Dropbox Review
Written by Karl L. Gechlik | AskTheAdmin.com on April 7, 2008 – 5:58 pm -
Have you ever needed to sync files between two or more machines?
Have you wanted to also have an off-site copy of those files?
Have you needed to sync files between Windows and Macintosh machines?
Have you wanted to have a public photo album to share pictures with your friends and family?
Have you needed a shared on-line file repository for collaborating with co-workers?
Well Dropbox can do all this for you. Dropbox is a relatively new service that is currently in beta that allows you to “store and share files online.”
After installing the Dropbox application on one machine, you create an account and link that machine to the account. Then, any file that is placed in the My Dropbox folder (which in Windows lives inside the My Documents folder) gets automatically synced with your Dropbox folder on all other linked machines.
If you only have Dropbox installed on one machine, it becomes an off-site backup service. Dropbox uses Amazon’s S3 service behind the scenes to house your data. So files placed in your Dropbox folder are automatically uploaded to the Dropbox servers. Should you delete them on your local machine or suffer data loss, they can easily be retrieved from the Dropbox servers by installing Dropbox on a replacement machine, or directly from the Dropbox website.
The real power of the service comes when you add more machines to your account. Every linked machine keeps a synced copy of the files providing redundancy and the flexibility to modify any file on any machine and have the latest version be available everywhere. No more carrying around a USB drive, emailing files to yourself or wondering who has the latest version of a file. Dropbox is not a true peer-to-peer service, which is a good thing. Files are synced to and from the Dropbox servers and each machine receives the latest changes as it comes online, so you don’t have to leave machines on all the time in order for them to receive updates.
Dropbox also supports shared folders that allow anyone you invite to the folder to have access to the files in that folder. This is a great way to collaborate and share files with coworkers. There is also a folder specifically configured to hold photos. Any images placed in there are automatically turned into a photo album with a publicly accessible URL you can give out. There is also a Public folder that is accessible to anyone (I think anyone at all, not just any Dropbox user).
So be careful how you use that one!
There is also a web interface that allows you to access files on machines that don’t have Dropbox installed. You can also access previous versions of files from the web interface. So when you screw up that file and need to go back to last week’s version, you can do that.
There is a short video on the website that gives a very good overview of what the service can do.
I’ve been using Dropbox for about a month and have found it to be a very powerful service. The developers are very responsive and working hard on new features and do seem to squash the limited number of bugs that have cropped up very quickly (sometimes within hours). They also seem to be committed to refining the service as they have described it. Forum posters often suggest adding unrelated features, which the developers will often (politely) dismiss as something they are not planning on implementing anytime soon.
I have used Dropbox with numerous small and a few very large files (Linux ISOs). It handled both equally well, but the upload speed on the large files seemed slower than it should have been. I didn’t really investigate where the bottleneck was but I experienced it on two different connections. Of course, moving 700 Megs of data over just about any connection is going to be a time-consuming operation. However, small files are uploaded very quickly and available to everyone immediately.
One thing to note, is that the My Dropbox folder is just another folder on your machine. So if you copy files into it in order to sync them, you will be creating 2 copies of the data on your local machine, and using up twice your hard drive space. The developers are working on resolving this problem by implementing watched folders and/or some type of symbolic links. Local hard drive space is abundant and cheap, but it is something to be aware of since you are creating multiple unsynced copies of the data, which is exactly what Dropbox is trying to avoid. If you can, your best bet is to keep the only local copy of the data in the My Dropbox folder.
When the service is rolled out Dropbox plans to offer 1 Gig for free with plans for more storage, but pricing has not been determined.
The AdmiN and I have an extremely limited number of invites available. If you are interested leave us a note in the comments. (EDIT: AND BE CONVINCING ABOUT IT!)
Tags: General
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46 Responses
to “Dropbox Review”
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- Mar 13, 2009: Ask The Admin » Blog Archive » Drop box invites.
By Jenny on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
Online backup is becoming common these days. It is estimated that 70-75% of all PC's will be connected to online backup services with in the next decade.
Thousands of online backup companies exist, from one guy operating in his apartment to fortune 500 companies.
Choosing the best online backup company will be very confusing and difficult. One website I find very helpful in making a decision to pick an online backup company is:
http://www.BackupReview.info “>http://www.BackupReview.info
Have a look here, too:
http://www.backupreview.info/index.php?pid=read_a...“>
http://www.backupreview.info/index.php?pid=read_a...
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This site lists more than 400 online backup companies in its directory and ranks the top 25 on a monthly basis.
