Skydrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox? - Comments Page 1

Bob, this is a great comparison of the different types of cloud storage. The comparison does leave unanswered the question of file security. Is there one service that is more secure (hacker-proof) than the others. (Yes, I realize none are as secure as a local drive but still...)

EDITOR'S NOTE: How secure? Very. More secure than your hard drive, for sure. See my reply to Jeffrey in http://askbobrankin.com/is_chrome_os_the_next_big_thing.html

A crucial item is ownership of data put into the cloud. Some, maybe all, the providers claim the copyright to such data.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I think this is a red herring issue. Dropbox was criticized for some language in their Terms of Service, but they later clarified it. Here's what they said: "We want to be 100 percent clear that you own what you put in your Dropbox. We don't own your stuff. And the license you give us is really limited. It only allows us to provide the service to you. Nothing else." I'm sure the policies of other cloud providers boil down to pretty much the same idea.

I have only used Dropbox, so can't compare, but the Dropbox folder is available even when you are offline. Then the next time you have Internet it syncs, and asks which version to keep or to keep both.

Bob:

Use Skydrive for personal and Dropbox for work.
The Skydrive I received 25GB of free storage, had been a member and got in at right time, thanks for letting me know on that one. Find both systems useful, just easier for myself to get around the Skydrive.
Regards.

Regarding "Skydrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox?" you fail to consider that a lot of corporate networks now block access to Gmail and Google Drive for security reasons. Also, you may want to take a look at Adrive.com.

I've tried both Dropbox and Google Drive. I used Dropbox for several years, and then went from Dropbox to Google Drive when that was available because it offered more space (didn't need it, though), but have gone back to Dropbox. I found that Google drive would say that synchronization was complete, but a check of the files on the website showed that they had not synchronized yet. Dropbox synchronization takes place almost instantly, and I need that so that I can shut down my computer, knowing that it has been done. I found also that Dropbox gave me less problems in other ways than Google Drive so I'm sticking with it. Also the fact that it works on my Android is a plus.

I have all four services and pay for 100 GB on Google, which is also my primary service. My trouble with all of them is transfer speed\time issues. My main interest is in preserving digital image files which are very large. Transferring any significant number of them is extremely slow and ties up my computer for hours. Once the files are in the cloud, I can't really work on them without downloading them back to my machine or using a work copy on my machine, which kind of negates the advantage of online storage. They're all great for documents and smaller image files one wishes to allow others to see [which I already have covered on sites dedicated to that]. I'd love to reduce my hardware burden and associated maintenance duties, but the cloud has a long way to go before it can get me there.

I have been using dropbox for a few years.Ijust got google drive,but dropbox is very easy to use.easier than creating an email and uploading the file, sending it.Just drop in the box and it does the rest.But i use it as a storage box for photos mainly.

Dropbox plays nicely with KeePass, so I can retrieve my login credentials using a PC, or my iPhone, or iPad. It's not clear whether or not KeePass and it's associated iPhone/iPad apps play equally nicely on the other services.

As far as I can tell, Dropbox handles one folder per user on the client machine. A client user cannot have different Dropbox accounts, each with its own Dropbox folder.

Surely cloud storage for domestic users with a lot of data is impractical? I have the best part of 105 gigs-worth of music, documents and other miscellaneous files that are backed up locally on several drives. I'm sure others must have more. I have recently upgraded to a fibre-to-the-cabinet service, as the old analogue lines were lucky to give 1 meg! Now running at about 25 megs download but only around 1.6 megs upload (not sure why the huge difference). How can I possibly upload all my data without it taking for ever and completely driving a horse and carriage through the my ISP's useage limit?

Have used Dropbox and it makes it quite easy to share files between my home PC, office PC, work laptop, and netbook computers. Don't have to worry about whether I am working on the latest file.

Sharing files is easy. Getting friends to sign on has gotten me several more free gigabytes of storage space. I'm quite pleased with dropbox.

Why limit yourself? I use all 3 plus Comodo. What if one of the systems is having a problem and you need to see a file- by using a variety of companies would mean you will have a file when you need it.

Hi guys! Just a word of warning if you'd like to use Dropbox w/Android devices. At the latest version update, Dropbox pooped big time, and moved its' folder where the Sun never shines and most of the Android apps can't find it.. I use to sinc my e-books on Nook colour Aldiko reader w/PC.. now it is a tedious and manual labor requiring enterprise… Same goes for the most of other Andrid apps [Galery etc.]. Doesn't look like Dropbox is willing to do anything about this, despite cries on the Forum.. Using The Box now.. very simple.

Micrsoft -> Microsoft
Skydrivie -> Skydrive
advacned -> advanced

I find Ubuntu One very good as well. But my favorites are the ones that do not require any software (software optional). Having access via web is very convenient at times. Amazon is one service that does not require software. There are a few others as well.

My new HTC EVO 4G LTE came with 25 GB FREE for two years for Dropbox. I am assuming Sprint or HTC made an agreement with them, since the Sprint version of the phone is the only one that supports a mini sd card. Those on AT&T or Tmobile need some additional space.

I've seen plenty of comparisons of the main players, but wonder why everyone ignores Sugarsync? It seems to have most, if not all of the features of the others, but adds the ability to use any directory on your device, not just one directory in the way DropBox and Google Drive do. To me this is important as I have my data structured the way I want it and don't have to move it around or create copies to suit the software.

I think you have left out a major competitor to the three you mention. I am referring to Wuala. 5 GB free and it is cross-platform. But the big issue for me with Wuala is that my data is encrypted from my desktop to my recipient's desktop. That is to say, Wuala employees (and others) have no access to my files coming or going or while stored there. I checked and Dropbox employees do have access to content. Link is http://wuala.com

You said "Microsoft does not have a Skydrive agent for Windows XP". That's true, but there's another alternative for Windows XP users. SDExplorer works with Windows XP and has a free version. It works as you would expect, by adding a SkyDrive drive in Windows explorer that lets you treat it as if SkyDrive was on your local disk drive. It's available here:
http://www.cloudstorageexplorer.com/