File hosting & syncing services

[unboggling]

Huh. Thanks for all your responses. Now I feel better about using these services for most of my files. And I downloaded TrueCrypt, thanks for the tip.

For off-site backup and file syncing, after your feedback I'll probably go with a paid SugarSync account because I don't need version control and I like the way it deals with folder sharing.

I'm considering signing up for MobileMe, too. It's expensive in terms of the GB limit, but it provides other services such as a me.com email account, as well as syncing mail, calendars, and address books, etc, across Mac and Windows platforms and devices. (I don't know if it works for Linux users.)

[unboggling]

Have any of you had any experience (or luck) streaming audio from files on ZumoDrive to your remote devices? If that's really do-able then I wouldn't need to keep all those MP3s clogging up limited disk space on my iPhone, freeing up more space for books.

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by unboggling

Huh. Thanks for all your responses. Now I feel better about using these services for most of my files. And I downloaded TrueCrypt, thanks for the tip.

For off-site backup and file syncing, after your feedback I'll probably go with a paid SugarSync account because I don't need version control and I like the way it deals with folder sharing.

I'm considering signing up for MobileMe, too. It's expensive in terms of the GB limit, but it provides other services such as syncing all of user's email accounts (including hotmail, gmail, etc) to devices and also provides a me.com email account that can control them all, as well as syncing calendars and address books, etc, across Mac and Windows platforms and devices. (I don't know if it works for Linux users.)

Glad all of us jumping in helped. As for version control, I believe Sugersync does support versioning like dropbox, though I've never had need to use it.

As an additional note I'll add that along with sugersync for offsite backup and syncing I also tend to have two local backups, one on an external hard drive which I usually carry when travelling so I can keep working even if my machine fails as well as a backup on a local NAS at home, which automaticly backs up files from all my machines daily or weekly depending on the machine.

[unboggling]

I've been doing two different backups also. Manually to a portable hard-drive once a month or so. And automatically to Time Capsule (a wireless router that also has a hard drive), which is sort of like but not really a NAS (network-attached storage). One of these days I want to buy a really good NAS. I forgot about that as another way to do audio streaming.

[Caltsar]

Keep in mind that when encrypting files, you don't necessarily get to take advantage of the delta syncing features that save bandwidth (and time). I'd recommend only encrypting one folder in your Dropbox for sensitive files or only encrypting files individually as needed. The speed difference when only syncing differences between files is surprisingly noticeable!

[unboggling]

Caltsar, OK, thanks. Yes, the less work the cpu has to do, the faster a process is. I noticed you have an iPad. Do you find it too heavy to comfortably read a lot on, or okay for frequent reading in lounging positions (holding it while reading as opposed to setting it down on something to read).

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by unboggling

I've been doing two different backups also. Manually to a portable hard-drive once a month or so. And automatically to Time Capsule (a wireless router that also has a hard drive), which is sort of like but not really a NAS (network-attached storage). One of these days I want to buy a really good NAS. I forgot about that as another way to do audio streaming.

I have a Buffalo NAS box which I use for streaming both audio and video. It works extremely well. I'd suggest getting one which uses either uses disk mirroring or (like mine) RAID 5 for security of your files.

[unboggling]

Harry, thanks. I'll look into that.

Re my earlier question on the heaviness of iPad, never mind, I found those threads. And just ordered an iPad.

[Caltsar]

Originally Posted by unboggling

Caltsar, OK, thanks. Yes, the less work the cpu has to do, the faster a process is. I noticed you have an iPad. Do you find it too heavy to comfortably read a lot on, or okay for frequent reading in lounging positions (holding it while reading as opposed to setting it down on something to read).

I do tend to use my iPad only when my nook isn't with me, but it does make a good eBook reader if you tend to read sitting. I'm assuming you found my previous posts on the iPad, so no need to restate myself further!

[unboggling]

Caltsar, yes I found those posts. Thanks.

[unboggling]

Did some further investigating and experimented more with both dropbox and sugarsync. (btw, I noticed sugarsync does stream audio but not video.) I'm starting a paid account with sugarsync. For those of you interested in comparison charts of similar services, I found these at wikipedia and sugarsync.

[Wetdogeared]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I have a Buffalo NAS box which I use for streaming both audio and video. It works extremely well. I'd suggest getting one which uses either uses disk mirroring or (like mine) RAID 5 for security of your files.

Harry, does your NAS box running RAID 5 make a lot of noise? Is it located near your PC or somewhere hidden with your router?

I'm considering configuring something similar but not if it makes noise like this, since It would be positioned next to my PC.