Sky Drive

Frank1

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For the last couple of years I have been using a service called Drop Box to backup some of my files. I see that Sky Drive is one of the free apps that I can get with Windows 8. Is it something similar to Drop Box? If so I may use it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion g7-120us Notebook
    Memory
    8 GIG
yes, Skydrive is very similar to Dropbox.

I use both actually. Skydrive, because I have 25 GB with them versus Dropbox where I have 11 GB. Functionality is pretty much the same.

Dropbox is easier to use in my opinion. I spent forever trying to figure out how to share folders in Skydrive. Had to resort to googling and watching videos on how to share a folder in Skydrive. Without tutorials, I kept on sending email links to folders which is not the behavior I wanted (I wanted to have a folder, like in Dropbox, where you and your friends can drop files into back and forth).

But now that I've watched some videos, Skydrive is fine. I just think you shouldn't have to watch tutorials.

I miss Live Mesh though. I used to have a combination of Dropbox, Skydrive, and Live Mesh. But Microsoft retired Live Mesh. :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
yes, Skydrive is very similar to Dropbox.

I use both actually. Skydrive, because I have 25 GB with them versus Dropbox where I have 11 GB. Functionality is pretty much the same.

Dropbox is easier to use in my opinion. I spent forever trying to figure out how to share folders in Skydrive. Had to resort to googling and watching videos on how to share a folder in Skydrive. Without tutorials, I kept on sending email links to folders which is not the behavior I wanted (I wanted to have a folder, like in Dropbox, where you and your friends can drop files into back and forth).

But now that I've watched some videos, Skydrive is fine. I just think you shouldn't have to watch tutorials.

I miss Live Mesh though. I used to have a combination of Dropbox, Skydrive, and Live Mesh. But Microsoft retired Live Mesh. :(

What I don't understand is the sharing of files. The only reason I would want it is to use store my files and then retrieve them if for some reason I lose them. No one else can have access to the files can they? There is apparently something here that I'm not understanding
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion g7-120us Notebook
    Memory
    8 GIG
depends on what you want to use cloud storage for.

for me, cloud storage is for my friends and I to share files. For example, in the old days, if my brother wanted to send me pics of his daughter (my niece), he'd have to email me. So he'd have to tell me to check my email every time he sent some. But now, he just throws it in the dropbox/skydrive and I see it as soon as it comes.

Same things when my friends and I need to make sure we have the same files for either collaboration or gaming. Like if we wanted to play Street Fighter II over MAME, we needed to make sure we had the same version of SF2 and the same version of MAME. Skydrive/Dropbox makes this very easy.

Now, if you want it for privacy, this is easily done in either Skydrive and Dropbox. You create a separate folder that only your friends can see. Whatever is not in that folder cannot be seen by anyone but yourself. So if I want only David to see a folder, I create a folder and only give David access to that folder. If I want only Sara to see another folder, I create a folder and only give Sara permission to see it. If I want both Sara and David to see the contents of a folder, I create another folder that allows both of them permission to see. That way, I can send them a file to share in common or send them files that I don't want the other to see.

by default, no one can see what's in your skydrive or dropbox. only if you give them permission to that particular folder will then see the contents. so give them private folders.

for what you do, skydrive is a great substitute for dropbox because it's built into windows and you get more storage than dropbox.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
Thank you, that's a good explanation. It is more clear to me now and it sounds like a good way to share things with my kids and keep the privacy that I want. I think I'll install it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion g7-120us Notebook
    Memory
    8 GIG
If you are just starting with SkyDrive - they have dropped the free storage from 25gb to 7gb.

Gee - there's a surprise.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
They send an email to the owner of 25 gb to ask if they want to keep it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
If you are just starting with SkyDrive - they have dropped the free storage from 25gb to 7gb.

Gee - there's a surprise.
The free 7gb will suit me and is better than the free 2gb that I get with drop box. But it's good to know as I'm going to install it now. Who knows, they may drop it to a smaller amount later on.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
    System Manufacturer/Model
    HP Pavilion g7-120us Notebook
    Memory
    8 GIG
Google apps as 5 gb
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
whatever size you have is the size you get to keep. since I had skydrive when it was 25 GB, i was grandfathered the 25 GB. yes, if you were to create a new skydrive account now, it's 7 GB free with the option for additional space if you pay. this is still very competitive to what the others are offering.

you will not lose any storage space. so if you have 25 GB of storage, it does not drop to 7 GB.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
Thank you, that's a good explanation. It is more clear to me now and it sounds like a good way to share things with my kids and keep the privacy that I want. I think I'll install it.

in order for your kids to share a folder with you, they also need to install skydrive.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
you will not lose any storage space. so if you have 25 GB of storage, it does not drop to 7 GB.

