8 to be the Dropbox folder. There's a leftover Docs folder that I keep in its location just to make sure I dont' screw something that might depend on it.
Did the same with Desktop as well.

 

[thecomputerguy]

I've seen this mentioned some other places online. Wouldn't it start to choke if you're working on a large file and you have a poor internet connection? Or does it wait to upload? Upload changed parts only or the whole file?

I have no doubt that it would choke on larger files that you consistently modify but this isnt a one size fits all solution ... I wouldn't recommend this to clients with anything slower than like 512 up.

Also ... dropbox has a LAN sync option which will detect if another computer running dropbox on your network is running dropbox and the same account. If it is, it will sync over lan rather than the net.