Comparing DropBox, Mozy, et al

[d000hg]

I'm looking to get a subscription with one of these, primarily as a backup service rather than to sync across multiple PCs. It's mainly to store things like my accounting data, I have proper stuff in place for code but this doesn't really suit version control.

Any particular reason to favour one over another except price, or are they all much of a muchness? Being able to turn off auto-sync or schedule synchronizing at a fixed time for daily backup is probably preferable.

I was looking at one service that is backed by rackspace/amazon but now I can't find it... anyone? found it - JungleDisk.

[Clippy]

Last months (No. 139 October 2010) issue of Stuff magazine compared and reviewed these services - might be worth checking out.

[Flubster]

I'm looking to get a subscription with one of these, primarily as a backup service rather than to sync across multiple PCs. It's mainly to store things like my accounting data, I have proper stuff in place for code but this doesn't really suit version control.

Any particular reason to favour one over another except price, or are they all much of a muchness? Being able to turn off auto-sync or schedule synchronizing at a fixed time for daily backup is probably preferable.

I was looking at one service that is backed by rackspace/amazon but now I can't find it... anyone? found it - JungleDisk.

FWIW, I use Dropbox for synchronising files across multiple dekstops/laptops and Mozyhome for backing up my PC. I pay for the Mozy service (I think it's about £60 a year). I have about 3Gb of free space in my Dropbox account which is fine for what I need it for, which is also used to share specific folders to specified 'invitees' (who, by introducing them to Dropbox, got me extra storage).

[d000hg]

FWIW, I use Dropbox for synchronising files across multiple dekstops/laptops and Mozyhome for backing up my PC. I pay for the Mozy service (I think it's about £60 a year). I have about 3Gb of free space in my Dropbox account which is fine for what I need it for, which is also used to share specific folders to specified 'invitees' (who, by introducing them to Dropbox, got me extra storage).

What is the difference between the two that you use both for those purposes rather than one for both?

[Durbs]

FWIW, I use Dropbox for synchronising files across multiple dekstops/laptops and Mozyhome for backing up my PC.

Exactly the same here.

As for why not use one or the other for both tasks - because they both do a different thing, same as why have both Excel & Word. Dropbox is superb at syncing but you dont want to keep all your PC's data within the Dropbox folders (i.e. dont want ALL my PC data synced to my Mac & laptop and vice versa) and Mozy backs up all your PC if you wish but isn't any help if you want one of those files on your Mac downstairs. They cross over in some areas but not enough to just need the one.

Would recommend both of them, both do exactly what they say on the tin and do it very well with no fuss. Dropbox especially, don't know how i managed before without it (well I do, USB keys!).

[Cliphead]

Exactly the same here.

As for why not use one or the other for both tasks - because they both do a different thing, same as why have both Excel & Word. Dropbox is superb at syncing but you dont want to keep all your PC's data within the Dropbox folders (i.e. dont want ALL my PC data synced to my Mac & laptop and vice versa) and Mozy backs up all your PC if you wish but isn't any help if you want one of those files on your Mac downstairs. They cross over in some areas but not enough to just need the one.

Would recommend both of them, both do exactly what they say on the tin and do it very well with no fuss. Dropbox especially, don't know how i managed before without it (well I do, USB keys!).

And the same here. Also got DropBox on a Linux server which pushes the hourly SQL dumps to the desktops locally so I have multiple backups.

[d000hg]

Dropbox is superb at syncing but you dont want to keep all your PC's data within the Dropbox folders (i.e. dont want ALL my PC data synced to my Mac & laptop and vice versa) and Mozy backs up all your PC if you wish but isn't any help if you want one of those files on your Mac downstairs. They cross over in some areas but not enough to just need the one.

Thanks for that. From the blurb on the sites I didn't appreciate the difference, they all seem like generic sync/backup tools.

I think I only want a 'live backup' of what's in my file-system in case something goes bang, for code or other frequently changing files I've a cloud-based SVN already... but only a few 100Mb which is no good for storing PDFs of all my invoices and other binary files.

Maybe I'll just start with the free DropBox thing and see how it goes from there.

[MarillionFan]

I had someone invite me to join Dropbox. What us that all about?

[d000hg]

I had someone invite me to join Dropbox. What us that all about?

If you refer someone, DropBox reward you with more storage (maybe other benefits, not sure).

[VectraMan]

I think I only want a 'live backup' of what's in my file-system in case something goes bang, for code or other frequently changing files I've a cloud-based SVN already...

I have a Carbonite account for live backup; works perfectly. But it's backup rather than file sharing.

What do you use for your SVN server?