Don't quite get Ubuntu One

[Dave M G]

Ubuntu Users,

I am currently using the Ubuntu One beta, and I think it is perhaps not 
what I expected it would be.

I thought that if I had the Ubuntu One package installed on my system, 
then any files or folders I put in the "My Files" directory would be 
automatically uploaded to the 2 GB server space out there in "the cloud".

But that does not seem to be the case. I have a laptop and desktop 
computer, both with Ubuntu One installed, and both with full time 
internet connections, and both signed into Ubuntu One under the same 
username/account. When I put files on one machine, it never shows up in 
the directory on the other. I have to log into the web interface to see 
any kind of change.

If it is the case that the 2 GB of space on the Ubuntu One server is 
just a place I can upload and download files through the web 
interface... well, that's kind of useful I suppose, but hardly special.

I'm looking for a system where I can have a shared directory that 
automatically synchronizes between all machines that have access to it.

Is that not what Ubuntu One is for? If not, what exactly makes it any 
better than an FTP site?

If anyone could explain what it's purpose is, exactly, then that would 
be much appreciated.

-- 
Dave M G