Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Dropbox alternative?

T

thriii

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 14, 2007
366
0
Hello! I have 3 computers, a mac pro, macbook pro, and a macbook air.

The macbook pro syncs personal info to the mac pro through dropbox, and I do my work on my mac pro and macbook air.. I would like to sync my web development folders through dropbox between my mac pro and my macbook air but I dont want personal stuff on my macbook air. So it would be something like this:

Mac Pro <---------> Personal Data <---------> Macbook Pro
Mac Pro <---------> Work Data <---------> Macbook Air

Is there any alternative that will allow me to sync personal files between my macbook pro and mac pro almost exactly like dropbox so I can use dropbox for my work?
 
thriii said:
Hello! I have 3 computers, a mac pro, macbook pro, and a macbook air.

The macbook pro syncs personal info to the mac pro through dropbox, and I do my work on my mac pro and macbook air.. I would like to sync my web development folders through dropbox between my mac pro and my macbook air but I dont want personal stuff on my macbook air. So it would be something like this:

Mac Pro <---------> Personal Data <---------> Macbook Pro
Mac Pro <---------> Work Data <---------> Macbook Air

Is there any alternative that will allow me to sync personal files between my macbook pro and mac pro almost exactly like dropbox so I can use dropbox for my work?
Click to expand...
You can still do this with Dropbox. Just create a sub-folder called "Dropbox Work" that you share between your Mac Pro and MBA. Then create another sub-folder called "Dropbox Personal" that you share between the Mac Pro and your MBP. You don't have to share your entire Dropbox folder with every computer.
 
GGJstudios said:
You can still do this with Dropbox. Just create a sub-folder called "Dropbox Work" that you share between your Mac Pro and MBA. Then create another sub-folder called "Dropbox Personal" that you share between the Mac Pro and your MBP. You don't have to share your entire Dropbox folder with every computer.
Click to expand...

This is my recommendation as well. I believe you can only "share" folders through accounts (not machines)... so I believe you would need to create 3 Dropbox accounts if you want to make sure there is no contamination on the two laptops. Personal, Work, and Consolidated.

/Jim
 
flynz4 said:
This is my recommendation as well. I believe you can only "share" folders through accounts (not machines)... so I believe you would need to create 3 Dropbox accounts if you want to make sure there is no contamination on the two laptops. Personal, Work, and Consolidated
Click to expand...
Not true. You can have a "master" Dropbox account, with as many sub-folders as you like. You can share each of these folders with anyone you invite. If you want to restrict someone from access, you don't invite them.
 
GGJstudios said:
Not true. You can have a "master" Dropbox account, with as many sub-folders as you like. You can share each of these folders with anyone you invite. If you want to restrict someone from access, you don't invite them.
Click to expand...

But this is one person, with one account. So if the OP uses that "one" account on the MBA (as example), then he will be able to see both the work and the personal data on that computer. The OP wants to see only the work data, and NOT the work data on that computer.

So if his master account was his Mac Pro... then he would need to invite a second "account" to see just the work data, and a third "account" to see just the personal data.

Am I wrong?

/Jim
 
flynz4 said:
But this is one person, with one account. So if the OP uses that "one" account on the MBA (as example), then he will be able to see both the work and the personal data on that computer. The OP wants to see only the work data, and NOT the work data on that computer.

So if his master account was his Mac Pro... then he would need to invite a second "account" to see just the work data, and a third "account" to see just the personal data.

Am I wrong?

/Jim
Click to expand...
I see what you're saying now. Yes, you're right. You would use different email addresses (one for work, one for personal, etc.) for each Dropbox account.
 
I've used SpiderOak and and like it; you have more control than with Dropbox and the prices are very reasonable.

Sugar Sync is also quite nice. I use all three, and frankly don't know how I'd get by without them.

rob
 
OP: You can do what you want with Dropbox. There is an option called Selective Sync. I have a single dropbox account that I have installed on several machines, one being my wife's MBP. I have her Dropbox instance configured to only show a couple folders on her machine.

Make a Work folder and a Personal folder. On the Dropbox preferences on the MBP and the Air, use the Selective Sync preference to make the correct folder visible on each machine.
 
Last edited:
Sugar Sync can do this through Manage Sync Folders. Simply select which folders you want synchronised for each computer.
 
waynep said:
OP: You can do what you want with Dropbox. There is an option called Selective Sync. I have a single dropbox account that I have installed on several machines, one being my wife's MBP. I have her Dropbox instance configured to only show a couple folders on her machine.

Make a Work folder and a Personal folder. On the Dropbox preferences on the MBP and the Air, use the Selective Sync preference to make the correct folder visible on each machine.
Click to expand...

Brilliant!!! I never knew this option existed. Thank you

/Jim
 
For sheer simplicity, ease of use and reliability, Dropbox leaves the competition trailing in its wake.
 
t0rr3s said:
For sheer simplicity, ease of use and reliability, Dropbox leaves the competition trailing in its wake.
Click to expand...

Agreed - it does exactly what the OP is asking. It works very easily and syncs my data across my computers
 
I went with SugarSync for personal and Dropbox for work :) thanks for the replies! SugarSync has been great so far
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back