DropBox Cloud-Based Storage

Feb 16 - by NWMadmin

Dropbox is a cross-platform cloud-based storage application and service operated by Dropbox, Inc. The service enables users to store and sync files online and between computers and share files and folders with others using file synchronization. There are both free and paid services, each with varying options.

The Dropbox client enables users to drop any file into a designated folder that is then synced to the cloud and to any other of the user’s computers with the Dropbox client. Files in the Dropbox folder may then be shared with other Dropbox users or accessed from the web. Users may also upload files manually through a web browser.

I have personally been using this service for several years and have recommended it to several friends and business acquaintances. It works seamlessly and I’m able to sync files on several Macs at home, along with the one PC I’ll ever own. More importantly, I’ve been able to sync and collaborate on projects with other clients and/or vendors and have enjoyed a seamless work flow through many different operating platforms and system softwares.

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While Dropbox functions as a storage service, its focus is on synchronization and sharing. It supports revision history, so files deleted from the Dropbox folder may be recovered from any of the synced computers. Dropbox’s version control also helps users know the history of a file they may be currently working on, enabling more than one person to edit and re-post files without complications of losing its previous form. The version history is limited to 30 days. A paid option for unlimited version history called “Pack-Rat” is available. The version history is paired with the use of delta encoding technology. To conserve bandwidth and time, if a file in a user’s Dropbox folder is changed, Dropbox only uploads the pieces of the file that are changed when syncing. Though the desktop client has no restriction on individual file size, files uploaded via the web site are limited to a maximum of 300 MB per file.