Review: SugarSync- An Insurance Policy Worth Having

Posted by: danc on Jun 05 2008

The Problem- You are two hours from home and are to speak publicly. You have worked hard on your talk and, at long last, are somewhat satisfied with it. 

Then it happens- you suddenly realize that you grabbed the wrong bag when you left this morning. Yup- you had put the prepared text of your talk into your notebook case but grabbed your other work bag when you left home.

The text is in New Jersey, you are on the tip of Long Island and the lecture begins in half and hour.

"No problem," you think to yourself, "I’ll just have my assistant print a new copy and fax it to me".

BIG PROBLEM!

Your talk is on your notebook… which is in your notebook case… which is at home. 
(and did I mention… the lecture begins in half an hour!?!?)    

And so went my day– or more accurately my nightmare– a little over a year ago.

This was one of the reasons I initially jumped at the chance to become a beta tester for SugarSync this past January. It is also why, after using SugarSync for two months without so much as a hiccup, I upgraded to a 60GB account as soon as it came out of beta in March.

On the simplest level SugarSync provides online backup and file storage. It smoothly and unobtrusively backs up selected files or folders. SugarSync, however, is a whole lot more. I’m a fan! Let me tell you why.

SugarSync is a cross-platform backup system.

SugarSync syncs smoothly between PC and Mac. (It should be noted that while the Mac version is in Beta I have encountered no issues what-so-ever.)

This means that those of us who work primarily, but not exclusively, on one platform no longer need be concerned with which device holds which document. Moreover, it eliminates the need to remember to email files connect to a VPN or use a flash drive if you are going to be working on a different machine than the one you initially used.

For example, I work on an iMac at home, on my MacBook Air almost everywhere else but, at times I still use my tabletpc running WindowsXP. SugarSync allows me to know that, regardless of the device, I will have access to whatever I need.  

SugarSync is also "cross-storage".

SugarSync is one of the new breed of services that I consider "Hybrid-Web 2.0". Hybrid Web-2.0 means that it is both a web application AND a device-resident application. Best of all, the two work in tandem with one another.

While SugarSync backs up selected files and/or folders to the web software for both Mac and for Windows it CAN ALSO create a local version of each file or folder on each device.

That means you don’t have to rely on web access when you need your files. It also means that you do not have to have all your machines on in order to sync your files.

This is especially useful if your desktop is always on but your notebook is not.For example- while "Machine A" is on it is constantly syncing to the web. Later, when you turn on "Machine B" all the new or revised documents from "Machine A" will be updated. The result is that the same versions of the files will now be on both machines AND the web.

"Lite Sync" is a MacBook Air’s best friend.

One of Sugar Sync’s nifty features is Lite Sync. Lite Sync allows you to sync files without permanently copying all your files to all your computers. Files that are "Lite Sync-ed" aren’t actually on your computer but are available to you whenever you need them (so long as you have internet access). Because of the way SugarSync is configured, it seems to me that when need a file you have synced in this way it is usable in an incredibly short amount of time.

Lite Sync can save a tremendous amount of space which, as the owner of a MacBook Air, with its minuscule 80GB hard drive, is something I truly appreciate!

SugarSync and Mobile Devices Work Great Together!

While I will often have my notebook with me, I ALWAYS carry my iPhone. (Yeah, I am more than a bit obsessed with the wonder device.) One of the best things about SugarSync is that it works beautifully with mobile devices.

Once you sync your files to SugarSync’s servers the files appear on the mobile website, as well. Moreover, they are configured/optimized for mobile viewing. Software is currently available for Windows Mobile and Blackberry. I have not used it but have heard that it works beautifully. It even provides automatic synchronization of pictures.

For now, iPhone users such as myself have to opt for the iPhone-optimized website.

Fortunately, it is as clean and easy to use as any site I have seen. With a few taps on the touch screen I have access to any and every file I have shared with SugarSync.

Once there I can either email the document to the address of my choosing or view it directly on my iPhone. In one regard my 60GB SugarSync account turns my 16GB iPhone into a 72GB iPhone. Nice!

If you have a Windows Mobile device or a Blackberry SugarSync Mobile can automatically sync the pictures you take with your phone to your computer. In addition, any photos you have on your computer can be synced to your phone. It is convenient and a great way to quickly back up the photos you take. I am hopefully we will soon see this feature on the iPhone, as well.

Security-

One of the biggest concerns with online storage- heck with everything web-based- is security and privacy. SugarSync has taken the multiple steps in this regard. First, when syncing files to or from SugarSync’s servers they are sent using the industry standard for secure Web communications. When files are actually ON the servers they are encrypted with the same method used by financial institutions. Finally, data synced to SugarSync is stored and backed up in two "geo-redundant, carrier-grade" data centers. This includes Amazon’s S3 facility.

Online data storage is always a matter of personal comfort. Between Gmail, Google Calendar and now SugarSync, my entire life is currently on the web. I am AS comfortable, actually a bit more comfortable, using Sugar Sync as I am with anything else and .

Cost-

SugarSync offers a 10GB trial for 45 days. At the end of the trial period plans range from 10GB for $24.99/year to 250GB for $249.99/year.

Obviously, as someone who signed up for a 60GB account on day one I think it is a decent value.

Conclusion-

I’ve been using SugarSync for almost six months and am more than happy with the service. The initial setup process took only minutes. From that point forward I have had my files in perfect sync. Not only does the service work but it works well and works without my having to think about it. I now keep all the files I am currently working on, as well as a wide range of resource material I might need, in a folder that automatically syncs via SugarSync. I no longer need to worry about leaving an important document behind. So long as I have internet access I am within reach of my important data. I no longer need to worry about a hard drive crash since the most recent version of any given file is on SugarSync’s servers and my other device. And with increasing frequency I no longer need anything but my iPhone for anything but data retrieval. 

So lets revisit my experience from last year.

I am two hours from home and am about to give a talk. I suddenly realize that I grabbed the wrong bag and my speech is 100 mile away. No problem. I pull out my iPhone, open up SugarSync in the browser, locate the file and send it to a local computer for printing. It takes all of one minute and I am good to go!!

But wait… what if there is no computer available? While it is far from perfect I can, without too much trouble, pull up the speech directly on my iPhone and read it from there. Sure people will think I am a bit odd but hey, it sure bets winging it the way I did last year.

If you haven’t yet tried SugarSync I highly recommend you do. The 45 day trial costs you nothing and just might save you from a data crisis or, even more likely, yourself. You can check it out at SugarSync.com.

Tags: SugarSync, Mac, Windows, Web 2.0, iPhone, Windows Mobile, Blackberry

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