468: You Got Your Non-Money's Worth

File Sharing

File sharing between devices often presents significant challenges, as John Siracusa highlights the cumbersome process of transferring files between two Macs on the same network. He describes the frustration of using Finder, which frequently defaults to connecting as the wrong user, despite attempts to specify otherwise 1. The persistent issues with network file sharing, such as unreliable aliases and slow connection times, exacerbate the problem, making even simple tasks unnecessarily difficult 2. Marco Arment adds that Apple's lack of internal use for these features might contribute to their mediocrity 2.

   

Alternatives

Exploring alternatives to traditional file sharing methods, Casey Liss suggests using shared Dropbox folders or Synology Drive for more reliable transfers 3. He also mentions the potential of using SCP or VNC for file transfers, though John Siracusa expresses concerns about screen sharing 4. Despite these suggestions, the underlying issue remains the inefficiency of current systems, as even simple tasks can become complex and time-consuming. Siracusa notes, "The amount of time it takes before that finder window appears and you can drag stuff into it is so long compared to, again, slamming your cursor against the edge of your Mac screen and having it appear on your iPad."