Backup and keep 'em in sync with Dropbox

As a Linux/Mac user, I use good old rsync to keep files on all my computers in sync. My wife on the other hand is not CLI-savvy and is a Vista user. How should she keep files backed up and in sync? My answer: Get Dropbox!

When all the tech details are left for the techies, here is what Dropbox does: creates a 'My Dropbox' folder on your computer and keeps its contents backed up on its server. If you chose, you can put Dropbox in another computer and the program will make sure that the contents in the Dropbox folders of your computers and the web server are always in sync. The beauty of the system is that all of this is done automatically without any user input.

If you want to get going, here is what you do. First, get dropbox. Download the program and install it. During installation, it will ask you if you are a new user or if you already have an account with them. If you are new, create an account with Dropbox - it uses your email address as UserID. When the program is installed, it puts a 'My Dropbox' folder in the 'Documents' folder of the user (this is the case in Vista. I am assuming it does something similar in Mac and Linux too). Whatever you want to backup, just drag those files into the 'My Dropbox' folder and you are all set! There is a small Dropbox icon put in your taskbar next to the clock. If you right-click on it, it will show you a status of the synchronization process (Backing up for the first time can take a little while depending on the amount of stuff and your internet connection. Subsequent synchronization processes are very fast). Whenever, the files in 'My Dropbox' folder are changed or moved or deleted, those changes are synchronized with the web server automatically. The program detects if you have internet connection and if you do, it will automatically keep the files in sync. When you do not have access to the internet, the program will wait until you get access and then resume the synchronization process.

The program has a nice and simple web interface too. This lets you access all those files you backed up from any web browser. Also, you can use this program to share files with friends and family. Put all the files you want to share in 'Public' folder and send the unique link to the recipient. File sharing made simple!

What's the catch? 2GB is all you get. So, this is not the kind of program you want to use to backup all your music and photo collections. But, it is a pretty neat program to keep your important documents and files backed up.