Drop Box

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Kirstie

Kirstie

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Jan 16, 2007
Posts
8,395
Loc
Berkeley, CA
I have been using Drop Box to securely store, share, and move files between computers. We use both macs and pc computers and the service works with both. I have installed Drop Box on all my conputers.

I used to use the .Mac cloud, but it syncs slowly and sometimes the sync fails. It also is not available for PCs. Now before I leave the shop at night, I copy my POS data files to Drop Box, they sync almost instantly, and I pick them up at home. I am also using Drop Box to collect large photo files from customers for restoration. And, I have a shared Drop Box folder with my web designer. In fact, whenever we create original PSD documents, we copy them to Drop Box for instant back up and I then retrieve them at home.

You get a free 250mb account, and every time you refer someone who uses the service, you get an extra 250mb of storage at no charge. We could all refer each other and build free online storage space.
Here is the link to sign up. This uses me as the referral link, but you could sign up independently if you wanted to.
 
I was asked about the security of the service on Facebook, so here is a longer answer.
How secure is Dropbox?
Your files are actually safer while stored in your Dropbox than on your computer in some cases. We use the same secure methods as banks and the military to send and store your data.

Dropbox takes the security of your files and of our software very seriously. We use the best tools and engineering practices available to build our software, and we have smart people making sure that Dropbox remains secure. Your files are backed-up, stored securely, and password-protected.

Nobody can see your private files in Dropbox unless you deliberately invite them or put them in your Public folder. Everything in your Public folder is, by definition, accessible to anyone. Otherwise, the only way to access the files in your Dropbox online is with your username and password.

For Our Advanced Users
Dropbox uses modern encryption methods to both transfer and store your data.

Shared folders are viewable only by people you invite
All transmission of file data and metadata occurs over an encrypted channel (SSL).
All files stored on Dropbox servers are encrypted (AES-256) and are inaccessible without your account password
Dropbox website and client software have been hardened against attacks from hackers
Online access to your files require your username and password
Public files are only viewable by people who have a link to the file(s). Public folders are not browsable or searchable
Dropbox employees aren't able to access user files, and when troubleshooting an account they only have access to file metadata (filenames, file sizes, etc., not the file contents)
Dropbox uses Amazon's Simple Storage Service (S3) for storage, which has a robust security policy of its own. You can find more information on Amazon's data security from the S3 site or, read more about how Dropbox and Amazon securely stores data.
 
After two referrals I now have 2.75 GB on Dropbox. When I reach the max of around 3GB I will ask some of you to post the link to your referral site so you can do the same. We could have lots of us getting free storage this way--the whole Grumble if anyone wants it.

You can add more than the 3 GB for $10. a month, or 100GB for $20. per month, but I don't think I would ever need that. I use it to move files around, not store them permanently.

No more lost USB drives. I don't use them at all anymore.

I just checked my account. It says So far you've earned 512MB of the 3.0GB maximum bonus space possible from referrals. So it looks like one can earn 3 GB on top of the free 2GB for a total of 5GB.

Moderators, if you need to move this to commercial I understand. I put it here as an interesting tech item that could help lots of us.
 
It sounds great, but just remember not to put all the eggs in one literal basket or box; in this case. :) Multiple backup methods are always a good idea, as are multiple generations of the backup. ie: Don't overwrite the same file each day, because you could very easily overwrite your only good data with a corrupted backup and not realize it. Then you'd have nothing.

A multi gig daily backup to a flash drive may take seconds, while the same transfer through the internet may take several hours.

Before backing up with a service like this, make sure the files are not 'locked' or in use. If even one workstation is accessing the files, with most POS systems, the important files will be locked and skipped entirely. (and you probably won't even realize it)

It's probably good to check with your POS vendor, to make sure this is a recommended method. But if you're doing it in addition to a local backup (or preferably a rotation of flash drives, so you don't overwrite the same one each day), it's a safe bet and some extra peace of mind.

If you're giving customers access, it's probably best to give them a different account; so they can't get into your confidential records. Many of the storage companies are outside of the USA, and laws protecting what they do with your data will vary.

I'm pretty sure you already have multiple backups, and multiple generations. But I wanted to clarify, in case anyone reading this got the wrong impression. I hope you don't mind a bit of advice from a (computer geek).

Mike
 
Kirstie said:
You get a free 250mb account, and every time you refer someone who uses the service, you get an extra 250mb of storage at no charge. We could all refer each other and build free online storage space.
Click to expand...

It looks like they now offer a 2GB free account. I signed up (using the link you provided), but didn't see anything about getting more storage for referrals. Maybe they started out with one model and have moved to another.

Haven't really had a chance to really try it out, but it looks interesting.

thanks.
 
David N Waldmann said:
It looks like they now offer a 2GB free account. I signed up (using the link you provided), but didn't see anything about getting more storage for referrals. Maybe they started out with one model and have moved to another.

Haven't really had a chance to really try it out, but it looks interesting.

thanks.
Click to expand...

Poke around. I am pretty sure the referral link is still there.

Mike, thanks, advice always welcome. We do back up locally to external hard drives on every computer and I save the data files that are moved on Drop Box to files marked Monday through Sunday on my home hard drive, which is also backed up on its own hard drive. So we are covered but this advice is always good to repeat!

Shared files have thier own folder and can't be accessed by anyone but the parties sharing the file. There is also a public folder as there is in the Mac cloud, which I don't use.
Files seem to copy almost instantly. Very fast like a USB drive.
 
