Home network 2.0: Synchronized computing

By Ian Austen
The New York Times

Published: December 4, 2005, 6:00 AM PST

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Like big businesses, many households now have several computers running on a single network. But the methods used by corporations to make files and programs accessible from computer to computer are probably not something most people want to try at home.

In many cases, companies keep their computers in sync by using centralized servers to store information, an approach that may be too much of a bother for home users. And software designed for corporate use is usually priced for corporate budgets.



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But for consumers who open their laptop on the road only to find that a critical file is back at home--or who are frustrated by having different sets of contacts and browser bookmarks on every computer they use--there are some simple alternatives. They take somewhat different approaches to the job, but all use the Internet to some degree and are best put to use with a high-speed connection.

The three pieces of synching software I tried are designed primarily for home users. To varying degrees, and depending on employers' rules and systems, that may make them unsuitable for anyone wanting to synchronize data between the computer at home and the one in the office. Otherwise, while there are some systems for keeping a limited amount of data in sync (Microsoft's still experimental Windows Live Favorites, for example, deals with browser bookmarks only), the members of this threesome have broad ambitions.

FolderShare
Microsoft effectively acknowledged that it was not easy or convenient to set up and use the file sharing built into Windows XP when it purchased FolderShare last month from ByteTaxi, the small software company in Texas that created the service. It swiftly reduced the price to free and promised that existing subscribers would get refunds.

FolderShare does not rely on a centralized computer. Instead, it is a variation of the peer-to-peer file-sharing technology that is the bane of the music industry.

Setting up the system is fairly simple. Users first establish an account on FolderShare's Web site and then download a small piece of software onto every computer they want to keep in sync. (If you are running firewall and anti-spyware programs or security software from Internet service providers, additional adjustments may be needed. The support section of the company's Web site offers some solutions.)

In other news:

Of all the file-synching options, FolderShare is the most inclusive, allowing information to be exchanged between computers running Windows and Macintosh operating systems.

During setup, users select which specific files or groups of files they want synchronized. But FolderShare cannot deal automatically with some kinds of data or programs. The most glaring omission, perhaps, is its inability to synchronize Microsoft Outlook e-mail data and contacts between computers.

One other major decision must be made during setup: when the computers should do their synching, automatically or on demand.

The automatic setting, of course, is the most appealing. When switched on, the feature allows the program to work quietly in the background, keeping everything in check.

Unfortunately for some users, the automatic setting may not be practical. The system can make a mess of Intuit QuickBooks accounting files, for example, when that program is running on more than one computer during synching sessions. Similarly, synching large files or folders can slow