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Online storage / backup

Question for the lazy web. There are a number of services around that allow you to keep a local folder in sync with a web storage and (optional) a folder on other machine(s) There is DropBox, the Ubuntu service Ubuntu One (UbuntuOne uses CouchDB as its backend, way to go Damien), SugarSync, PowerFolder, Little Networks, DocuSync, ZumoDrive and many others. Some offer a free limited account, some a trial account.
Which one works for you (and why).

Posted by Stephan H Wissel on 24 October 2009 | Comments (9) | categories: Software

Comments

posted by Claus on Saturday 24 October 2009 AD:
Hi Stephan,
I am also experimenting with some of that sync offerings you are mentioning. ATM I am using Dropbox, but the client side daemon is closed source :( but it is working perfectly. Adding encfs + cryptkeeper + prevu to the mix it is perfect for sharing my data privatly between different computers. Even with different Ubuntu Versions (8.04 / 8.10 / 9.10). Ubuntu One was not too stable in the Beta version of 9.10 and there is currently no way to access the data from 8.04 and 8.10. But I would prefer to run an open source sollution, at least on the client side. Having the possibility to run my own server side component would be perfect... But I have not found such a sulution yet.
posted by Jonathan Wong on Saturday 24 October 2009 AD:
DropBox is a good one.

There is also Live Mesh, which not only lets you sync folders across multiple machines (Mac, Windows AND mobile devices), but even lets you do remote control of a meshified machine if you want to.

www.mesh.com
posted by Johan Rosenquist on Sunday 25 October 2009 AD:
I'm using DropBox as well and cannot complain on anything really. Using it on my Mac, PC, Web and iPod and it works as advertised!

Very handy to use when e.g transferring files for printing (when not connected to printer), sending files back home when travelling and accessing travel documents via web. With the iPod it's easy to take pdf's and such with you as reference or to read on the bus.

I haven't used any of the other you mentoin but DropBox meets my needs perfectly.
posted by Mitch Cohen on Sunday 25 October 2009 AD:
I have been using carbonite { Link } for a while now, and it has saved me in a disaster { Link } the only thing I wish they did a better job with was their UI for remote file access which is good to grab one file in an emergency but not really effective as remote access for your files.
posted by Mitch Cohen on Sunday 25 October 2009 AD:
I have been using carbonite { <a href="{ Link } rel="nofollow" target ="blank">Link</a> } for a while now, and it has saved me in a disaster { <a href="{ Link } rel="nofollow" target ="blank">Link</a> } the only thing I wish they did a better job with was their UI for remote file access which is good to grab one file in an emergency but not really effective as remote access for your files.
posted by Cristian D'Aloisio on Sunday 01 November 2009 AD:
Dropbox rocks! also available on iPhone.
posted by ursus on Friday 20 November 2009 AD:
Hi Stephan

I also use DropBox - that and 1Password are a lifesaver (you can now have your passwords with you wherever you go :o)

Greetings
Ursusd
posted by Tim on Friday 20 November 2009 AD:
Dropbox does the job for me as well. And is very fast I have to say.
posted by Philip Storry on Monday 14 December 2009 AD:
I'm using both Ubuntu One and Dropbox.

I get more use out of Dropbox - it has a slicker web interface, and is cross-platform if I need that at any point.
Dropbox currently syncs my documents with aplomb, and I'm considering signing up for the unlimited history service they offer.

Ubuntu One is an oddity. It works, but I used it through the betas so have had some beta-related issues.
Because of that I've been using it to sync less important data, such as ebooks I've downloaded.

Despite that rocky start, I've been very impressed with how rapidly Ubuntu One improved - both in substance and the pace of development.

I'm very tempted to go for Ubuntu One at some point in the future, as its architecture has some interesting capabilities (thanks to CouchCB!).
Check this article out:
{ Link }

Once more apps support Ubuntu One, it will probably be a default choice for anyone using Ubuntu on two or more machines...