I love Dropbox. I like that it’s a real folder on my computer that is also invisibly synchronized and backed up in the cloud. The best part is that usually I forget it’s even there. Other online storage apps like Box.net or SkyDrive don’t work nearly as seamlessly for me.
The Dropbox free version offers up 2 GB of storage free to start, which you can increase to nearly 20 GB with various tasks. It may not be big enough for a full backup, but plenty for my important files. Check out this Lifehacker guide that details all the possibilities. You get 250 MB free by signing up under a referral link, and I get 250 GB extra too. I’ve only gotten 3 referrals up until now, but with other stuff was already at 4.5 GB free.
Today Lifehacker adds that right now if you install their new Beta version which lets you automatically back up photos and videos from your cameras/phones when connected to your computer, Dropbox will give you even more space – for every 500 MB of photos and videos automatically uploaded, you’ll receive another 500 MB of space permanently, up to 4.5 GB total. I synced up the photos from my iPhone and already have another free gig and counting. Sweet.
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If you’re running Windows 7 you might want to check out Windows Live Mesh: http://explore.live.com/windows-live-essentials-other-programs?T1=t4 It allows you to use 5GB of your SkyDrive for a Dropbox-like syncing service. It’s both a good alternative and a good supplement to Dropbox.
@Jon M – I’m a Mac OS man now after the Vista fumble, but thanks for the tip!
Thanks to both Jons for the ideas. Do you really get 250GB for the referral! 😉
Install the dropbox app on your iphone/ipod touch and you can have access to your dropbox files on your mobile device. Also, it allows you to download files locally (by marking as “favorite”) to you mobile device. Most common files can be opened by the ipod/iphone.
On a side note, I have had one annoying issue with the dropbox program on my PC. If I try to do something else on the internet while the program is syncing, it freezes my internet traffic for exactly 3 minutes. Does anyone know how to fix this? Thanks.
Hmm… I don’t suppose this works over wifi (phone picture backups). I never plug my iPhone in anymore, now that iOS5 allows wifi backup and synching.
Does anyone know if, in Windows, the dropbox “folder” is accessible through a drive letter? As in, you could mount it as a drive with the “subst” command.
I want to be able to copy files to it with a batch file.
I have been inserting different SD cards with many pictures on them to my desktop and I have now 7.0GB space. It kept going up during the process and stopped at 7.0GB until 100% was synced. Did the same with my hubby’s Mac and reached the same limit on his account. Awesome!
SugarSync all the way!
A very satisfied Live Mesh user here! If you have a PC, its a great program that you don’t have to think about.