I like iCloud, despite some of the irritating shortcomings that many others have also mentioned, for a hands-off syncing of not just files/contents but settings of apps. I like to treat the ecosystem (currently Apple's) as the primary holding place of our content (in open formats wherever possible, while regular backup copies of the Apple format where not) for all family members and their devices.
Looking back a few years, the struggles of syncing are not that prominent and have improved quite a lot.
I want to be able to pick up a device and get the content I want when I need it. That means, my wife taking a picture of something and if I need to access that, it pops up now or in a while. If I've to buy items and have to look up my daughters request too I like the fact that I can look up the common Family Notes folder with the note "Buy These".
However, iCloud is definitely not (still) a good one for files and content storage. The family subscribes to the highest 2TB but the 4-member team is gobbling it up pretty fast. We use just the family-shared folders for common files such as scanned files (receipts, and other physical records, etc) so I can look at a common location on my weekly, monthly, and quarterly digital chores.
Finally, we subscribed to the 2TB Dropbox plan for the file backups and such. They are selectively synced (that cloud only feature) for individual devices but I have a separate (MacMini 2012-edition for now) running as a backup that syncs everything offline as a final backup of Dropbox.
Of course, there are the other media files backups, archives, and the stuffs on other media/cloud. So, my pattern is -- an easy offline access where possible with a sync copy/backup somewhere in the "cloud" or vice versa.
One can replace Dropbox with the others you are comfortable with.
Use iCloud for the convenience but have a backup system that you can rely on. I have absolutely no idea about the detailed intricacies of iCloud. Right now, I'm reading "IntroducingCirrus1.13.pdf" that came with "cirrus113.zip" that I just downloaded from this article.
Edit/Update: I have setup iCloud sync for quite a few relatives (and their family members) and they are very happy, especially that Photo thing that just shows up when their family members take photos elsewhere. They think I made the magic happen for them, when they replace their new iPhones and the Music/Photos are just there. I try to make sure to have a printable PDF with the basic setups of what I did -- just in case, they ask someone else or I happen to be not available for help anymore.
Looking back a few years, the struggles of syncing are not that prominent and have improved quite a lot.
I want to be able to pick up a device and get the content I want when I need it. That means, my wife taking a picture of something and if I need to access that, it pops up now or in a while. If I've to buy items and have to look up my daughters request too I like the fact that I can look up the common Family Notes folder with the note "Buy These".
However, iCloud is definitely not (still) a good one for files and content storage. The family subscribes to the highest 2TB but the 4-member team is gobbling it up pretty fast. We use just the family-shared folders for common files such as scanned files (receipts, and other physical records, etc) so I can look at a common location on my weekly, monthly, and quarterly digital chores.
Finally, we subscribed to the 2TB Dropbox plan for the file backups and such. They are selectively synced (that cloud only feature) for individual devices but I have a separate (MacMini 2012-edition for now) running as a backup that syncs everything offline as a final backup of Dropbox.
Of course, there are the other media files backups, archives, and the stuffs on other media/cloud. So, my pattern is -- an easy offline access where possible with a sync copy/backup somewhere in the "cloud" or vice versa.
One can replace Dropbox with the others you are comfortable with.
Use iCloud for the convenience but have a backup system that you can rely on. I have absolutely no idea about the detailed intricacies of iCloud. Right now, I'm reading "IntroducingCirrus1.13.pdf" that came with "cirrus113.zip" that I just downloaded from this article.
Edit/Update: I have setup iCloud sync for quite a few relatives (and their family members) and they are very happy, especially that Photo thing that just shows up when their family members take photos elsewhere. They think I made the magic happen for them, when they replace their new iPhones and the Music/Photos are just there. I try to make sure to have a printable PDF with the basic setups of what I did -- just in case, they ask someone else or I happen to be not available for help anymore.