Sync: logging into computers six months later?
I have a home laptop (which I consider my 'master computer' that I use every day). At work however, we have a 150 shared laptops that are booked in and out on a daily basis - you never know which one you're going to get. So it could be months before you get the same laptop again.
I currently use Chrome, and have the problem that if I sync my bookmarks to a work computer in January, they may change quite radically on my master computer in six months (especially if - I've taken the time to clean them all up and reorganise them). If I then get the same work laptop again in July, it sends hundreds of old January bookmarks to my master computer, which totally messes up my hard work of keeping them organised. The sync doesn't care about creating duplicates, and doesn't consider the dates bookmarks were added or deleted (ie. If I deleted a bookmark in March, when I login in July it will put the January bookmark back onto my master computer, which makes no sense since it is obvious that the January bookmark is older than the date I deleted it).
So, Chrome sync is dumb and unsophisticated. Is Firefox sync better? Would it solve this problem?
Thanks.
All Replies (4)
Maybe you should clear your sync data on disconnect on your work computers every day? In Firefox 62 with this option there's no chance that any data will be synced back to "master".
Unless you want to risk having others accessing your profile, check this out;
http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition
A fully functional package of Firefox optimized for use on a USB key drive. A specialized launcher will allow most favorite extensions to work as you switch computers.
Firefox Portable is a 3rd-party build. Support is available here: http://portableapps.com/forums/support/firefox_portable
> Maybe you should clear your sync data on disconnect on your work computers every day?
My current workaround involves clearing the sync periodically, but it doesn't work well at all...
On Chrome, clearing your sync data also logs you out of Chrome on every machine, forcing a login.
So on my 'master computer', I can organise the bookmarks how I want them, then the clear sync data (logging out all the other browsers), then allow the master computer to re-sync a good, complete, current copy of my bookmarks and extensions.
When I then go a to a work computer I am logged out of Chrome. Before logging into Chrome, I have to spend five to ten minutes manually deleting all the bookmarks and extensions on that machine. Only when there is nothing there, can I proceed to login. This might be alright if I had one laptop a day, but actually I can use up to three or four different, random laptops and computers throughout the day, all with potentially old bookmarks and extensions on them.
Chrome's 'dumb syncing' simply doesn't work in this kind of environment. It only works if you are constantly using a handful of devices. If you let one of the devices lapse for a few weeks, it is going to make a mess of your extensions and bookmarks when you use it again, unless you delete them all on that machine before logging in.
EDIT: Regarding the highlighted part above, I see from the linked article that Firefox 62 provides a one-click button to remove all bookmarks and extensions from a machine. That's very interesting indeed. I'll check it out. Thanks.
Okulungisiwe ngu Nebweb
> Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition
Thanks for the suggestion. Chrome has a portable version too. The work computers are quite well locked down though, preventing users from using their own software. Some portable apps work, but browsers in particular tend not to fully function due to firewall and antivirus issues.