I’ve spent the last few weeks testing Ubuntu One, Canonical’s file-storing and sharing service. Below is an outline of my experience, and thoughts on the future of the application.
Ubuntu One, which will be installed by default in Ubuntu 9.10, allows users to sync files between different Ubuntu computers. The service runs in the background, and can be accessed either through a Web interface in Firefox or via the Nautilus file browser, with which it seamlessly integrates.
Users have to register accounts on Launchpad in order to use Ubuntu One. Currently, Canonical offers either 2 gigabytes of storage in the cloud for free, or 10 gigabytes for 10 dollars/8 euros per month.
The good
For a service that remains in beta, Ubuntu One works exceptionally well. Its strongest points include:
* Easy installation: it took only a few clicks and one gksudo to install the service on my Ubuntu 9.04 systems from the website. My only complaint is that the apt:// link didn’t work on one computer where I’d upgraded the browser to Firefox 3.5 using a third-party package–not Canonical’s fault, but situations like this should be taken into account in order to ensure ease of use.
* The service has worked great, even when I’ve had a flaky Internet connection. I was skeptical about its ability to keep things in sync and stable, but both the Web and Nautilus interfaces have been so smooth and responsive that I often forget my files are hosted in the cloud rather than the local file system. I receive a convenient notification when a new file upload has completed, and the system deals well with intermittent Internet connections.
Click for the Full Story
http://www.workswithu.com/2009/09/23/thoughts-on-ubuntu-one/