Continuity/Syncing between iMac and MBA?

[davekarn]

Hey guys,

I've been having a hard time finding a concrete solution to having my MBA basically be a dumbed down version of my iMac for on the go. I have an external hooked up to my iMac which is used primarily for Time Machine and also and Airport Extreme. When migrating, the only option I have (other than Apps and I think it was Network info), I can only migrate my WHOLE profile to my MBA and not just pieces of it. I've read that hooking up my external to an Airport Extreme can be kind of a pain in the arse also.

I would like to make some sort of a seamless experience between the two to easily transfer documents, music and movies (on few occasions) and was curious as to if there is a way to do this. I guess I'm almost hoping for a type of iPhone type of compatibility where I can pick and choose what I want my MBA to sync up with my iMac for. If anyone has done this successfully, I would appreciate any info! Thanks in advance for any help!

~Dave

 

[Santa Rosa]

Its not quite what you are wanting but relatively close.

I have set up under the sharing tab the pubic folder to be available. This then gives a drop box on my Macbook Pro and Macbook Air. Then can just drop files between the both of them as Im working.

Im intrigued as well to see if someone has a complete solution to what you are talking about.

 

[yoomy]

try chronosync

 

[Mr X]

What about .Mac? I use it to keep my iMac and Air in sync. Also comes with iDisk and back to my Mac for anything you forget. If you havent tried it there is a 60day free trail on the Apple website - that's how I got converted

 

[n0de]

I wish I could get .Mac to keep files sync'd, but it does not seem to work well.

I have been playing with sugarsync. While it is a pay to play service it works quite well. My only issue is it cannot seem to get around my office firewall.

 

[Clix Pix]

Just had a look at the Sugarsync site and reviews.... sounds very promising, but not quite ready for Mac primetime yet. The Mac version is still in beta and they are also working on a version for the iPhone. This sounds like a program which could be VERY useful for anyone who has multiple computers and who needs easy synchronization among them, sync that goes beyond the capabilities of Dot Mac......

 

[Latro]

you can always use Time Machine to help keep files synced between the two.

control + click (right click) on Time Machine and select Browse Other Time Machine Disks. Select the disk with your iMac details on it and grab the files you need.

 

[stakis]

try chronosync

I use this program regularly and its great... you basically create syncs of the folders you want and then just open it up and it will either move (copy over old) or sync( keep newest version) of the folders between your 2 computers....

example... all my itunes purchases go through my Imac so any time I sync the 2 it will just move the new files that are not present on the MBA over....

as for my documents I change them between the to... it will update the last modified one to the the system that has an older copy! ... nice thing is you just save you sync profiles and just run them before you leave....

pretty great program!

 

[xpovos]

Just had a look at the Sugarsync site and reviews.... sounds very promising, but not quite ready for Mac primetime yet. The Mac version is still in beta and they are also working on a version for the iPhone. This sounds like a program which could be VERY useful for anyone who has multiple computers and who needs easy synchronization among them, sync that goes beyond the capabilities of Dot Mac......

I've played with SugarSync and find it to be the ideal solution for me. I'm even willing to pay the premium. But I'm running into an annoying bug since installing it.

Once SugarSync is installed, my Macs will not go to sleep on their own. I have to put them to sleep manually by either the menu or by closing the lid (on the MacBook Pro). If I just walk away and leave it sitting, the machine will stay awake forever, no matter what my sleep settings are.

The worst part of it is that the problem even persists when SugarSync Manager isn't running, and even after I UNINSTALL SugarSync! I tried everything, literally everything floating around on the Net about how to fix Mac sleep problems, and nothing worked. I finally reinstalled OS X and all other apps except SugarSync, and everything works well.

Too bad. --- I want to use SugarSync but I'm not willing to accept that particular bug. Anyone else with this problem, or any suggestions?

 

[glitch44]

Anyone tried FolderShare. It's MS but they have a Mac client.

 

[beast]

What i'm doing at the moment is using dot mac to sync the files I want between my MacPro and MBA.

Using my iDisk, I create an alias of all the folders that I want on my iMac and MBA.

It's not the most elegant of solutions, but it works fine until apple decide to make usb to usb syncing or mac to mac wifi syncing available.

 

[twynne]

There's also an app called ToMacs which does this. Might satisfy your requirements.

 

[OCDMacGeek]

What i'm doing at the moment is using dot mac to sync the files I want between my MacPro and MBA.

Using my iDisk, I create an alias of all the folders that I want on my iMac and MBA.

It's not the most elegant of solutions, but it works fine until apple decide to make usb to usb syncing or mac to mac wifi syncing available.

Beast: So how does that work exactly? You take a folder you want to sync, and put an alias of it on iDisk? That is all it takes to sync the folder to iDisk?

 

[zainjetha]

Use chronosync and handles job fantastically - yet to fail me once. I can actually use the MBA effectively the way it is supposed to be due to this app, syncing only what i want.

 

[Mhaddy]

Another vote for ChronoSync. I use it to keep my PowerMac and MBA synced up -- a number of folders and Mail.app while I use Busy Sync to keep my iCal's matched up (absolutely amazing program).

 

[richlin71]

there's a nice discussion on sync'ing in this mac roundtable podcast.

i've been using the sugarsync beta, and i'm debating whether to start paying for it or switch to chronosync. sugarsync works for the most part, but as mentioned, the mac client is very beta.