Same programmes on two laptops.

[Hilly valley]

I have a MacBook M1 Pro Max 1TB, and a Macbook M3 Air. 512GB. I have a couple of folders I would like to always 'mirror' on the other when I finish working on either of the laptops. One is various music programmes, and the other is Photographic. I realise I can use an SSD to copy etc, and also cloud, but I don't want to go either route if possible. So is there a programme that when I finish working on one laptop, the work I have just finished is reproduced on the other?

 

[ferrarr]

So is there a programme that when I finish working on one laptop, the work I have just finished is reproduced on the other?

Not without user intervention.

iCloud Drive will do what you want, but it syncs all the time, see this article,

Set up iCloud Drive on all your devices

Learn how to set up and access your iCloud Drive files and folders on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Windows device, and on iCloud.com.

support.apple.com

 

[Randy B. Singer]

... is there a programme that when I finish working on one laptop, the work I have just finished is reproduced on the other?

Dropbox makes this easy:

https://www.dropboxforum.com/discussions/101007C1/refresher-syncing-with-dropbox/452328

 

[Hilly valley]

Thank you ferrarr & Randy B. Singer. Unfortunately cloud and Dropbox would be too expensive.

I would have around 50 GIG of files sometimes doubling, and the expense would be too much.

I appreciate it is a different thing, but I use an account with Firefox, so everything I do on one machine is the same on the other.

So I guess I will go down the route of a fast SSD and have most of my work on that, and just take it from one machine to the other.

Any recommendations on fast 2T SSDs that won't break the bank, or an M.2 SSD with enclosure?

 

[Raz0rEdge]

If this is crucial data, be mindful of having it reside purely on a single drive whereby a failure of that drive means you lose all the data.

Repeated writes to the SSD also shortens it's life.

 

[pm-r]

writes to the SSD also shortens it's life.

Hmmm...???
From what I have read, at least for normal users' use, an SSD is more likely to be replaced due to obsolescence before reaching its write limit.

Just saying, the caution seems to be getting overstated too often these days.




- Patrick
=======

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Yes, normal users aren't using an SSD as a transfer mechanism but rather as a back up solution.

The issue with SSDs is that it tends erase the entire sector (which have gotten quite small over time) to store new data.

I was more highlighting the fact that using a single device for important data is a bad thing.

Thank you ferrarr & Randy B. Singer. Unfortunately cloud and Dropbox would be too expensive.

I would have around 50 GIG of files sometimes doubling, and the expense would be too much.

I appreciate it is a different thing, but I use an account with Firefox, so everything I do on one machine is the same on the other.

So I guess I will go down the route of a fast SSD and have most of my work on that, and just take it from one machine to the other.

Any recommendations on fast 2T SSDs that won't break the bank, or an M.2 SSD with enclosure?

The other thing you might want to look at is a cheap NAS that can be used on a local network easily between computers and those potentially with cloud sharing capabilities, so that you can access the data over the Internet as well.

 

[MacInWin]

ChronoSync can sync the two Macs, and can be scheduled for that sync at the same time each day, but not necessarily triggered by just saving to the various folders.

Frankly, if iCloud and Dropbox are "too expensive," then not much is available for you because of the financial limitations.

 

[Raz0rEdge]

Frankly, if iCloud and Dropbox are "too expensive," then not much is available for you because of the financial limitations.

iCloud+ with 200 GB storage is $2.99/month.

 

[Rod]

Yes, I agree with using iCloud+ and iCloud Drive, you wont get a cheaper synced storage option and I'm NOT talking about "Store my Documents and Desktop folders in iCloud Drive" which has caused a number of users all sorts of headaches. Just turn on iCloud Drive Syncing in iCloud+ settings and keep the files you want synced in the iCloud Drive folder in the Finder window of you chosen device. They will then be available in the same folder of all other devices (Files app on portables) logged into the same Apple ID.
Thats what I do.

 

[Randy B. Singer]

Any recommendations on fast 2T SSDs that won't break the bank, or an M.2 SSD with enclosure?

How fast do you want it? The common 10Gbps SSD is reasonably fast, but there are a very few external SSD's that are rated for a theoretical 40Gbps assuming that you have TB3 or TB4, or USB 4.

Samsung T7 up to 1050MB/s external SSD 2TB
$150
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0874XWW23/?tag=macforums0e4-20

Fikwot 1TB External SSD, USB4 40Gbps Portable SSD 1TB with Cooling Fan, Up to 3700MB/s
$200
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTHQKYKR/?tag=macforums0e4-20

 

[Hilly valley]

iCloud+ with 200 GB storage is $2.99/month.

That does seem reasonable. Worth thinking about.

 

[Hilly valley]

How fast do you want it? The common 10Gbps SSD is reasonably fast, but there are a very few external SSD's that are rated for a theoretical 40Gbps assuming that you have TB3 or TB4, or USB 4.

Samsung T7 up to 1050MB/s external SSD 2TB
$150
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0874XWW23/?tag=macforums0e4-20

Fikwot 1TB External SSD, USB4 40Gbps Portable SSD 1TB with Cooling Fan, Up to 3700MB/s
$200
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTHQKYKR/?tag=macforums0e4-20

Thanks for the links. I have 2 Samsung T7 that I use for other files & they have been good. The Fikwot seems interesting.

 

[IWT]

That does seem reasonable. Worth thinking about.

I'm the first to recognise that fiscal responsibility often means that one just cannot extend finances to the "extras" in modern technology.

But, 200GB of storage is compatible with one cup of coffee in most modern countries at $2.99 or £2.99 per month and the benefits are considerable.

Worth a good think?

Ian

 

[pm-r]

But, 200GB of storage is compatible with one cup of coffee in most modern countries at $2.99 or £2.99 per month and the benefits are considerable.

Actually, that's an extremely economical expenditure by comparison to other exaggerated costs for supporting our technology and general living and assuming one has a fairly decent internet access speed for data uploads and downloads.

But it might be a good idea to try some of the test sites that will show one's current upload and download speeds.



- Patrick
=======

 

[Hilly valley]

Actually, that's an extremely economical expenditure by comparison to other exaggerated costs for supporting our technology and general living and assuming one has a fairly decent internet access speed for data uploads and downloads.

But it might be a good idea to try some of the test sites that will show one's current upload and download speeds.



- Patrick
=======

Ah, I never thought of that. I am on a phone data connection. It's good enough for 4K streaming etc, but not sure if fast enough for quick uploads and downloads.