How do I keep two laptops synched?

Discussion in 'Mac Basics and Help' started by eVolcre, Oct 31, 2007.

Most Liked Posts
  1. eVolcre, Oct 31, 2007

    eVolcre macrumors 65816

    eVolcre

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2003
    #1
    Here's the (happy) situation. I have a 17" MBP. Just came into posession of a little macbook. Quite cute but it won't be my main machine. Just days when I travel or have meetings.

    So how do I keep both machines synched so that I have my docs and files. I am buying a external HDD and super duper to make a bootable clone. I'm assuming I can use that clone to get an initial replica on the Macbook. How about the documents folder? I don't really care about itunes/photos etc. This is mainly my portable BIG smartphone :)

    I have .mac and could go the idisk route but its too slow for me.

    I'd really like to wake up in the morning, look at my calendar, and pick up the appropriate machine knowing the other one has the exact same info on it in terms of documents and files

    Thanks in advance. It's a nice problem to have, isn't it? :)

    eV
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  2. Scarlet Fever, Oct 31, 2007

    Scarlet Fever macrumors 68040

    Scarlet Fever

    Joined:
    Jul 22, 2005
    Location:
    Bookshop!
    #2
    There's some way to have your user folder on an external HDD in Leopard, which might suit your needs. I'll look up the pages now, but maybe someone can beat me to it
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  3. eVolcre, Oct 31, 2007

    eVolcre thread starter macrumors 65816

    eVolcre

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2003
    #3
    well, my external HDD is a desktop one. Not sure I want to carry yet another thing around with me.

    I know Time machine does incremental backups from your main machine. I wonder if you can tell it to do incremental reverse backups to a different machine, with only specified folders. That would work beautifully
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  4. Maui, Oct 31, 2007

    Maui macrumors 6502a

    Maui

    Joined:
    May 18, 2007
    #4
    If you have SuperDuper, use that to clone the 2 home directors. That's what I do with my Mac Pro & MacBook Pro. The clone excludes things that won't fit on my MBP, e.g., iTunes.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  5. rogersmj, Oct 31, 2007

    rogersmj macrumors 68020

    rogersmj

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2006
    Location:
    Indianapolis, IN
    #5
    Look into RSync. It's quite technical, being a Unix command-line tool, but I've built scripts that allow me to keep my iTunes libraries at home and on the MBP in sync. It's wonderful.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  6. Consultant, Oct 31, 2007

    Consultant macrumors G5

    Consultant

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2007
    #6
    user partition on another volume

    You can carry your user folder in one place on an iPod. No syncing required (or u can sync it if you want). Trade off is that it's slower.

    10.4
    http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=2007041217125440

    10.5
    http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20071025220746340

    -----------------------------------
    Seems like you are using MBP as a desktop, as you said you will travel with the MacBook? In that case, I would sell the MBP, get an iMac or a Cinema Display for the MacBook.

    BTW, 17" MBP is pretty easy for me to travel with. It weights the same as wintel 15" or heavy wintel 14".
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
  7. eVolcre, Oct 31, 2007

    eVolcre thread starter macrumors 65816

    eVolcre

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2003
    #7
    Oh don't get me wrong, I LOVE my 17" MBP. Been travelling with it for over a year now. And I'm not selling it. Love the thing. Buuut .. this is a free little MacBook and I'm not going to turn it down. So I'm trying to find a way to work it into my life. I think I prefer the idea of a 4 gig USB drive over the ipod. Would work perfectly and I can use .mac every morning to bring my calendar events from Entourage over.
     
    share
    + Quote Reply
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page