Dropbox is Sweet

I recently started using this online backup storage service called Dropbox that's pretty awesome, and I'm going to tell you why. First here's how it works...

It's pretty simple. You install the client on your computer, and give it a folder that you want to keep synchronized. After the install, the software copies any data from the shared folder up to their server, and will automagically in the background keep the copy on your desktop in sync with what's on the server. The awesome part, is that you can install the software on however many computers you want, of any different kind. And as soon as you make a change on one, the client copies the change to any other computer that you have available.

So if you don't want to setup file sharing between two computers, or you have disparate systems that don't like to file share, you've got yourself a solution - just install the client and you're good to go. I've got the client installed on all of my computers, and it syncs quietly in the background. You can also setup public and private folders, so if you have a file that you'd like to have someone download, just drop it in your public folder and send them a link.

As an added bonus, using the web interface, you can access any of the files that are synced to the server via your web browser, from anywhere! Got some important files that you don't want to lose? If it's backed up to the internet, it's pretty unlikely that you're going to lose that file.

You get 2gb of storage for free - you can pay for more, but 2gb is plenty for what I'm using it for (and, if you click on my link above and sign up, I get more free storage =D ). So check it out, if you're in need of something sweet. Great for sharing files between your own computers, or with friends, and a pretty sweet backup solution.

One more thing, I've also started using another software product called 1Password that is for password management. I've always been pretty skeptical of software that holds my passwords, it just doesn't seem right. But then I thought about the password(s) that I generally use, and I thought, that's probably less safe. This software has browser plugins, so it automatically fills in passwords for me (when I ask it to) so I don't have to remember what they are.

Okay, so now you're saying, well that's great when you're at your computer, but anywhere else you're hosed? Ah, not quite. They also have an iPhone client that syncs with the desktop client, so I can access my passwords from my phone as well (doubly-password protected, obviously it would suck if I lost my phone and all my passwords were in plain-text). IN ADDITION, it's also setup to save my passwords in my Dropbox-synced folder...so that means on any other Mac that I have Dropbox & 1Password setup on, I can access my passwords exactly the same way - all synchronized automatically, instantaneously, whenever a change happens! How sweet is that!!??!?

P.S. I realize it is scary to have all my passwords and other important information on my phone, an easily loseable device...but you know what, that's how I roll. The convenience is too great, and I'd take that possibility as opposed to having crappy passwords all over the place.