Dropbox seems to have been around for awhile, but it’s new to me, and I like it a lot. You download the application, and it lets you easily move any of your computer files into it. As you make changes in the documents, it immediately and automatically registers them at Dropbox (and at any of your other computers where you installed the application) and you can access them at anytime either at the Dropbox site or at any of those other computers. Everything is always “in synch” automatically
This will be a big help to me at school, where I will now be able to access tons of the files I have at home related to different classes, and won’t have to worry about flash drives — either at school or if I’m traveling with my laptop.
Dropbox also lets you share any of the files publicly, too.
I suspect there are probably a number of similar apps out there (I know Dropio is good for file-sharing) , but I really like how easy it is to use Dropbox. You get 2GB of storage for free, and then have to pay after that, but that’s plenty of space for me. I uploaded a ton of files — everything for all of my classes, plus everything for all the books I’ve written and the ones I’m working on, and I’ve only used 8% of the alloted space.
A little more back-up of files always can bring some peace of mind, too. Mozy is great for backing-up EVERYTHING, but it’s only designed to replace lost data. You can read more about Mozy and other back-up systems at The Best Ways To Back-Up Your Computer & Online Work,
Let me know what you think of Dropbox, or if you prefer to use other similar applications.
Thanks to App Storm for the tip.
This is my absolute favorite app! It keeps me organized between work and home. Best of all, I have all my files on my iPhone as well. Essentially, I always have the files I need. It is certainly a service worth paying for. 🙂
Dropbox also works great for sharing files with students (you can mark a folder within your Dropbox folder to share [and even password protect it]). I use it, for instance, to record audio comments for students’ papers — a virtual conference of sorts — on my Android phone and upload the file to the shared Dropbox folder. Then they can just go in and follow along on their highlighted paper to my audio comments. I find that I can provide much more specific feedback and in so much less time, allowing me to actually look at and respond to many more student drafts than I otherwise would.
Larry,
Dropbox will allow you up to a total of 10 gigs for free by referring others. You just share your referral link with them, and when they install the client on one of their machines you get and extra 250 per person. You can also get an extra 250 megs for doing the six things under the “getting started” tab in the web panel interface. I am now up to 10.25 gigs because of all of this, and I have never paid for any of it.
The best thing I can say about Dropbox is that it just works. Quietly and in the background mainly, I know that whether laptop, desktop, iPhone, iPad or random web browser I can always get my Dropbox files, and they are backed up automatically whenever I add one or make a change. The fact that it copies the files locally (at least for laptops/desktops) means that it works great when I’m off the net, and then syncs everything back up when there is connectivity. Lastly, some apps on the iPad/iPhone are starting to have Dropbox connectivity built into them, which is doubly handy.
Highly recommended.
Hi!
Great post about a great tool. Another one to have into account is box.net. Which allows you 2gb storage and a lot more, from sharing to updating and collaborating. Because you can’t take your Dropbox to every single pc, box.net is a great option everywhere else.
Dropbox is certainly in my top five online survival tools … you can see what they all are at http://screenr.com/Id0
Shamblesguru
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I love Dropbox. I love that it keeps any type of computer in synch (Mac, Windows, Linux), and allows you to easily access your files from an iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad (or someone else’s computer using the web interface). The fact that your files are physically stored on each of your computers is one of the key features. If Dropbox were to disappear tomorrow, none of my files would be lost. The same can’t be said for some cloud-based apps.
I use Dropbox to keep my 4 Macs in sync (2 personal, 2 work computers). I have my Address Book database stored in my Dropbox, as well as my 1Password database. So, any changes made on 1 computer gets synced to the other 3 automatically and instantly.
Finally, I love how Dropbox uses a form of version control, allowing you to roll back to previous versions of your files. Fantastic feature.
Binfer is a great option to send large files directly from computer to computer, without uploading to a server. You can send hundreds of files of any size with a simple drag and drop. Binfer will manage the transfers with auto resumes, encryption, notifications etc. Check it out: http://www.binfer.com
Nice post! Personally, I prefer FilesDIRECT:
i. Send files up to 2GB even with free plan
ii. Works with all file types (video, audio, CAD, whatever)
iii. 128-bit SSL encryption on all files
iv. No software to install and works with any OS
v. 2 GB of storage to start
Easy to use, 30-day free trial – it’s got my vote!
Binfer and FilesDIRECT are nice, but they aren’t really the same thing as Dropbox. While Dropbox *can* be used to transfer large files from one person to another, that’s not its primary function. Dropbox is primarily a way to keep all *your* files in perfect sync between all your various computers and handheld devices. Dropbox is really a very different tool than either Binfer or FilesDIRECT.