Merlin’s weekly podcast with Dan Benjamin. We talk about creativity, independence, and making things you love.
Geek Throwdown: How to sync two or more Macs?
Merlin Mann | Oct 12 2007
 Enter the OctagonHere’s an experimental new feature: The Throwdown. Take a problem that lots of people face and tell us your personal favorite way to deal with it — in as much detail and with as much persuasion as you can muster. Today, a lot of us are living on two or more Macs -- which is great, except for the challenge of keeping the contents and settings of multiple machines effortlessly in sync. Now before you pop in, holler "dot mac," and jump back on your Segway®, consider that many folks (including your author) are looking for a lot more than simple document syncing and perfunctory preference sharing. How about if your needs are more nuanced:
You get the idea. You have a system; now tell us about it. Bow to your sensei, then spare no detail. How do you sync your Macs?rsync? ChronoSync? Synchronize? Unison? Something you made yourself? What are using to sync your Macs, and how are you using it? 80 Comments
POSTED IN:
 My Sync ProcessSubmitted by MacHead on October 12, 2007 - 8:25am.
What I need to sync: Docs, Mail, Address Book, Automator Scripts, Prefs for a variety of apps, -- and need to do this for 3 computers. Tools I use: Chrono Sync, Automator, iPod Strategy: I had to figure out what each app needed to properly be transfered/synced w/ another computer. Using Chrono Sync's "sync alias" feature, I created a directory of alias' of files I needed. My needs are pretty straight forward, so I only need to compare mod times of files for syncing (although Chrono Sync has quite a lot of options). I sync my computer to my iPod (as a HD). The Fun Part: I love Automator. When I leave a computer I run an Automator app ("Depart.app"); it closes important programs, copies another Automator file (sync.app) to a special directory then launches my Chrono Sync file. I sync, and Chrono Sync launches that sync.app file once sync is done which logs me out and ejects my iPod. When I arrive at my office, I run "Arrive.app" which copies a different version of sync.app to the same directory then if launches my sync program. When the sync is complete, Chrono Sync launches sync.app which (for when I arrive to a location) launches Mail, iCal and a few other programs that I need to start my day. To summarize: when I leave any computer, I run the Depart.app script and when I arrive I run Arrive.app. I now am in the habit of doing this EVERY TIME and all three computers (2 diff offices & home) are all synced. If I haven't been totally clear, or you would like to take a look at the scripts, just let me know. » POSTED IN:
|
|
| EXPLORE 43Folders | THE GOOD STUFF |
