Keep your files in Sync with Dropbox

With so many of us working across multiple computers during the course of our day, it can get difficult to keep track of which file you used last and where the latest version of your important files lives. This article covers how to use an online synchronisation service called Dropbox to keep your files up-to-date and accessible from anywhere.

What is Dropbox?

Dropbox is a fantastic program that makes synchronising your files across multiple computers breeze. This is great if you’ve ever needed to work from home, send a file too big for email, or even share photo albums with friends and family.

How Dropbox works

Anything you save into the “My Dropbox” folder on one computer is automatically copied to your Dropbox on any other. That’s it. The best thing about Dropbox is its simplicity.

Once you’ve registered and installed Dropbox it does its thing silently, uploading new and changed files using your Internet connection. This allows you to get on with your work while Dropbox takes care of your files. Dropbox works across PC, Mac and Linux operating systems, so it’s fantastic if you use more than one and normally have difficulties connecting them.

Access your files from anywhere

As an added bonus, files in your Dropbox are made available online via a secure portal on the Dropbox website. This is great if you either can’t install Dropbox on your computer at work or are out and about and need to access your files.

Working collaboratively

Drop box is an excellent collaborative tool. By sharing a folder within your Dropbox with friends or co-workers, you can maintain a single set of files rather than worrying about where the latest version is stored. This feature is really useful for people who work together but who don’t share an office.

How much does it cost?

For most people Dropbox won’t cost anything as users are provided with 2GB of free storage space. For those with more to sync, you can pay $99 a year for 50GB of synchronised goodness.

Installing Dropbox

Visit the dropbox website (ED. Dropbox is running a referral program at the moment so use this link if you would like an extra 250MB of space for free), download the Dropbox software and install it. The first time you install Dropbox you’ll need to sign up and create a username and password. To associate multiple computers with your account, you download the software onto each and use your username and password to authorise Dropbox to start synchronising your information.

Need a hand?

Gizmotechs can help you set up Dropbox on your computer and show you how it works. Give us a call on 1300 275 449 if you’re ready to get hooked up!

March, 2009