Ever since I started using Dropbox about a year ago, it has continued to prove highly useful in various ways, from work to play and other areas as well. The best part is that the basic service is free, which allows you to store up to 2GB of files. This is more than sufficient for my usage, which is primarily text documents, or as of late, address book and game databases, which are also primarily text-based.
When I first started using Dropbox, it was because I had seen many users on the MyDellMini forums rave about it. Since I had just started using a Dell Mini 10V to supplement my desktop at the time, this made perfect sense. It allowed me to keep selected files synchronized across both machines without the need for constant file transfers or emailed files.
In addition, I had just started taking part-time classes, so this was especially helpful for keeping my assignments and class-related documents synchronized. I would use the Mini 10V for taking notes during classes, and when I got home and turned on my desktop, the files were already there and ready to be used. At other times, I would complete assignments on my desktop, and when I got to class, I could review them on my Mini 10V. The web interface is also very easy to use, and can be particularly useful for accessing your Dropbox files on a friend's or school computer. I also used this option when I was traveling by saving my certain documents in the Dropbox folder, then accessing it from the hotel's business center for printing as needed.
A few weeks ago, some friends came to visit me, and I took them around town to show them the sights in town. After compiling a list of places to go, along with some interesting facts about each location, I chose not to print out the list. Instead, I saved it to my Dropbox folder, and then used the iPhone Dropbox app to view the file. There is even an option to save certain files within the app for offline use, so you don't need to have a constant data connection.
Another option allows you to create shared folders between users. This can be very convenient for people who need to collaborate on shared files, or with whom you would like to share certain files. In that sense, it can function as a online photo storage system, although there are many other services that provide similar functionality, such as Picasa or Mediafire.
When I recently installed Plants vs. Zombies on my desktop machine, I wondered if there was a way I could keep my saved game synchronized across both machines, since I figured I would occasionally be away from my desktop and want to play it on my Mini 10V as well. The idea of having to start a new game from scratch and have 2 versions of my saved game didn't appeal to me, so I looked around online. Sure enough, there were others who were in the same situation, and used Dropbox to solve this problem. By moving the saved game to the Dropbox folder, and then creating a symbolic link of that folder and placing it in the file's original location, the application was then able to save the game data to the Dropbox folder. All it then took was to do the same thing on the second machine, and both machines were able to use the same game data.
It turns out that others were also using this functionality for their contacts and calendars, maintaining a single copy of their database in the Dropbox folder. I've since added my address book to Dropbox, which allows me to have my contacts synced across both machines. I no longer have to make changes to both address books, since they are now effectively saving all the data to one location. This allows for consistency of information, and is also useful when I travel for extended periods and either need more information than I would normally carry on my Mini 10V, or allow me to make multiple changes or additions with no need to worry about updating my desktop upon my return.
The great thing about this system is that if anything should happen to either of my computers, the data is saved in the cloud so I can always access it from another machine. Of course, there is the possibility that the Dropbox service may be unavailable or the files may be lost, although since I have the folder synchronized on both my machines, and backed up on Time Machine, I think I should be fairly safe for now.
How do you use Dropbox?
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