By Grace Aquino

Backing up computer files is like flossing your teeth. It’s important, but tedious. Sharpcast Inc.’s SugarSync service makes the task easier while synchronizing files across laptops, desktop computers and phones.

The software, released three weeks ago by the Palo Alto, California-based company, eliminates the fussy steps we all typically go through to use a file on more than one device: copying files to a USB thumb drive, e-mailing a file to yourself, or logging in to an office server.

You can also access your files from someone else’s computer, such as those at an Internet cafe. SugarSync also lets you view your files from a mobile phone equipped with a Web browser.

The initial setup was simple. First I created an account online and installed the SugarSync Manager application on my Windows desktop PC. The service is straightforward and the interface is organized like Windows Explorer or Finder on the Mac, with a list of folders on the left side and the files within each folder on the right.

In the program, I selected the files and folders I wanted to back up and be able to access remotely. SugarSync uploaded the files to its Internet service, essentially sending a copy of my files online. The initial upload took several hours over my cable modem. If you have many gigabytes of data to back up, plan on doing it overnight, especially if you have a slow Web connection.

Automatic Backup

Next I installed SugarSync Manager on two other computers: another Windows machine and a Mac laptop. The program then …

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