Reviews 2
Dropbox
Overview
Dropbox is an online storage web app which requires a downloaded app. The downloaded app provides a "My Dropbox" folder used to synchronise automatically with your online storage but also other computers you are linked to with the Dropbox app installed on it. My Dropbox behaves like a Windows folder and appears in your My Documents folder. Synchronisation is simple and occurs automatically when you drag and drop files into the My Dropbox folder. Data is transferred securely over SSL. Dropbox includes file sharing. Collaboration works efficiently by enabling members to join via email. Members can then add, edit and delete the files of that folder only. All members are emailed the changes. Other mobile apps are currently limited to the iPhone but a Windows app is desired. A nice touch is how an images folder displays them in a gallery format. Another thoughtful touch is how deleted files can be undeleted. If you have a blog you can link to a public folder on Dropbox, for example, a photo gallery. Finally, you can make files public or private. The free Dropbox option sychronises up to a maximum of 2GB of data. July 2009.
Dropbox
Conclusions
Dropbox is a professionally designed file sharing storage web app working seamlessly between devices. The collaborative features are simple yet effective as a shared storage facility, keeping members up to date. It is not a true web app. Only the folders in that folder can be synchronised. Free storage is only 2GB.
Related Apps
Review
ADrive
Overview
ADrive is a basic online file storage app with a huge 50GB free account. The free account lacks features thereby deliberately getting you signed up with the intention that you upgrade later for the features. In this sense it is more aimed at business users. If you want the features you can get them for free on other sites but with less storage. Key features missing from the free plan compared to other web apps include SSL encryption - essential feature for anyone - and every business - whose data is considered private. Another difference is that the basic plan lacks multiple concurrent sessions of your storage - a pre-requisite for businesses and their employees using it collaboratively. On the positive side file sharing and file history are included in the basic plan. A unique feature is that Zoho editor is integrated. Adrive is not as professionally designed as other sites so not as usuable through uploading and downloading. July 2009.
ADrive
Conclusions
ADrive is great for personal users who want a lot of free (50GB) storage and do not require security or many features. You still get basic file sharing and Zoho editor. For the paid plan it is sensible to compare value for money and seek out unlimited plans.