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DropBox – My Favorite File Sync Genie

on April 9, 2008 in Dropbox, Tech for Life

Here I go with another one of my favorite web applications. This one is a cross-over web/desktop application. Read on to find out why:

Anyone with multiple computers like a desktop, personal laptop and a work laptop would know the pains to find the right file you need for a task at hand from one of those computers.

It just adds to the complexity if you are sharing some of those documents with someone else. You probably find yourself continuously uploading, downloading files, syncing you folders with an online storage solution.

I have had the privilege of using DropBox (still in private beta) for the last few weeks and I am definitely amazed by the thoughtfulness of the developers. It is designed to be completely painless to use while consuming reasonable amount of resources – cpu & bandwidth.

DropBox

DropboxYou just need to install the DropBox software (7 MB file) in your computer and it integrates with the file explorer and runs in the background. From your online account, you link your web account with the desktop software. From then on, anything you drop in the ‘My DropBox’ folder gets sync’ed with your online account.

  • Access files in your home computer from anywhere via Internet in a web browser
  • Synchronizes multiple computers if you linked them all with the same account instantly.
  • Dropbox saves your previous revisions as backups online and you can revert to an older version very easily
  • Delete a file by mistake? Restore a copy from online.
  • No software interface to learn. Seamlessly integrates with your Windows/Mac native environment
  • Share files with friends and family by sharing a folder with them.
  • Sync is almost instantaneous. File changes are detected as incremental changes instead of uploading/downloading whole changed files.
  • Blue icon on a file/folder indicates that the sync on that particular item is pending and green means it’s in sync.
  • 5GB of free online storage while in private beta
  • Even when you are away from your computer, just upload files (25MB max) to your online account and when you go home, it’ll be in your home computer. Ready for you.
  • If all this isn’t enough, if you’d like to download a large folder from your online account, there is an option to download the contents of the folder as a zip file saving you precious time.
  • You can share a url to your photos folder with friends and family. No more choosing photos to upload to special service.
  • Works right now on Windows & Mac but a Linux version is promised in the future.
  • Works seamlessly through proxies as well.

The real beauty of this solution is in the simplicity and how transparent it is to you once you start using. Since it’s in beta, it is free for 5GB but the developers have plans to add paid plans in the future. For such a cool service, I really wouldn’t mind paying as I have already been contemplating a reliable online storage system like Amazon S3.

I would love to see more features like profiles for different computers. It would be nice not to sync my personal files like Music, Photos, etc. to my work laptop. With the service in closed beta, I am sure there will be more features coming up before the public release.

Here are some screenshots for you to enjoy:

Dropbox Folders

Green = In sync; Blue = Sync-ing

DropBox Online Folder

Online interface to your files/folders

DropBox Revisions

Revisions of a file I was working on

I have a few invites for Dropbox. If you’d like to try it, leave me a comment and I’ll send it to your email.

What do you think of this service? How much is the comfort this service offers worth to you?

Update:

You can even get a Portable Dropbox now. And don’t forget to try out Try Dropbox Professional.

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49 Responses to “DropBox – My Favorite File Sync Genie”

  1. Magnus Holm April 9, 2008 at 9:20 am #

    I would be very thankful if you could send me an invite 🙂

  2. Dave M.@Mac Switcher April 9, 2008 at 10:33 am #

    Dude! I would love to get an invite for DropBox. This is the tool I have been looking for for almost a year to allow me to share files from my desktop computer to my notebook computer!

    I have tried several tools and haven’t found any tools that work as well as DropBox looks like it will.

    Thanks in advance!

    Dave M.@Mac Switcher’s last blog post..Are you seeing this site correctly?

  3. ludovico April 9, 2008 at 11:25 am #

    Hi! Very interesting….I would be very interested in testing it.

    Thank you very much!

    Greetings from Italy 🙂

    ludovico’s last blog post..Subscribe and Win from Wikigiz

  4. Alen April 9, 2008 at 5:14 pm #

    Hi,
    I would love an invite if you still have some left.
    Nice review BTW

    Alan

  5. l0k1 April 9, 2008 at 5:52 pm #

    yes, please. i’ve been very interested in dropbox. it looks to be potentially fantastic, especially for working on long-distance, collaborative projects.

