One of the issues I have with using more than one computer is getting files transferred back and forth across all of them. I'm not just talking about moving files across my home network, I mean from disconnected networks such as my work and home computers.
Now that so many people have smartphones - even getting files like Microsoft Word documents across your home network to your phone to your work computer is something we all would expect to be able to do. I've been using a product for a while now called Dropbox. It's really a powerful product that makes this whole idea so simple.
Dropbox is a small application you install on all of your computers and smartphone. It makes it look like there is a new folder on your computer/smartphone. All you have to do is move files into that folder and "poof!" the files are immediately available on all of your other Dropbox enabled computers.
Here are some really cool things I was able to do with Dropbox.
I was in a conference call meeting at home and wrote some notes on my home computer in a Microsoft Excel file. I then saved them to my Dropbox folder. When I got back to my office, the file was there on my work computer. Previously I would have had to pop in a thumb drive to copy the file.
I took a photo with my Android smartphone that I wanted to use in a Craigslist ad. So, I moved the photo into the Dropbox folder on my phone. Then I just went to my home computer and created the Craigslist ad using the photo out of the Dropbox folder. Previously I would have had to hook up my phone to the computer to copy the photo.
There are so many useful features - I recommend you take a look at their site. Click here for Dropbox. You can use the software for FREE. With a free account you get 2GB of space which is plenty for most uses. Of course, they offer monthly plans if you need more space. It doesn't matter if you have a PC, or a Mac, iPhone, Android Phone, iPad - even Linux - there is a Dropbox application you can download.
There is even a Public folder you can use to share files with other people. For example, you could take a bunch of photos and share that public folder with your friends and family. But, something in the back of my paranoid mind tells me that I don't want to copy sensitive files onto even the private area of the Dropbox folder. That's just me.
