Dropbox... is it me?

trb46 wrote:

joebedford wrote:
I use it all the time. Never had a single spam.

x2

x3 - been a Dropbox user for years.

Gdetrailer wrote:

Dutch_12078 wrote:
I don't think anyone has mentioned it, but there is NO requirement to install anything related to Dropbox on any device to use the storage space in your account. Need to upload a large file to share? Just open your account in your browser, create a folder, upload the file, make it shareable, and send off the link. No apps needed of any sort, and no data used except when you explicitly tell your Dropbox account to do something.

Hmm..

I think the problem is the OP opened a dropbox account and part of opening that account REQUIRES dropbox software to be loaded onto that PC in order for dropbox to fully sync..

What you are saying is the opposite of what typically happens..

I know myself that dropbox does indeed install software and that software starts at bootup.. The idea is that dropbox works like a virtual drive.. But for large files Dropbox slowly will dump those files to the online storage very slowly..

I don't know anything about using a web browser since one of the PCs I deal with is setup with dropbox software that was already installed..

I do know dropbox does work OK, but on my personal PCs I would rather not have any more third party software installed than needed.. I suspect the OP feels the same way, not to mention being bothered by pesky reminders to finish the install.. Not cool.

I have three different Dropbox accounts, only one is used for syncing files between devices. The other two are used only online for file and project sharing. There was no requirement that I install any local software to use them, although it was certainly strongly suggested.

magicbus wrote:
That explains it... although I use Google Drive as cloud storage - file sharing among my devices - I don't use it for synchronizing my files on each device. Since I never saw a need to have multiple copies of files, I don't want my data synchronized across all of my devices and I never realized GD also did that.

Dave

Glad we all helped out. :)

Most files don't need to be synchronized to all devices since if you need one, it can just be accessed from the copy on the cloud when you need it.

However, if you want to access a file on a particular device when you do not have an Internet connection that is when synchronization becomes a need. I have a number of files that I synchronize to all my devices such as a todo list, grocery list, journal, general info, etc. All obviously highly important stuff. :)

To the comment above regarding the supposed uniqueness of Microsoft's One Drive free storage for photos, I have been using Google Photos and predecessors on Google Drive for a long time at no cost. Check it out:

That explains it... although I use Google Drive as cloud storage - file sharing among my devices - I don't use it for synchronizing my files on each device. Since I never saw a need to have multiple copies of files, I don't want my data synchronized across all of my devices and I never realized GD also did that.

Dave

magicbus wrote:

Maybe I misunderstand Dropbox. I thought Dropbox synchronized the data to all of ones registered devices. Are you saying is that Dropbox is simply cloud storage and does not synchronize between devices? That it just allows a device access to the cloud-stored data?

When I google Dropbox I see lots of discussion about synchronizing across devices - even on the dropbox.com discussion boards. If Dropbox is just cloud storage that isn't synchronizing.

So if Dropbox is simply cloud storage then I agree it isn't much different than Google Drive, I had always been under the impression it actually synchronized data between devices.

Dave

Drop Box, One Drive, Google Drive... EACH will allow all your devices (smart phone, tablet, computer) to sync your files on same (photo files or whatever) on all of your devices. Copies of said files are in the cloud. So, if you have say the One Drive app on your smart phone and One Drive installed on your computer the folders for One Drive all sync. You change a file on one synced device and they all sync and do the same. This is true of Drop Box, One Drive, Google Drive. My opinion is that One Drive is the pic of the litter. I might mention that if you have an Amazon Prime account they offer you unlimited photo storage and a large amount of file storage (you can sink pc and smart phone) as part of your Amazon Prime package.

AsheGuy wrote:

You will have to explain to me what is different about Dropbox and Google Drive other than user interface. I use both and they are in fact nearly identical. Both are cloud storage applications, both have local folders on your system, both have software on your system, both sync your files between devices if you choose, etc., etc. In Google Drive's case, all Google's applications run on top of Google Drive but that doesn't change Google Drive's function as cloud storage.

Maybe I misunderstand Dropbox. I thought Dropbox synchronized the data to all of ones registered devices. Are you saying is that Dropbox is simply cloud storage and does not synchronize between devices? That it just allows a device access to the cloud-stored data?

When I google Dropbox I see lots of discussion about synchronizing across devices - even on the dropbox.com discussion boards. If Dropbox is just cloud storage that isn't synchronizing.

So if Dropbox is simply cloud storage then I agree it isn't much different than Google Drive, I had always been under the impression it actually synchronized data between devices.

Dave

magicbus wrote:
I do not want files synched between my devices. If I need to share something I put it on my Google Drive. A different product with a different purpose than Dropbox, but it provides the features I want.

Dave

You will have to explain to me what is different about Dropbox and Google Drive other than user interface. I use both and they are in fact nearly identical. Both are cloud storage applications, both have local folders on your system, both have software on your system, both sync your files between devices if you choose, etc., etc. In Google Drive's case, all Google's applications run on top of Google Drive but that doesn't change Google Drive's function as cloud storage.

Gdetrailer wrote:


Hmm..

I think the problem is the OP opened a dropbox account and part of opening that account REQUIRES dropbox software to be loaded onto that PC in order for dropbox to fully sync.

Exactly.

I know myself that dropbox does indeed install software and that software starts at bootup..

My experience too.

I do know dropbox does work OK, but on my personal PCs I would rather not have any more third party software installed than needed.. I suspect the OP feels the same way, not to mention being bothered by pesky reminders to finish the install.. Not cool.

Right. I had to use this because the software vendor I was sending the traces to wanted to use it. I do not want files synched between my devices. If I need to share something I put it on my Google Drive. A different product with a different purpose than Dropbox, but it provides the features I want.

Dave

Dutch_12078 wrote:
I don't think anyone has mentioned it, but there is NO requirement to install anything related to Dropbox on any device to use the storage space in your account. Need to upload a large file to share? Just open your account in your browser, create a folder, upload the file, make it shareable, and send off the link. No apps needed of any sort, and no data used except when you explicitly tell your Dropbox account to do something.

Hmm..

I think the problem is the OP opened a dropbox account and part of opening that account REQUIRES dropbox software to be loaded onto that PC in order for dropbox to fully sync..

What you are saying is the opposite of what typically happens..

I know myself that dropbox does indeed install software and that software starts at bootup.. The idea is that dropbox works like a virtual drive.. But for large files Dropbox slowly will dump those files to the online storage very slowly..

I don't know anything about using a web browser since one of the PCs I deal with is setup with dropbox software that was already installed..

I do know dropbox does work OK, but on my personal PCs I would rather not have any more third party software installed than needed.. I suspect the OP feels the same way, not to mention being bothered by pesky reminders to finish the install.. Not cool.

I don't think anyone has mentioned it, but there is NO requirement to install anything related to Dropbox on any device to use the storage space in your account. Need to upload a large file to share? Just open your account in your browser, create a folder, upload the file, make it shareable, and send off the link. No apps needed of any sort, and no data used except when you explicitly tell your Dropbox account to do something.