Considering MobileMe....questions

[paragonj]

Okay...I'm considering getting MobileMe, but I had a couple questions about how things worked, and I want to try and figure out what I would get out of MobileMe.

Here's a brief rundown of my set-up.

I have a MacBook Pro (my computer) and a Windows PC (my fiance's computer) at my house. I eventually plan to replace the Windows PC with either a MacBook or an iMac, though this is probably 6 months to a year out.

I do NOT have an iPhone or an iPod Touch. I far prefer Verizon to AT&T and don't use the iPod nano I do have very often.

I have a 500GB Time Capsule at my house.

I use Windows PCs at work.

For e-mail, I have a family domain that I use with Google Apps. I have no intentions of abandoning this, as other members of my family use it as well.

So here are my questions

It looks to me like I wouldn't really get any use out of MobileMe's mail/calendar/contacts features due to my family domain/Google Apps setup and lack of an iPhone/iPod Touch. Am I missing something about this?

The biggest thing it looks like I would be getting would be the Gallery features and the iDisk features. The Gallery would be nice for sharing higher resolution photos than I can on Facebook.

Here's my big question about iDisk....how seamless is it to use it as a "cloud" backup of my user Documents folder. I've been looking for a way to compliment my Time Capsule with an off-site backup of my important docs, but I want something seamless. How does this work for everyone?

Are there any other great features I am missing? The key to value for this for me, appears to be cloud backup, so any insights on this would be great.

Thanks for all the help and reading the long winded post!

 

[RichardI]

I'm no expert, but I think it depends on what you expect to get for the money. I use iDisk to store performance appraisals of the people that report to me. There's no way anyone here at work can get to "The Cloud" to read someone elses PA. I have already figured out more sensitive documents that I can store there.
I have also found that I have more pictures (photo's) than I realised. I have put them (not all of them yet) up on My Gallery, in separate albums, sent e-mail to all my relatives with a direct link to the Gallery and they love it.
The best part of the whole deal for me is the integration into my Mac apps. Like iPhoto and others. So, basically, I only use 2 of the services available in MobilMe (3 if you count the e-mail) and I am quite sure that I am getting my money's worth. I think it's a bargain actually. Admitted fanboy though I am

Rich

 

[Ad Pro]

I have also been looking for the best solution for off-site backups. I have come to the conclusion that MobileMe will probably be the best solution combined with Apples 'Backup' app.

http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/apple/application_updates/backup312.html

It seems that this is all part of the MobileMe service. From Apples site:

"Backup 3 is available to MobileMe members by selecting the Backup icon on the MobileMe website and via Automatic Software Update to MobileMe members who have already installed a previous version of Backup."


Hopefully this will create a seamless off-site backup solution, I plan to get this in the next few days when I finish transferring my files across to my new mac. Will report back with my experiences if its helpful.

It seems weird that this is not more prominently advertised as a feature of MobileMe, as for me this will be the most important feature.

 

[NinjaMonkey]

I'd look elsewhere. If all you are going to be using it for is sharing photos and online backup the $99 isn't worth it.

You are going to be frustrated by how slow iDisk is and most people don't seem to care much for the Backup app (I've never used it).

Going with something like SmugMug for sharing photos and a seperate online backup site (there are tons these days) will probably get what you want done better and cheaper.

I'm one of the seemingly few that does like MobileMe but I have several Macs and an iPhone. If you do decide to buy MobileMe do it through eBay it is much cheaper, I bought a family pack for $85.