By Jenny on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
Online backup is becoming common these days. It is estimated that 70-75% of all PC's will be connected to online backup services with in the next decade.
Thousands of online backup companies exist, from one guy operating in his apartment to fortune 500 companies.
Choosing the best online backup company will be very confusing and difficult. One website I find very helpful in making a decision to pick an online backup company is:
http://www.BackupReview.info “>http://www.BackupReview.info
Have a look here, too:
http://www.backupreview.info/index.php?pid=read_a...“>
http://www.backupreview.info/index.php?pid=read_a...
/>
This site lists more than 400 online backup companies in its directory and ranks the top 25 on a monthly basis.
By Dan Phillips on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
Well, I am fat with ADHD, but I would love an invite!!! I promise I will praise your names for the next few years. Thank you!
By UllSang on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
As a Very very long time vistor and email subscriber even a contest winner (the Nero Ultra). I have recommended this site to many people and they now swear by it for tips and reviews. I just purchased a macbook and this service is exactly what I need. I have been trying to get an invite to this service to for over two and I knew my good ol' admin would be the one who has the ability to let me in.
-Jon aka UllSang
By UllSang on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
If you are unable to see my email, its UllSang@gmail.com.
By duncan on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
If you have any invitations left duncanbate AT hotmail DOT com. I would be very greatfull.
By Michael on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
Hook me up! I need this!!
By sieb on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
Ill take one! I've been waiting ever since they started to get an invite!
By fincher on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
If you invite me, i'll invite you too … to my birthday party next week! ;)
fincher7@gmail.com
By AskTheAdmin on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
Peter is going to be sending out the first batch shortly. If you didn't email me your email address or leave it above… You really should.
You know so we have somewhere to send the invite…
By Ethan on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
If it's not too much trouble… I'd love a Dropbox invite! Thanks in advance. =]
ethan.r.jones@gmail.com
By AskTheAdmin on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
Invites have been sent! If you still haven't got yours speak up!
By Ethan on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
Thanks so much for the invite. I just installed it, "dropped" in my school work, and checked it on my laptop. It worked flawlessly. =] Great service.
By sieb on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
I would gladly take an invite! please please!!??!! I'll clean your house for a month! that.sieb.guy@gmail.com I've also been wanting to write a review for the tech section of Newsvine, a new post in my Online Web Services thread.
By Roi on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
Looks promising! would enjoy an invite as well ! (if any are left)
retro4 AT gmail DOT com
By AskTheAdmin on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
Sent & sent. Sieb what time shall I be expecting you? Do you bring your own cleaning products??
By Sieb on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
You can expect me at the most inopportune time. I also bring my own Mop-n-Glow and trusty Kirby. If you have any pets or small children, make sure they are at least 750ft away at all times while I am operating.
By Nicola O'Brian on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
I'm part of a small film production company and this could help us no end with multiple people requiring access to files that are updated multiple times a day.
By Nicola O'Brian on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
I'm part of a small film production company and this could help us no end with multiple people requiring access to files that are updated multiple times a day.
By AskTheAdmin on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
I Didn't get your email address Nicola. Email me with it to betas@asktheadmin.com.
By AskTheAdmin on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
Should I be scared?
By Matthew O'Conne on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
How desperate am I for an invite, you ask? I was SERIOUSLY about to click on the "Buy it now" button in the UK Ebay for a beta code. $9.95. FOR A BETA CODE! Please save me from this disgraceful act.
Yours gratefully, mattoc@ that yahoo place.
By Matthew O'Conne on Apr 7, 2008 | Reply
How desperate am I for an invite, you ask? I was SERIOUSLY about to click on the "Buy it now" button in the UK Ebay for a beta code. $9.95. FOR A BETA CODE! Please save me from this disgraceful act.
Yours gratefully, mattoc@ that yahoo place.
By Schwooba on Apr 8, 2008 | Reply
Well, MS Foldershare does a decent job, but it limits you to 10,000 files to keep synced with no option to upgrade. They have indicated they might up that number in the near future. Otherwise , it's a great service.
Can I get a Dropbox invite?……schwooba [at] hotmail [dot] com…..Thanks!
By Rever on Apr 8, 2008 | Reply
If you don't mind shooting an invite my way it would be greatly appreciated and much needed. Unfortunately I am one of those odd balls that have way to many systems that I use. Currently I use a U3 flashdrive but I need to clean it up to often. rever75 at gmail.com
By Adam on Apr 8, 2008 | Reply
Hey Admin, I'd really like an invite to this! Silverado31 [AT] aol [DOT] com
Thanks!!
