Dropbox is a fantastic new file sharing service. From their website

Dropbox keeps track of every change made to any of its contents. Any changes are instantly and automatically sent to any other computer linked to your Dropbox. The Dropbox clients for Windows, Mac and Linux all play nice with one another too!

While its not designed for collaboration, ti does allow you to work on files in different locations, or share up to date files with anyone. No more remembering to move a file to a USB key, and then remembering the key, or emailing large files to and fro.

I’ve got a great plan to share my Family History file. At the moment I have the file with almost everything in, in a Reunion file. As I’m the only one with the file, I have to do all of the data entry which is a real drag. Now I can store it in my dropbox, share the folder with any other family members, and then we’ve all got an up to date copy. The chances of two of us wanting to use it at the same time are rather remote, so this should work perfectly.

It’s the simple things.

Other uses:

• share a folder between family groups, and use it to transfer photos / files between each other without clogging up email systems
• share family history files
• share guest lists for parties / weddings
• share address lists for christmas cards
• share recipes between family groups