Korean Job Discussion Forums

alistaircandlin · Joined: 24 Sep 2004 Location: Seoul

I'm using three computers at work at the moment and would like to know what synchronisation software is most straightforward.

I have one computer in my classroom, one on my desk and another at home. I produce or change documents on all three computers and would like to keep them synchronised.

I've already downloaded some software to do this but find it less then straightforward at times.

Basically I want the latest version of a document or a new document to be copied to all three computers. I'm currently doing this with a memory stick and Pure Sync. software. Sometime though, conflicts occur and I can just feel that eventually something will go horribly wrong.

Any advice on simple straightforward ways of keeping my files in sync. would be much appreciated.

I think that one computer is running Windows 7 and the other two are running Windows XP.

NYC_Gal · Joined: 08 Dec 2009

It's not software, but an easy fix is to keep everything on an external hard drive. I've got 2. I work off of one, then back everything up on my second in case something happens. When I was running around to different publishing houses back home, it was the best way to keep the files the same.

You could also try drop boxes, but sometimes the internet goes down.

gogophoto · Joined: 20 Feb 2010

I've got a similar situation, with the added complication of having a Mac at home. I use Dropbox and it works wonderfully. You install a program on each computer and it synchronizes a single folder across all computers it is installed on. You get 2GB for free, and you can pay for more if you wish. In addition you can access your files through their website in the case you need them on some other computer.

Check it out: http://www.dropbox.com/

alistaircandlin · Joined: 24 Sep 2004 Location: Seoul

Thanks guys - I'm giving dropbox a try and will back up my folder every so often on an external hard drive.

I'm trying to avoid using a memory stick or hard drive really though- so hopefully dropbox will do the job.

NYC_Gal · Joined: 08 Dec 2009

You should always use a hard drive, even with drop box. I use drop box with my friend, but I back up my stuff daily.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

I try to do blocks of files that are related to one folder or category (which is often in one folder). I make one backup on just one other computer, then every month or so (depending on how crucial it is) I backup everything on all computers I can.

This does two things. One, trying to backup everyday is too much. It's like having too much security on your computer when you aren't a bank or running a business. This gives me more time to focus on teaching, and specifically class preparation.

The other thing is, I don't want my changes to be made on all computers as soon as the changes are made on one computer. Maybe I try something and it needs to either go back to the previous state it was or it needs to be worked on more. Backing up something on all computers, only to make changes and backup again, is not an efficient way of using the resources to me. Also, it prevents me from reverting back if I need to at any point.

Now that 10/10/10 has passed, ubuntu should have 10.10 out. I understand they have different versions out now like kubuntu and edubuntu. I am going to try using edubuntu, which will help in preventing viruses ruining my files.

You can download it at www.ubuntu.com or www.edubuntu.org

I suggest anyone facing the same problems I have to give ubuntu 10.10 a try. You may want to wait a week or so, just to make sure they have worked out the bugs after a major release. 10.4 had some problems, and I decided to wait before really giving it a test run.

Seoul'n'Corea · Joined: 06 Nov 2008

matt__ · Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Location: from circumstances

MSN Live offers 25GB of free space and has integration with MS Office.

Google Documents offers (I think) 2GB of free space and has integration (obviously) with Google documents.

I use Google documents for things like lesson plans and notes and MSN live for storing large powerpoint files and movies etc.

alistaircandlin · Joined: 24 Sep 2004 Location: Seoul

Dropbox is abolutely rocking my world so far. I want to be able to tweak and alter different documents on different computes and have them all in sync; it's lettting do that.

I take your point NYC_Gal about daily backups and actually i guess alongside dropbox, this is easier: you can just backup from any computer and they'll all be the same anyway.

Dropbox allows you to increase the free space to 8BG by inviting friends on facebook - you get 250MB for every friend who uses it. I'm a bit worried though that the dropbox application requests access to all your posts, details and info on facebook. Any advice?

MSN gives 25GB? That sounds amazing and would do me for at least a couple of years. Does it allow you to just have one folder with everything in it that you want to sync, the same way as dropbox does? I mean with dropbox, I've just put one folder labelled abc_school, in the folder and I keep all my school stuff there.

Thanks again for the advice - it's been really useful.

furtakk · Joined: 02 Jun 2009

dropbox is the *beep*.

i used it a lot in university when working on collaborative stuff and would highly recommend it. external hds/memory sticks are a hassle when you're constantly editing or creating documents and media. never had any serious issues with it. i use it now with my home pcs and my work computer as well.