Previously available only in Windows and Mac, Dropbox has recently launched a new version for Linux.

In case you are wondering, Dropbox is an online storage site that allows you to back up and sync your files right from your desktop. It comes with a desktop application that you can install in your OS and backing up files is just a simple drag and drop to the Dropbox folder in your hard drive. Any files added/removed from the folder will be automatically sync with the online server as long as you are connected to the Internet.

Other than a handy desktop application, Dropbox also has the ability to perform revision control on all the files inside the folder. In the event that you deleted any files accidentally, you can load up the revision history and restore back the files.

When you sign up with Dropbox, you get a free basic account that comes with a 2GB storage space. 50 GB storage is also available with a premium account that costs $9.99/month, or $99.99/year.

Installing Dropbox in Ubuntu

The Dropbox team has make it very simple to install Dropbox in Ubuntu.

Download Dropbox for Ubuntu package http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/5143/nautilus-dropbox-packages/0.4.1/nautilus-dropbox_0.4.1-1_i386_ubuntu_8.04.deb. (If you are using Fedora or other Linux distro, you can find the source file here)

Double click on the downloaded deb file to start installing the Dropbox application.

Once the installation are done, log out of your desktop and log back in again. You will now see a Dropbox icon on your system tray at the top panel. In the background, Dropbox will now download the remaining files and complete the installation process.

When it is done, a window will appear to guide you through the setting up process.

If you are new to Dropbox, choose “I’m new to Dropbox”

Enter your login credential

Follow the tour to learn how to use Dropbox. It’s really simple.

End of the tour. It’s time to start using your Dropbox!

You can find the Dropbox folder in your Home, under Nautilus. A file/folder with a blue icon means that synchronization is in progress while a green tick icon means that synchronization is completed.

Note: The installation of Dropbox on Windows and Mac is exactly the same as installation in Ubuntu, except that the installer file is different.