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Email ThisLately, working on multiple computers has started to take its toll on my time and productivity. I regularly use my work computer, my laptop, and my home computer, and occasionally use university computers and conference room computers. That’s five different machines on a fairly frequent basis. It’s hard to keep track of everything - especially if I need a file that’s on machine X, or a password that’s in the Firefox password manager on machine Y.
So, to fix that, I’m going full mobile. I’m moving everything that can be securely moved (i.e., nothing proprietary from work) into the cloud. Here’s a few of the things I’m doing to accomplish this:
- KeePass - I’m moving all my passwords and login names into the freely-available KeePass password manager. It’s portable and very secure, as well as able to generate some really nice passwords for you - and all you need to know is one password to unlock the database. No more having to remember dozens of different passwords and logins.
- Google Docs - Documents that I don’t use often I’m archiving to DVD. Everything else, which isn’t much, I’m moving into Google Docs - both for ease of access and for the unique collaborative quality of document editing in the cloud.
- Google Reader - Though I love the Flock browser’s social media functions, I’m moving to just using Google Reader for all my feeds. That way I can keep up without having to worry about logging on the right machine, and feeds that aren’t allowed at work - like the Wizards of the Coast feed - I just keep in a separate, closed folder that doesn’t trip the firewall.
- Google Notebook - No need to keep track of all my favorites/bookmarks separately. Notebook does this for me. It even integrates with Firefox with a nifty toolbar.
- Portable Apps - For those times when I really need a specific application, I’ll just load up Portable Apps on my flash drive. GAIM, OpenOffice, 7zip, Notepad++, it’s all there and all portable.
The only applications which I can’t transport easily are Photoshop and Star Wars Galaxies, but seeing as Adobe just released a web-based version of Photoshop that’s freely available, the former’s not going to be a problem. And I really don’t need to be playing Galaxies at work, so that’s not an issue either, heh.
I’m taking my first steps toward being fully mobile. If you have any suggestions for additional ways to do this, let us know in the comments!
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Google makes this transition so much easier. I love opening up G-Cal on friends computers, my phone or the library. Saving docs and changing them on the fly is super efficient and very easy/accessible.
I have never heard of KeePass but it looks worthy of trying. I am just such a fan of Google to manage my life its almost scary, from mail to feeds to calendars and docs. But it beats losing work due to needing the original computer. And don’t give me the USB thumb drive crap, Google destroys it American Gladiator style.
Wow, somebody who still plays SWG. I’ve never seen one of those. Mind if I take a picture?
@Greg - I have yet to find a web app that can do the work of Photoshop or Notepad++. For some things, there just isn’t an alternative!
@Sergiy - Not only do I still play SWG, but I’m part of a very active, reasonably large guild that has events every single day. =P
Here’s the problem I have with Google Docs:
Section 11.1 of the Terms of Service governing Google Docs is replaced in its entirety by:
“You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Service. By submitting, posting or displaying the Content you give Google a worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through the Service for the sole purpose of enabling Google to provide you with the Service in accordance with its Privacy Policy.”
Ah, but see jrandom42, that same text states specifically “non-exclusive.” Ergo, it’s effectively a limited use license that establishes the Work as belonging to the creator and licensed to Google. In no way does it restrict the original creator from publishing, producing, profiting from, or otherwise exhibitioning said Work.
So, really, section 11.1 is nothing more than a “we can use it, right?” clause. I have no problem with that, as I believe firmly in Creative Commons and GPL.
So this means my private documents are no longer private and are subject to modification by Google. Guess I’d better be using some serious encryption to protect them.
Portable Apps and TrueCrypt seem to be a much better and more secure method to me.
I have a .mac account, which only really is useful if you use Mac computers frequently. It syncs my home computer to my work computer and to a computer at the University (with a little extra effort). It also syncs my home computer with my BlackBerry and PDA (I got it pre-BlackBerry). I have 10GB of online storage with my .mac account so I can access any of my files, calendar, email, bookmarks, etc. from any computer with the internet anywhere. It puts everything into one easy to control package.
Oh, and SWG is awesome.
@jrandom - Google wants to be able to modify your documents for “the sole purpose of enabling Google to provide you with the Service” - in other words, they just mean they want their software to be able to modify documents for the sole purpose of allowing you to edit your documents.
I’m much less likely to believe evil of Google than I am of the U.S. government’s attempts to invade our privacy. At least Google is upfront about it.
@Jessica - Aye, I’m aware of the benefits of the Mac. Unfortunately, they’re not allowed at my workplace and my Mac Fund is still too small to buy a Mac for home use. I’m working on it though! =)