Yes, they do still offer referrals. Up to 3GB worth of referrals @ 250MB ea. They also give you 250MB for a few other things. Looks like you could end up with about 6GB for free.
 
Ok, it's getting a little clearer how this works. While you could use it as a backup device it's a bit clunky for that. It doesn't update the original files when a DropBox one is modified, or vice versa - if you change the original file it doesn't change the DropBox one. All the editing has to be on files in the DropBox folder.

Because of how it works, as described above, you also can't drag a local folder there and then have it add new files created in the local folder. If you want a "real" local file as well as the drop box copy you have to create it locally and then individually drag it to the drop box every time you make a new one.

I can see it having value in some circumstances but it's not really what I was looking for.
 
David N Waldmann said:
I can see it having value in some circumstances but it's not really what I was looking for.
Click to expand...

I use it for very specific tasks. POS files get copied to it an night and picked up at home for storage. This morning my son wanted some pictures from my hard drive in thier original size, so we set up a shard folder in Drop Box, I copied them from my computer into our shared folder, and he picked them up in our shared folder. My son is going to use it for law school papers as quick back up while he is working--copy the paper to Drop Box, and overwrite it with the next version, and so on.

I see it as perfect for moving large files from place to place and person to person, and for temporary storage and back up.
 
Just wanted to let you know that dropbox has helped me out already. I've been using it to put my most important files....both personal and business in order to have another backup copy offsite. Like Mike has suggested, I'm also using other methods.

I have a software company that is trying to troubleshoot a data file and of course, it was way too large to email. Sending them a link to the needed dropbox file is enabling them to take a look at it.

Thanks again!
 
Maybe just me But, "just because I am paranoid does not mean it will not happen"

You are giving control of your information to a second party you do not even know...You believe what they say because they say it. Oh it is safe...
who really controls that company who says they will not be sold to the highest bidder.

Thank you very much I will take the chance of loosing all my data base to a failed disk drive than to turn it over to...
1. someone you have no control over
2. someone you are not really sure where they are located
3. someone who says oh no we can't access your info.

Just because you have not heard it has been hacked does not mean it has not. Just because they say they are who they are does not make it true. Besides what is the big deal in the big Picture of the info on your store.....What they say today will not be what they may say next year. Once they have your info. it is theirs as long as they want it. Even if they say they encrypt it, Who do you think writes the encryption codes.
I guess it is what you feel comfortable with...

Final comment Kinda bent out of shape today.. no big deal....
 
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I would not use online storage for my tax records or my password program data, but for transfer and temporary storage of large photo files and back up and transfer of my POS records from store to home, I am not worried in the least. Our POS data contains no credit card information. What are they going to do, sell my sales records or a PSD file to the highest bidder? I use all sorts of online storage for photos with various services, as well as Mac email, and so on. Cloud computing is the wave of the future, and soon we will all be using online services for bookeeping, graphics, word processing, and many other tasks.

This service has been very useful so far, and with no problems. Quick and free. I like it.
 
Microsoft's www.mesh.com offers 5 gbs of space for free, plus includes a simple to use remote control feature. I personally like how Mesh integrates with Windows better than DropBox. You don't have to make a "dropbox" folder, but rather choose whatever existing folders you want synced. Mesh will be available for MAC soon.
 
If anyone is interested in helping me increase my available free space, this is my referral link.

You have to not just sign up, but download and install the software for the referral to work.

I could really use a little more room to get my family tree files saved. (It's huge).

Thanks!
 
janetj1968 said:
I could really use a little more room to get my family tree files saved. (It's huge).
Click to expand...

I guess it must be. Mine has over 6500 names and is only 4 megabytes...

What you got in there, high quality scans of every birth, death and citizenship certificate?!!

I'd be glad to help, but I already have a dropbox account. Although I guess you can probably sign up on more than one email address...
 
I have signed up two customers so far as well as a bunch of friends, framers, and relatives. The last customer wanted his 28 x 30 Digital Custom large file sent to him. Signed him up, and voila, I was able to drop the file into a shared folder set up temporarily for that purpose.

A couple of weeks ago I sent Jeff R my printing files via Drop Box. He just opened the shared folder and there they were. Now the new signs are on my wall. This saved a ton of time.

I would not use Drop Box for permanent storage, however. I use it for moving files around, temporary storage on the fly, and so on. You cn earn up to 6GB free, which certainly is not huge but more than enough for temporary storage of large files.
 
Kirstie, have you tried getting a second account..... I have one for DECOR, one for family stuff, and one for a couple of other projects. Just rename each one on you Desktop.

and BTW: If you really like Drop box...... you're going to LOVE Google Wave.
 
Silly ol' Baer..... I thought I had been really smart and consolidated my Dropbox accounts in one box...... but it was only the Shared files... hmmm

eeeh, it's 2 gigs.... that's a lot of space.
 
Baer Charlton said:
Silly ol' Baer..... I thought I had been really smart and consolidated my Dropbox accounts in one box...... but it was only the Shared files... hmmm

eeeh, it's 2 gigs.... that's a lot of space.
Click to expand...

EEEYUP..... :D L.
 
Baer Charlton said:
Kirstie, have you tried getting a second account..... I have one for DECOR, one for family stuff, and one for a couple of other projects. Just rename each one on you Desktop.

and BTW: If you really like Drop box...... you're going to LOVE Google Wave.
Click to expand...

I'm good right now. 4.75GB is a lot of free space for temporary storage and file transfer. Love the service. I think you can keep earning space up to 6GB before you pay for more if you want it.
 
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