  6. l0k1 April 9, 2008 at 7:52 pm #

    first, thank you kindly for the invite. ‘ve only had the chance to play with dropbox briefly, but i can already tell it’s going to be a winner.

    dropbox has been quite easy for me to learn to use. a no-brainer, if you will. i’ve not yet had to ask, “how do i do x” and search for a solution. it’s all very reasonable, rational and logical. that’s something i really appreciate in a user interface.

    i’ve installed the dropbox app on my oldest, slowest laptop and it runs smoothly. as you noted, it is not resource intensive. it also does seem to integrate well with the system (again, something you also made note of).

    i’m sure that as i have time to make greater use of dropbox, i’ll find plenty of things i’d like to see changed or improved, but even in beta it is clearly a very well-implemented product.

  7. Justin D April 9, 2008 at 8:01 pm #

    Great review. It looks like a really great service. Does anyone have any beta invites left? If so thanks in advance.

  8. alex April 9, 2008 at 10:44 pm #

    Hi, considering how good your review is, i’m curious to try dropbox myself (i currently use box.net which is pretty cool too and would be curious to see how they compare). would you have a spare invitation?

  9. Fido April 9, 2008 at 11:20 pm #

    I would be happy to recieve an invite

  10. Jenny April 9, 2008 at 11:27 pm #

    On the subject of online backup and storage …

    Online backup is becoming common these days. It is estimated that 70-75% of all PC’s will be connected to online backup services with in the next decade.

    Thousands of online backup companies exist, from one guy operating in his apartment to fortune 500 companies.

    Choosing the best online backup company will be very confusing and difficult. One website I find very helpful in making a decision to pick an online backup company is:

    http://www.BackupReview.info

    Have a look here, too:
    http://www.backupreview.info/index.php?pid=read_article&article_id=9

    This site lists more than 400 online backup companies in its directory and ranks the top 25 on a monthly basis.

  11. Thomas April 10, 2008 at 3:41 am #

    Please, if you still have invites left… This might be just what I’ve been looking for. It’s always a pain to keep home and office synchronized (dongle, FTP etc). Now this could be almost automatic?!

    Thanks anyway for making it known (to me)!

    Thomas’s last blog post..CSS Naked Day 2008

  12. K April 10, 2008 at 8:39 am #

    Hey everyone.. thanks for taking the time to comment. But, I am sorry I have quickly run out of invites to DropBox. I will definitely give it away here as they add more to my account.

  13. Madhur Kapoor April 10, 2008 at 2:14 pm #

    I would love to try it. Do send me if you get any more invites.

    Madhur Kapoor’s last blog post..Imageshack launches free Torrent Service

  14. motdiem April 10, 2008 at 5:39 pm #

    I would definitely like an invite as well… many thanks in advance

  15. Kris April 10, 2008 at 6:41 pm #

    WOW..have just seen the demo video on the site..if it has all the features that was shown in the demo it will be best online storage drives out there..and the service gives a whole lotta meaning to web2.0

    Is it too late for invites ? If you have any please send one my way..will appreciate it..
    Kris

  16. K-IntheHouse April 11, 2008 at 11:03 am #

    motdiem, Kris.. sorry there was only very few invites and I’ll add you guys as soon as I get more. Thanks for the comments. 🙂

    K-IntheHouse’s last blog post..Firefox Extensions: Picks of the Week 08-04-10

  17. Domingo April 12, 2008 at 7:15 am #

    Ah, it’s too bad that you ran out of invites! But if you ever receive some more, I know I could always use one. 🙂 Thanks in advance.

  18. Dave M. April 13, 2008 at 1:08 am #

    @Madhur: Would you mind telling me what WordPress plugins you are using for the feature that shows the Nation, OS, and browser in your comments? Also, the one that is displaying the comment preview dynamically under the editor? I would love to implement them on my blog.

    Thanks!

    Dave M.’s last blog post..A view on product ease of use and worth

  19. Mary George Hilbun April 13, 2008 at 2:43 am #

    This is exactly what I am looking for. I have an imac and a macbook that I like to stay synced to….never know which part of the house I will be in. Please send me an invite if at all possible, it would be very appreciated!

  20. Nirmal April 13, 2008 at 12:01 pm #

    This is one of the best online storage service launched recently, I simply loved it. Great concept and application.

