Review: Dropbox

If you have more than one computer (Windows or Mac) and/or any kind of “smart” device (phone, iPod Touch, iPad, tablet, etc.), you need Dropbox. This amazing service insures you have the files you need when and where you need them. And, you can save up to 2GB of those files on Dropbox for free. Here’s how it works . . .

When you install the Dropbox client on your computer, it creates a virtual drive named Dropbox in your file manager. When you copy, move or save a file into that folder, Dropbox automatically uploads it to your online account and it is immediately available to you from any computer or device connected to the Internet. For example, I can begin writing a Pages document on my desktop and save it into my Dropbox folder. Later, I can open that same document from the Dropbox app on my iPad, send it to Pages (on the iPad) and make changes. Next time I open it, either on the desktop or iPad, I have the latest version waiting for me to continue editing. If I’m at someone else’s computer, I can log into my account at Dropbox and access my files from there.

Dropbox is great for moving e-books between computers and devices. It’s so much easier than importing and synching them through iTunes. Both the Stanza (e-book reader) and GoodReader (PDF reader) iPad apps support Dropbox. I have a Library sub-folder in my Dropbox folder that holds my PDF and ePub reference books – the ones I refer to regularly – so they’re available to me from just about anywhere.

A growing number of other apps use it too. I now include Dropbox functionality as a deciding factor in choosing apps for my iPad.

But that’s not all! You can share files with others using Dropbox. You control who has access and to what. It’s an easy way to share photos while you’re traveling or collaborate on documents. Have a file too big to email? Save it in Dropbox, assign permissions and send a link instead. Your recipient doesn’t need an app to download it. It can be done on the web. You can access any of your Dropbox files via your web account when the computer you’re working on doesn’t have the Dropbox app installed.