Google Docs and Dropbox

I’ve been using a couple of “online” products the last few days for managing my documents. The first is Google Docs. It’s a lightweight, online editor for documents, spreadsheets, and slideshows. Everything is stored on the servers of the ubiquitous Google. It’s (usually) readily accessible, but only as long as you have an internet connection. (No there is Google Gears for offline file management, but it doesn’t “officially” run on 64-bit linux, which is what I have. There is a package someone has put together, but I haven’t got it all to work yet…)

The other product I’ve been using in Dropbox. Basically, it allows you to sync files across multiple computers. It stores your files on their servers and even keeps revision and deletion history. You can set up the client on Windows, Mac, or Linux. Dropbox then synchronizes them all. If one of them dies, it’s simple to put everything back. And all of your files are accessible on your local machine if you don’t have an internet connection. And, obviously, you’re not just limited to documents, spreadsheets, and slideshows–you can put up any file you like.

What is my evaluation? Google Docs is a lot easier to use. No daemon to install, no separate account (assuming you already have Gmail). But if you need to work on a document offline and haven’t explicitly exported it or installed Google Gears, you’re out of luck.

Dropbox leaves everything in your hands. You have your own copy of the files, with which you may do as you please. No internet? No problem. And you have no vendor lock-in. You edit files using whatever programs you like. You keep them in their native format (which means no data or formatting loss during file-type conversions). Plus, you can even upload and download files using the web interface, making your docs accessible even on a computer where you don’t have Dropbox installed.

Final answer: Google Docs for the little things where I need a quick and easily accessible document. But Dropbox for reliable handling of everything else.

Want a Dropbox  invite? Shoot me an email or leave a comment.

Clearwire

My friend told me today about an Internet service called Clearwire that his company is using. It’s very intriguing.

Clearwire works by providing wireless Internet to users through structures similar to cell phone towers. Once the user sets up a special router, he can connect his computer or network to it in various ways:

• Connect directly to the router
• Connect a conventional wired or wireless router to the Clearwire router
• Use ClearPlugs, which uses existing electrical outlets to send the signals

That last one is a bit baffling to me. Ethernet over electrical wiring? I haven’t been able to find much information on it, although this blogger says it isn’t very reliable. Hmm.

Speeds on the service are as high as 1.5 or 2 Mbps–certainly much faster than dial-up.

One advantage (or, some say, disadvantage) is Clearwire’s use of the licensed radio frequencies at 2.5 GHz. This makes it more secure than typical Wi-Fi, which uses unlicensed (and therefore more open but also more vulnerable) frequencies of 2.4 GHz. (Read the FAQ on their website, under About Clearwire.)

News archive search on Google?

This is just too funny. I was doing a Google search to find out if it’s possible to use Vim to display one file in two panes (so I can view one part of the file while editing the other). This is what I found at the bottom of the search page:

None of those articles had anything to do with Vim, of course. Is something wrong with Google news archive search?

UPDATE: It turns out it’s a piece of cake to open the same file in two panes–it’s the same as for any other file. :sp filename

Google alternatives, Wubi, and successful blogging

• Living without Google – The Alternatives – An interesting article for those wanting to get as far away from Google as possible (myself not included, of course).
• Wubi: the Windows installer for Ubuntu – Wubi installs a disk image of Ubuntu to your Windows partition and then lets you boot into Ubuntu as if you had done a full partitioned install.
• ‘What’s Wrong With My Blog?’ – Some great tips about how to write good posts and increase your readership.

Will Microsoft buy Facebook?

Will Microsoft buy Facebook? I sure hope not, although this blogger seems to think so. I agree with Scoble’s opinion that “Microsoft doesn’t deserve Facebook.” Facebook needs the vitality it has from being a small company, committed to and living on its community, as these commenters on Scoble’s post say.

I wouldn’t trust Microsoft with it. It seems to me they are too distant from current trends (or at least lagging badly behind them), and certainly from the social networking sphere, to be able to handle it successfully and allow Facebook to grow into the lively network and platform it is destined to become.

What can Facebook become if it is allowed to grow and run its course? What if it is taken in by some larger company like Yahoo or Google? Would they allow its organic processes, or would it be stifled?

UPDATE: Alfred Thompson has another interesting take on this matter of Facebook remaining independent.