Quote:
Originally Posted by Lady Fitzgerald
Then what's the point of dropbox, other than syncing your files with other computers? I got the impression you were using it just for offline storage?
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Several points. It's not just synccing, it's backup too. I do have an external backup drive, but it is stored in a closet because I don't have the space to leave it set up all the time. Once a month or so I do darg it out and run time machine but Dropbox lets me rest assured that all my stuff is always backed up. And if there is an internet outage I don't have to worry about how I will access the 'cloud.' It just lets me run my local copy as usual and backs it up in the background for me.
I also use the web interface from time to time to share files between home and work. If I have a file at home that I want to access at work, I can just log into the website and get it (I do not have my own workspace at work either due to the nature of my job, so it is all shared computers with servers there). And if I create a file at work and want to send it home to be with my other related stuff (for example, if I make a new worksheet to go with a book I am using and have at home already) I don't need to fiddle with thumb drives and which file is where. I just upload it to the relevant folder in dropbox and when I get home, it is magically on my computer.
I had a hard drive crash recently and it would have been tragic if I didn't have dropbox. I have many books and files from work, music for teaching, 900 ebooks etc. All I had to do was install dropbox on my new machine, log in and let it download my folder. Then I just pointed Calibre to where my folder was, and all my ebooks were there, just as I left them.
For me, it is vital to have access when I want or need it. So having the local copy is important to me, and knowing that it is all backed up on their servers should I need it is what makes the whole system to beautiful for me. I did pay for an upgraded account, and it was so worth it. It's like insurance, you hope everything will be okay, but when it isn't, boy are you glad that you have it!