My Dilemma (PC Sync across Laptop / PC) in Off Topic

ID:278074
 
Mar 6 2009, 9:36 pm
I just recived my new Eee 1000HE and it's the most amazing netbook I've ever seen... but I have a problem.


PC SPECS:
Eee 1000HE: Atom, 140 GB HDD
Desktop PC: E7200, 372 GB

Most of the time, during college and being at home, I have a wireless network available. No matter which computer I'm at (Desktop or Laptop) I want my files available.
I tried using Windows 7's Homegroups, but everytime I want to access my files, I have to go into the homegroup, select which PC has the files, and sometimes it doesn't work, doesn't let me browse all of my files, etc. It only works on my Home network. Kinda clunky.

I want to be able to have a central "FILE" Server (probably making my Desktop PC this?) where I can store all of my files (documents, school, game savefiles, projects, etc.) and be able to access them from either the PC or Netbook with ease.

I also want to be able to select certain files to store offline (mostly a few videos, (low-spec) games (contained within their own folder), in case I need to rush and go somewhere there's not a wireless network.

I just don't want to to do! I'm very OCD and I love everything organized, but Windows just makes it so hard! :(

Anyone have suggestions?
#1 Mar 6 2009, 9:50 pm
One way would be to set up an FTP or SSH server on one of your computers and have the other one access it. If you've got the technical skills to make it work, it would probably be a pretty good solution.

However, another possibility is Dropbox, a free service that lets you sync up to 2GB of data across all your computers for free (you get 50GB for $100 per year). Another cool thing about dropbox is that it works across all platforms, so if you've got mixed Windows, Mac, Linux, and smartphones, you can get to your files from all of them. So unless you're sharing your whole music library, that might be an option.

And suppose you are sharing your whole media library. There's still a pretty awesome option there: run a streaming media server on the computer that's got your files. Examples: Icecast, Ampache, Squeezebox, Jinzora, and the very popular VideoLAN (which also does audio no problem).
#2 Mar 6 2009, 10:05 pm
In response to PirateHead (#1)
I use dropbox for important files (school assignments) but the 2GB of storage really doesn't allow for much, plus, that's more of a sync thing than a "file server" thing.
(Plus Dropbox's major flaw is that it doesn't allow roaming folders on Windows.)

I do like the idea of a Media Server, but then that kind of leaves my other documents out in the cold. (Perhaps a combo between FTP Server and Media Server...)

Wouldn't FTP be a really slow way of doing such a thing though?

Also, my Desktop PC has much higher specs (gfx card wise) and I'm tempted to use streammygame to be able to play to my Eee, so a combo between those three would be a neat idea...

I want to be able to use my Desktop PC still, as a Desktop PC in case I ever need "raw power", so I assume I can run the servers as a service, and just leave it on...

Got any software you recommend? Stages on setting things up? (First the File Server? Then Media Server?)

With a Media Server, is that simply a Web-based GUI where I go to watch videos / music? I'd prefer something like that.

I just want to get things organized, and easily assessable anywhere I go. FTP + Media + StreamMyGame Server sounds like a good bet!
#3 Mar 7 2009, 8:57 am
Step 1. Buy this.

Step 2. Install your favorite operating system on it.

Step 3. Boot from USB.

Step 4. ???

Step 5. Profit.


Or if you don't feel like booting from USB, just use it to store all your files. I own one, it is the best thing ever. 0.3lbs, 320GB, fits in your pocket, USB powered.


Also, out of curiosity, what made you go for the 1000HE? What were the cost / what battery life on it? I can't find it for cheaper than $375, and newegg claims the battery life is 9.5 hours but doesn't even list how many cells it has. I recently picked up the pink Aspire One for my wife, $300 for the old Atom (N270, not the N280) with 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, and a 3 cell battery for only $299.

I'm looking to get the new Aspire One for myself, which still has the N270 but has a 10 inch screen and a six cell for $350 (or I can get the 9" screen with a six cell for $330).

Basically, why the Eee and not the Aspire (or wind, or mini9)?
#4 Mar 7 2009, 1:18 pm
In response to Airjoe (#3)
I would recomend the Eee 1000HE hands down.
It's one the best netbooks I've had.
Keyboards great to type on, 9.5 hours of battery life (I actually get around 7.5, with all settings on, but that's still really good) and has Bluetooth.
150 GB HDD, and it's just really polished, I got the blue one.

I really don't want to carry around a HDD, that's why I want to use my Desktop as a mock server so I can keep all of my videos all in one central place.

What exactly is the difference between a media server, and just using a file server to play the media? Is there any difference in the way it streams?
#5 Mar 7 2009, 4:51 pm
For audio/video, try out Orb. It comes with Winamp, or you can get it stand alone. It's fantastic. But requires a Windows host. Completely web based access for audio and video, automatically re-encodes to meet the need.

For normal files, why not run a simple FTP server? Sure, it really isn't syncing, but if your Eee is running Ubuntu with Gnome, gnome integrates well with FTP. It mounts ftp much like a drive, so most programs can open the file right out of the FTP.
#6 Mar 7 2009, 6:36 pm
In response to Flame Sage (#4)
Usually a streaming media server is designed to do the transfer a little bit more efficiently -- a well-designed media server can serve audio to many more clients than a FTP server could with fewer hiccups. However, with just 1 client, there shouldn't be a big difference in performance.

However, FTP generally has a pretty ugly interface, whereas if you set up a media server you can usually get a pretty web interface and integration with media players. For example, Rhythmbox has a plugin that lets it connect to Ampache servers, and can connect to multicast or DAAP servers by default.
#7 Mar 7 2009, 8:39 pm (Edited on Mar 7 2009, 8:58 pm)
In response to PirateHead (#6)
Well I'm using Windows 7 for both the Eee and Desktop.
What do you recommend for that? I think I'm going to skip the whole homegroup thing and just get an FTP client.

What are your thoughts?

[EDIT: I think I'm going to switch back to default XP on the Eee, and Vista SP2 on my Desktop, 7 doesn't have all of the drivers available yet, and many of the Eee drivers are unstable.]

I think I'm going to go with the FTP option, and then if I want to play music / video I can just open up Explorer and browse the FTP, right?

I found this neat program that might work:
http://www.killprog.com/fdrve.html

Whatcha guys think?