Windows Live – Part Two

In my previous blog on this subject, I mentioned Windows Live has some good functions and some that are not so good.  Here are three functions that exist in the cloud (fancy word for the Internet) that can theoretically help your computer use.

The first one is a good one…called “Windows Live Mesh.” Its function is to take certain files that you designate and continuously copy them up to the Net. Then, if you have a second computer (or many others) and it is also running Live Mesh, it will continuously sync the files with the first computer.

I’ve use this with a program I’ve mentioned before called OneNote. I continually use the program and create new files and add new entries into existing files. As I do that, the files are automatically synced into the cloud and stay there until I turn on my laptop. Then, the laptop contacts Live Mesh and the files are synced to it immediately. So, the files on my two computers are always in sync.

This program is very useful when I am on the road and I plan to add more files to it.  The only downside is that since Live Mesh is storing my files, I am limited to 2GB of file space. For now that is plenty.

Microsoft Live has a similar program that I also use called Windows Live Sync. It works almost exactly the same way, except that no files are stored in the cloud…files are only on the computers you designate. In my case, my Excel and Word files are in sync when both computers are on. This is also useful as there is no file size limit since nothing is stored in the cloud.

Microsoft has another Internet-based file storage facility that is not well implemented…in fact it is very badly limited…almost to the point of being unusable.  It is called Windows Live Skydrive.  In theory, it is a fabulous idea. Microsoft gives you, the user, 25Gb of free on-line storage to back up your most important data.

That is a great idea in that having an offsite backup protects you from data loss should you be the victim of fire or theft and your computer and all backup drives are destroyed or stolen. Everyone should have off-site backups of some type. There are several on-line storage companies that give you 2Gb for free, then charge you a monthly fee for more…or, like I do, I have a portable backup drive in a location away from my home.

But, getting back to Skydrive, here is where the implementation is bad…With Skydrive, you can only send up one file at  a time…not a folder, mind you, only one file at a time. That makes it almost impossible to use.  To be fair, you can install an add-on to Windows Explorer so you can add five files at a time. Whoopee!

You can also create one ZIP file containing many files and send them up to Skydrive, but I am hoping Microsoft will deliver a better solution in the near future.

Stay tuned for more on Microsoft Live…