Dropbox - the memory stick of the future

[aabram]

I have often heard one of my friends speak about Dropbox, and she told me about this again on Tuesday. I was fairly curious so I googled it when I got home and used it to its fullest extent yesterday from another computer. It is really useful if you only have limited time online at home or use several different computers in different locations... eg home and work.

www.dropbox.com

How it works: Step one. Create a free account on the Dropbox website (link above). You sign up in much the same way as Photobucket or YouTube... Step 2 (You don't HAVE to do this but it helps to at least download it to one regular computer you use) Download and install the app. Step 3 Put some files in your dropbox. You can also upload files to your account which doesn't have the application installed, and share them like you do on YouTube or Photobucket by sending links rather than attaching files from your dropbox public folder.

And Hey Presto!!!! You can now access your files from any computer which has internet without waiting to download files from your emails which can be costly in megabytes orr rely on a memory stick which can sometimes get corrupted over time The Website will explain the rest.

Hope it also works world wide :)

Love Annabel xx

[richthelandlord]

Just be aware of the fact that - like anything cloud-based - there are security-risks involved...

It's been cracked before, and will no doubt be cracked again so don't store passwords to your other accounts in documents there etc...

[aabram]

Just be aware of the fact that - like anything cloud-based - there are security-risks involved...

It's been cracked before, and will no doubt be cracked again so don't store passwords to your other accounts in documents there etc...

.....which I don't because that would be very stupid. The private section IS just that...private. eg only the user can access that. To share files, you can email an individual link to whoever you want to share it with. I shall be using Dropbox alot in the future...

Love Annabel x

[DaveM]

I can remember "cloud based services" back when they were called "dial-up services"--anyone else remember CompuServe? Now that I've got that power on my desktop, I'm keeping it there, even though nothing connected to the Net is ever ENTIRELY safe. But I protect everything, back up everything regularly, and if I need to stick a thumb drive in my bag when traveling, I'll take it.

Remember, folks, as long as everything you do is dependent on someone you're connected to remotely, it's always going to be possible for someone to turn the switch off.

[Sara]

I can remember "cloud based services" back when they were called "dial-up services"--anyone else remember CompuServe? Now that I've got that power on my desktop, I'm keeping it there, even though nothing connected to the Net is ever ENTIRELY safe. But I protect everything, back up everything regularly, and if I need to stick a thumb drive in my bag when traveling, I'll take it.

Remember, folks, as long as everything you do is dependent on someone you're connected to remotely, it's always going to be possible for someone to turn the switch off.
All good points, Dave.

Yes, I remember Compu$erve! Also, locally-based, relatively small-scale message boards. Used to co-run one from my house back in the day.

[dreamchaser728]

I remember Compuserve! I never used it, but i do remember it.

[DaveM]

Anyone else remember Fidonet? The library in my old home town had a Fidonet BBS running at a screaming 1200 bps (that is NOT a typo). One of the features of Fidonet was that you could send e-mail--several times a day, the server computer would call up another computer and deliver everything in its Inbox. And the process would repeat until your message got where it was going. Sometimes it took longer than snail mail.

[paularoid]

Anyone else remember Fidonet?
Using the typical eagerness antics of the school child in class I raise my hand and dance around in my seat squealing "OOH! OOH! I DO! I DO! I DO! PICK ME! PICK ME! PICK ME!"


The library in my old home town had a Fidonet BBS running at a screaming 1200 bps (that is NOT a typo).
In THOSE days (not really THAT long ago) 1200 bps -was- "screaming". I used to have an old 'Kaypro' CP/M machine that had a 300 bps modem that was still working quite nicely when I finally relinquished it to a more dedicated hobbyist collector of computer equipment than I.


Sometimes it took longer than snail mail.
Indeed. It was a he!! of a lot more fun than snail mail though. It became more satisfying to type out an email and send it than to sit down an manually write out a letter. I think email has become the coming downfall of penmanship.