Please forgive me, you've already been extremely helpful. I hate being the "clueless guy" but I'm too busy with other stuff to on top of circumnavigating the ever changing world of software. I took the plunge (based on your advice) and downloaded the trial version of 1password.
After setting it up I realized as soon as I start creating better passwords for myself I'll need to have the iOS app otherwise I'll be locked out of all my accounts on my mobile phone. I tried to setup dropbox sync and of course the "sync" button is missing from preferences. And of course after 15 minutes of searching on google I find unhelpful references to a "dropbox sync" button under preferences>General which is also missing. I find no mention anywhere as to why they are missing and what the new process is. After searching 15 minutes for a phone number I go onto their help center. It appears I might need to install the mobile version first before I have a sync option? (wish they could make this process simpler to understand).
I then realize I ultimately want the perpetual license version, and reread this thread. The quote I pasted above mentions "add iOS... (and) a perpetual license holder equals about 2.5-3 years of subscription". So I thought, screw the trial, perhaps if I buy the license I'll be prompted for the proper way to install a perpetual license for iOS and all will make sense. License was purchased, but nothing more has become clear. So I install the mobile version. Still no sync option. Further I am confused by you saying the quote above? It appears this app is free, so where is the cost that equals another 1/2 - 1 year subscription?
This is a great case study on why I hate computers -- that may annoy you. But I'm not sure how someone such as yourself is able to navigate this overly complicated process. I've searched another 15 minutes for a phone number and even tried to post a question in their forum-- that process is entirely new thread.
I don't understand why this has to be some difficult. And if it's just me, how on earth did you find this so simple to understand?
Edit: I failed to mention my desktop 1Passwords application still shows I am using the trial version. Even though I've authenticated that I have purchased the license twice already..... WTF...
There is no sync button within the desktop app, it just shows where you have the primary vault and the statement "Sync
Primary Vault with" is kind of rhetorical insomuch as this is where it will sync and this is automatically done whenever you make changes like adding a new password for a site, changing a password for an existing site etc.
On the iOS app under settings; and you can find the settings within the app at the bottom of the screen 3rd icon (a Cog) from the left, under settings you will see Sync which is 5 icons down and is orange in colour, tap once on the sync icon and you will see the name of your vault and by default this is '
Primary' and underneath that the words "Sync Now" tapping that will sync with your Primary vault in Dropbox. It will automatically sync anyway but if it doesn't for whatever reason you can initiate a manual sync this way.
Re the trial period, wait for it to expire and see if it asks you to buy a licence if it does just enter your licence details. Or just uninstall it and reinstall and when it asks for a licence install the one you have purchased.
Remember nobody is perfect and as a newbie to 1Password you can help make other newbies lives less stressful by contributing to the forum, I know you shouldn't have to but life isn't perfect that’s why we have forums for practically everything we do as humans.
A hamfisted example of tasks that we think are simple or should be...
Write a list of instructions to explain to another person how to make a cup of tea, bear in mind this person has never made a cup of tea and doesn't know what a cup of tea, a cup, a kettle, a teabag or a tap is. I guarantee you will continually make amendments to that list refining it as you miss simple instructions.
