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It has a massive problem which Dropbox solves: the need for both computers to be on at the same time. I have a laptop. I have a desktop. They are almost neve
by AndrewDucker 13y ago
It has a massive problem which Dropbox solves: the need for both computers to be on at the same time.
I have a laptop. I have a desktop. They are almost never on at the same time. With Dropbox this is _fine_ - the files go from one to the cloud, and then to the other when it's turned on.
With BTSync, this would mean that my files would never sync.
- pandeiro 13y agoExactly, this is the big issue that is never mentioned in the Forbes article nor the BT Sync docs. Maybe it's obvious in hindsight, but since they're comparing it to Dropbox and all... However with the daemon running on a Linode instance or something like that, I suppose that's no longer a problem.
- 1_player 13y agoUnfortunately with BT Sync there's no way to have it running somewhere while keeping the data encrypted. I don't want any potential attacker on my server to have access to my unencrypted files.
- jng 13y agoThe same that distributed VCS systems liberated development from a single point of failure, this protocol allows any computer to become responsible of acting as "the always-on server". Now you can use a Dropbox-like thing paying someone else to do something much simpler: run an application to provide the service. Whoever provides the service can even offer redundant service very easily.
- pivo 13y agoI solved this problem with a $35 raspberrypi and a 2TB external USB disk that I tucked away in a closet at home. It takes very little power so I can leave it on all the time. The btsync command line version for ARM has worked well for me so far.
- usefulcat 13y agoThat's nice. But how many people are willing and able to do that compared to willing and able to install and use Dropbox?
- monkeynotes 13y agoAlso Dropbox offers offsite secure backup. If I loose all my machines I can at least rely on Dropbox retaining my data.
- solnyshok 13y agotrue, but it is very unlikely event, to loose all of them at the same time, esp if n>2 and they aren't at the same location (e.g. 1 office, 1 home, 1 in transit)
- solnyshok 13y agotheoretically, that could be solved by plugin to aerofs or btsync that would use freely available cloud storage at dropbox/skydrive/gdrive/etc to store diffs between you laptop and desktop during your commute or weekend. now, we need such plugin written.