    Nirmal’s last blog post..Search Files Faster in Windows with Finder

  21. K April 14, 2008 at 11:49 pm #

    Dave, I am using Firestats stats gathering plugin that also provides this feature. The comment plugin is the Live Comment Preview plugin. I have them both featured in my Top WordPress Plugins post. 🙂

    Domingo, Mary.. thanks and I’ll let you know if I get more invites.

    Nirmal.. isn’t it sweet? I already find it indispensable and its becoming second nature to just get to my files from any of our computers.

  22. zack_melayu April 15, 2008 at 4:43 am #

    Hi dude! i would love to have this. I appreciate it very much if you could kindly send invitation to me. Thanking you in advance, and have a nice day!!

  23. Alen Siljak April 16, 2008 at 8:37 am #

    I’m also interested in trying out Dropbox after Foldersync started having problems after upgrade. It happens every so often.
    If anyone has invites, I’d be grateful to receive one. Thanks!

  24. REG April 16, 2008 at 3:51 pm #

    Foldershare worked ok for me…except that it could not connect thru my company’s firewall.

    If anyone has an xtra dropbox invite…I’d like to try it at work…

    thx in advance.

  25. K April 16, 2008 at 4:10 pm #

    Hey guys.. I will definitely update the post if I get any more invites.

    Plus, I call out to my readers to contact me if you have any spare dropbox invites so we can hook up these lovely folks who take the time to comment here. 😛

  26. Steve April 17, 2008 at 10:57 am #

    Got any more invites? I’m dying to try this thing. This will be one of those technologies that we’ll be able to look back and wonder how we ever got along without it.

  27. Mark Dixon April 17, 2008 at 2:28 pm #

    If you like DropBox, you should try out SugarSync. You won’t be limited to the one folder that is designated for you (i.e. you can sync any folder from one computer to any folder on another computer) and you also get mobile access.

    Mark Dixon
    SugarSync

  28. GONEXT April 20, 2008 at 12:28 pm #

    I’de loooove to have an invite? Anyone?

  29. cbosdell April 21, 2008 at 8:10 pm #

    Nice Review! If anyone has an invite I would really really appreciate it. Thanks! 🙂

  30. Andrew April 24, 2008 at 3:16 pm #

    Hey, good article, could I get an invite?

  31. Nicholas April 25, 2008 at 4:38 pm #

    A would greatly appreciate an invite at nicholas *at* thelastreal *dot* com.

  32. SkOoL April 28, 2008 at 5:44 pm #

    Hey, if you have any invatations left for dropbox I would like to give it a try. Thanks. skooledyou [at] gmail.com

  33. Lubsy April 28, 2008 at 9:40 pm #

    I know you’re out now, but if you get more invites I’d LOVE one! Thanks!!

  34. Sonni April 29, 2008 at 2:24 pm #

    Hi there,
    Very interested in joining and would welcome and invite.
    Thanks
    SG

  35. penny May 1, 2008 at 9:21 am #

    i would be very grateful if you could send me an invite too. 🙂

  36. penny May 1, 2008 at 9:23 am #

    i would love a dropbox invite as well if you still have one to spare 🙂

  37. timo May 10, 2008 at 1:39 pm #

    an invite would be highly appreciated. 🙂

  38. seb May 12, 2008 at 11:52 pm #

    Please send me a Dropbox. S really like to try out the service. Thanks.

    Seb

  39. Jorge May 14, 2008 at 12:11 am #

    sodadecoca2000@hotmail.com
    an invite would be great! thx in advance

  40. Irfan Azhar May 14, 2008 at 5:35 am #

    an invite would be highly appreciated. 🙂

  41. carlo May 17, 2008 at 12:15 pm #

    If you have an extra invitation for dropbox I would really appreciate it. Thanks!

  42. Aron May 23, 2008 at 8:49 pm #

    I am also very psyched about DropBox. Please send me an invite if possible.

  43. Lisa February 2, 2009 at 8:08 pm #

    This sounds great! If you still have a copy I could sure use one. Thanks

  44. Dropbox June 16, 2009 at 6:43 am #

    It’s perfect service. We use it for share all projects files between our team

    Dropboxs last blog post..5 Steps to be a College Freelancer

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