By AskTheAdmin on Apr 8, 2008 | Reply
OK! I think we got everyone. Anyone else out there want one?
Anyone??
Bueller??
By Adam on Apr 8, 2008 | Reply
Just thought I'd report back on Dropbox. First tests seem to go very well. My explorer crashed on install - dropbox should probably add a prompt that users should close all windows before installing (maybe they did and I just didnt notice).
Seems to work very fast, which is an improvement over other programs like this that I have used. I love the public url feature which allows you to share files with others w/o having to post it to some public website to share files. Its also very easy to use.
Revisions are also a big plus. I have a server where I store files and I may actually consider using this over my own. The ability to access files from their website is again VERY CONVENIENT.
Great tool.
By AskTheAdmin on Apr 9, 2008 | Reply
Great to hear Adam! Anyone else have some feedback for us?
By Alan on Apr 9, 2008 | Reply
I hope not late to the party…
I would love an invite if you still got any left.
Thanks!
Alan
By AskTheAdmin on Apr 11, 2008 | Reply
Never to late to the party Alan! Just shoot me an email to betas at askthedmin dot com and I will have one sent out to you.
By Chris A on Apr 11, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for the invite, dropbox is pretty cool, there are a couple of things like moving the sharing folder that are likely to get fixed in the next release, and im having a problem accessing it from behind my works firewall, but its the best sync/backup solution i have found so far
By AskTheAdmin on Apr 12, 2008 | Reply
Thanks for reporting back chris! Out of almost 50 invites we get a little feedback! Hey deadbeats come back and comment! Is it worth the price of… Um free?
By Mark Erickstad on Apr 15, 2008 | Reply
I am very interested in this because I use multiple pc's and mac's in different locations. Just the easy solution I am looking for!
By Jeffrey TAN on Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
I think i just hit jackpot on the online storage solution i need. Sofar been dumping all my data to a network drive in my home LAN which is accessble by multiple PC. But only access is when i am in LAN. Looking for a online service that provide access to data from anywhere…..I am very interested in try this out, i am asure many people out there face problem in getting your data from outside…..we can really help on the feedback
By AskTheAdmin on Apr 23, 2008 | Reply
We got caught up on everyones invites except yours Jeffery email me at betas at asktheadmin dot com and I will shoot one over to you. I do not have your email address,
By Missy Mann on May 11, 2008 | Reply
I have this terrible obsession to try new, shiny things…
I've been waiting this kind of service for ages. I've tried Tubes, but it whacked my net connection so bad I gave it up. I think this might be the one. Well, I won't know unless I get to try it, yeah? Please, if you have an invite?
By AskTheAdmin on May 12, 2008 | Reply
I have one for you email me at betas at asktheadmin dot com.
By Jeremiah on Jun 2, 2008 | Reply
Do you have any more beta codes? This past week I lost EVERYTHING after a hard drive crash. I'm usually pretty good at backing up, but I'm across the country for the summer and thought, 'What's the worst that could happen?' You live and you learn, I guess.
By AskTheAdmin on Jun 3, 2008 | Reply
I hate to hear data horror stories!
I have one for you! I am sending it over now! Please come back and comment on how you like it or hate it. And maybe we can help with some data recovery?
Thanks for reading Jerimiah.
By Jeremiah on Jun 3, 2008 | Reply
The entire reason I lost the data was because I needed it on-the-go, so I left in on my laptop, and unfortunately opted out of backing up that data. Luckily the data wasn't EXTREMELY important, so I just had the drive replaced under warranty. I'm now hoping that Dropbox will be the right solution for this problem. And now that I'm paranoid, I'm back to using Time Machine, and a flash drive in addition for backing up.
By tictac on Aug 24, 2008 | Reply
Some one please send me a invite.
tic__tac@hotmail.com
By Ryan on Nov 12, 2008 | Reply
Am I too late for an invite too? I cannot think how I deserve one, but here is a good blog/site to check out daily for life/mac/windows/software/diy updates: LIFEHACKER.
Thanks
scubaryan@gmail.com
By Mark on May 7, 2009 | Reply
Dropbox sounds great but one thing you forgot to mention is the feature for backing up USB, external and network drives. I’ve been doing so many researches to find such providers and so far I found only SafeCopy backup, http://www.safecopybackup.com, that has this features.
In addition I can use one account for both my Mac and Pc. I love it and it might be worth checking out.
Karl Gechlik Reply:
May 7th, 2009 at 7:41 am
Mark DropBox does do what you are looking for.