Sync files across computers with Dropbox or Mesh
Between owning desktops, notebooks, netbooks, or managing a work PC, there’s an increasing need to have files sync on multiple computers.
Most people, present company included, could easily get by with a trusty flash drive moving from computer to computer, but wouldn’t it be great to have a system that could sync files across devices and on the web?
Dropbox and Mesh are two services that ease the transition from one computer to the next. Users of either Dropbox or Mesh can install software, save files into designated folders, and have edited or newly created files appear on any device set to synchronize to the cloud-stored information. Which is better? That’s a judgement call. Dropbox offers a 2GB limit for its free service, 50GB for $9.99 per month, and 100 GB for $19.99 per month. By comparison, Live Mesh supplies more than 5GB of storage for only $0.00.
Personally, I’d recommend Dropbox if you need only 2GB or less. Aside from synchronizing files stored within a folder, Dropbox can sync OneNote or Tomboy notes, share select files with non-Dropbox members, and store and run portable apps. Users can access Dropbox from Windows, Mac, Linux, online, or an iPhone.
Mesh is the ideal solution if you need more than 2GB of space and would prefer not to spend money. Much like Dropbox, there’s a foolproof set-up process. It also has a “Mesh Pack” that features great collaborative tools for tasks, virtual corkboards, and group polls. For users wanting extra space and more sharing options, Mesh is a great service.
In a pinch, just use both.
Filed Under: Cloud Computing
I maintain one media-server with both installed.
What I consider a MAJOR drawback for Dropbox is that it’s just ONE main folder which you can’t rename. If you want multiple custom named folders, they have to be sub-folders of your “My Dropbox” folder.
Mesh on the other hand can add ANY folder to your Mesh account, and each folder can have custom syncing rules (CompA dosen’t update FolderA from CompB, CompB only updates FolderB from the LiveMesh online Desktop, etc).
Being able to add any folder to Mesh also means I can sync one folder from the root of C: drive and another from the root of D: drive. This is a killer feature for me as when I want to sync files, I don’t want to have to copy files across drives every time.
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Oh yeah, protip…
On my 24/7 media server I keep my dropbox folder in one of my Mesh folders.
Then any file I update via the folder on Mesh get automatically sync’d to my Media server, then to Dropbox (then to my iPhone ^_^ ).
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