You know that moment when you find out about some online service or piece of software and you go “Wow! Where have you been all this time!”? I had a moment like that recently after speaking with a professor at my College. The experience of almost loosing an essay I did in Word for my College has motivated me to seek out new and alternative methods of backing up at least some of my data. Data like blogging notes, website source files, images and most important of all – College files. So I finally found a free online service that changed the way I handle my files!
Not just backing up
Other than backing up, I wanted a better way of transferring material from my College laboratory work to my dorm computer – without having to rely on my USB stick (those things will give up on you when you least expect them) or spending time e-mail it to myself on Gmail.
Another method I once used is uploading stuff to my server via FTP but that was the problem. I couldn’t upload anything to it from another location without having FTP access to the server.
Every way seemed so time-consuming especially if I had to only transfer a single PDF file. I needed a way to synchronize my files without the fear of them getting damaged.
I found about “Dropbox”
What is it? Well, Dropbox is an online service that is used for backing up your data but also with a special twist to it. You get 2 GB of space on their server (that’s the “free” version, you can pay for 50 GB and 100 GB monthly) and have to install a small application that manages your local Dropbox folder called “My Dropbox” which you can place wherever you like.
The beauty of Dropbox is that you link all your computers (and even your iPhone or some other smart phone) to your account and each of the devices gets a “My Dropbox” folder. Once you put something in one of the Dropbox folders on any of your devices (which you have previous linked to your online account) it automatically gets uploaded to the server and synced with all of your other Dropbox folders across your devices.
What’s so special about Dropbox?
One of the most attractive features that I’ve noticed is the automatic
Dropbox Web Interface
synchronization of data in all of your Dropbox folders. That means I can be anywhere with Internet access, log into Dropbox.com and upload my files to their servers and by the time I get home, I will have all that data already on my computer along with the same folder layout that is online.
This will work perfectly once I get a laptop that I have been planing for a while now. I will have everything I need in that one folder without having to manually transfer important data back and forward.
They have this link called “Votebox” at the bottom of the website where users submit suggestions and vote on them. Then the development team implements them one by one starting from the ones with the most votes. There are some amazing features coming soon. One of my favourite is “Remote destroy/purge option if laptop is stolen” which is just brilliant, especially if you use it on a cellphone which is more likely to get stolen.
Sharing a folder
You can share a folder with one or more people on Dropbox. Everything you upload to that shared folder is instantly transferred to all local Dropbox folders. This is a powerful tool for collaboration and I think it has pretty good business use. The only problem is that all people that share the folder lose space when a single member uploads something but I have hear that they voted to remove that soon.
Automatic photo-galleries in the “Photos” folder
By default, when you install your Dropbox folder on your PC, you get 2 folders: Shared and Photos. Everything that is in the Shared folder can be visible to anyone you link it to and the Photos folder changes every sub-folder into an image gallery with thumbnails and a lightbox effect that looks very similar to the photo-gallery layout in Facebook.
RSS feed for “Recent activities”
There is a tab that lists recent activities of your Dropbox folder and any shared folders you might be a member off. The amazing thing about that is that you have an RSS feed for it so you can monitor the activity from your phone or any RSS reader.
Easy un-delete feature
After deleting any file from your Dropbox, both local or from the web interface – it is never really deleted at first. You can always use the “Show deleted files” button and see what you have deleted – restore it if you need to. They keep a backup of the files but I’m not sure for how long, haven’t researched that part yet but I know that the feature is there.
Referring friends
When you refer someone to Dropbox, you get an extra 250MB of space added to your account. It only works for up to 3 GB but I think it’s more then enough at least for backing up blogging and source files.
What about for bloggers?
Now here comes the part where I explain why this service is great for bloggers. There are so many bloggers that use notebooks, netbooks and especially iPhones. There are tones of iPhone applications for bloggers, from Twitter to Wordpress publishing plug-ins.
If you are like me and like to good old Notepad notes for blogging ideas and other stuff related to your blog – you will want to have it in a folder where it would exist on all your machines.
How do YOU backup your files?
I’m interested in how you backup your files, from your computer, laptop or mac. Tell me in the comments and offer your suggestion! Thanks for reading, I hope you like Dropbox because I sure do.
Dennis Edell (3)
Alison Moore Smith (2)
Agent Deepak (1)
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@coopchad
says
I can’t live without my Dropbox! This is an incredible service, even at the free 2GB level. I’m really hoping they drop their prices, or even introduce an unlimited plan so that I can ditch Mozy altogether. Keeping large things like iPhoto un sync with Dropbox is not really cost-effective yet.
Highly recommended.
Chad @ Tech201´s last blog ..Be Your Family’s Tech Support Hero With LogMeIn
@AgentDeepak
says
I do not have much faith in online services. This one looks like a good service.
But I got 3 External Hard Disks. One of 1TB (desktop one) + 500 GB (one more desktop type) + 320 GB (portable one). And also a 4 GB Pen Drive. I do not think I need to use these service.
Agent Deepak´s last blog ..I Will NOT Comment on Your Blog
@McKnightikus
says
Hehe this is funny how both of you guys totally have opposite opinions about this service. External HDDs are always the best I guess but are expensive as well. I’m not in a position to have that kind of hardware being a student in a dorm so Dropbox is a great service for me. Here is a quote from the Dropbox help files:
Thanks for commenting guys!
I use externals as well, but may check it out. Thanks for the heads up.
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Have You Given To Haitian Relief?
@McKnightikus
says
I realize that I should have maybe concentrated on presenting Dropbox as more of a sharing application than a backing up one. There isn’t much you can back up in 2-3 GB today, since everyone uses huge HDDs. Maybe if you decide to use the paid option – but sharing works fantastically well, especially for images.
@coopchad
says
I’ve been a Dropbox user since long before it was made available to the public. It is presented very often as a backup solution. The fact that it keeps multiple versions of files for 30 days will tell you that they too aim their product at being a possible backup solution as well.
They just want to sell you the higher priced packages to actually accomplish it.
You had the right idea, Gordon.
Chad @ Tech201´s last blog ..A Few Tools To Fight Common Computer Threats
@McKnightikus
says
Yes that’s pretty impressive. They must have a lot of server space to be able to do that.
@fmsseo
says
I use multiple back up services and back-up different items to each as it makes it easier for me to remember what is going where.
Not used DropBox but it looks promising. I will be checking it out so thanks for sharing.
Karl Foxley´s last blog ..15 Free Tools To Add To Your Online Business Toolbox
@McKnightikus
says
You’re welcome. Hope you like it and feel free to share you experience here with us
@melvinblog
says
Cool! Ive never heard of Dropbox before and Im going to give it a try
I was just forced to sign up with it. I paid for a product package and that’s apparently how he wants to deliver it.
Although I don’t appreciate the tactic (no one should force someone to download something on their machine), I guess I’ll check it out now.
@coopchad
says
Dropbox has a public folders features that will allow him to put your files into it, then give you a URL to download. You wouldn’t have to install anything. It would be odd if they delivered your product another way, by making you install something else.
Chad @ Tech201´s last blog ..Burn CDs and DVDs For Free with Ashampoo
Wait, what? I had to install drop box on my system…
Dennis Edell´s last blog ..Blog Move Is Imminent ! I’m Looking For Launch Partners…
@coopchad
says
It sounds like you may have been conned a bit. When someone refers Dropbox to another user, both people (you and him) get an additional 250MB of space when you actually install.
I’m just speculating, but that would be the only “reason” he would have had you do the install.
The don’t have an Affilliate program, yet.
Chad @ Tech201´s last blog ..Email Etiquette: 12 Things To Avoid
@McKnightikus
says
You can install this little Dropbox application on your computer which is actually just a folder called My Dropbox and an auto-sync software. This basically syncs everything that you put in your My Dropbox folder with your online account so you don’t have to go to dropbox.com, log in, upload, etc. It’s quite useful and I see a great future for it.
@McKnightikus
says
Maybe they sneaked an affiliate link in or something like that. There is a public folder that works great for sharing with other people that don’t even have to know Dropbox exists, just like Chad mentioned.
@der_schneider
says
Hey Gordon,
what a coincidence to read this article at this time. I recently discovered DropBox myself after a pretty serious loss of Data (“lost” Notebook and Backup-USB at the same time). So I was looking for something to prevent this for the future. And DropBox is simply the perfect choice. For Backup and Sync.
Thanks a lot for sharing this article which I’ll probably use to explain DropBox to other people.
Greetz
Elmar