I found it "existing users can retain their 25 GB of storage. Users who had 4 GB or more of files uploaded on SkyDrive as of April 1, 2012 will automatically retain their 25 GB of storage. Existing users of SkyDrive can keep their 25 GB of storage simply by simply availing of the free additional storage option in your SkyDrive account settings."

So at the time if you have less than 4 gb , they shrink it to 7
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
Personally I use dropbox. It has a few more key features that I really appreciate.

#1). It supports revision history of files and if you are a paid for customer, you use the pack rat add on which keeps your deleted files pretty much forever
#2). Dropbox has more client support. Windows, Linux, OSX, Android, iPhone, etc
#3). Dropbox supports bandwidth controls..meaning you can limit your uploads
#4). Dropbox offers a local LAN sync feature which means 2 computers on the same LAN will share at the LAN level rather than going to and from the cloud
#5). Dropbox allows selective folder sync...so if you have some folders in your dropbox that you don't want sync'd to a particular computer, you can set that up easily.

Dropbox starts you with 2GB of free space, but you can easily get more by inviting friends and by sharing folders and such. If anybody wants to try out dropbox, here is a referral link from me. If you sign up using it, you and I both get an additional 500MB of disk space. http://db.tt/F99VNz3
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
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    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
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    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
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    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
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    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
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    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
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    Antec P182
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    stock
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    ABS M1 Mechanical
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    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
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    15/2 cable modem
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    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
nice way to spam people to boost your dropbox account size... ;)

of course if you pay you get more features. same with any service. and skydrive has good client support as well as some of those other features. Not saying that Dropbox is worse or bad. I love Dropbox as well. I think it's worthy to have both.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
nice way to spam people to boost your dropbox account size... ;)
It not only increases my dropbox account, but would also increase theirs as well. I saw your wink, and I think it would be questionable if I PM'd everybody in this forum rather than just putting the link in a post.

And I've posted my link before at sevenforums and here at eightforums and I don't think I have had a single person sign up using it.

I've played with all of the cloud drive services (skydrive, dropbox, sugarsync, box.net, google drive, amazon cloud drive, etc) and I always end up back on dropbox. It would be nice to get more free space (and the reason that I posted my link), but I'm using less than 40MB of space on my dropbox account...as I store mostly .txt files (notes).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
I never got any email. I still have 25 GB.


because you have more than 4 gb in it, I don't remember if it was an email or a talk on a forum

I try both drop box and skydrive but, I have 10 TB space available in my Server 2012 essential and I can access it from any browser. I can even remote desktop PC on the network...... So I don't care about space, only thing on my Skydrive is family Photo that I share with friend, 11 Gb of it they will not share my server for sure, lol


rwa.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
I try both drop box and skydrive but, I have 10 TB space available in my Server 2012 essential and I can access it from any browser. I can even remote desktop PC on the network......

rwa.jpg

Yes, the web access of these server products is nice. What is the cost of the Server 2012 essentials product...If I remember correctly it's around $500. That's going to eliminate quite a number of home users I would think right there.

For many, the biggest benefit of using the cloud storage is that it provides them with an offsite backup of their important data. Far too many people either don't have a backup period, or they keep their backups in their home and lose it during a theft, fire, etc.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
For many, the biggest benefit of using the cloud storage is that it provides them with an offsite backup of their important data. Far too many people either don't have a backup period, or they keep their backups in their home and lose it during a theft, fire, etc.


good point, to many peoples back-up their stuff and live it in the house. that's when they make back-up, they put all their photo on their HD and they cry when the HD crash, get stolen or whatever
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 enterprise x64
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Pc-Quebec / Area 66
    CPU
    i7-3960X Extreme Edition
    Motherboard
    Rampage IV Extreme
    Memory
    Gskill 4x4 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    4 x HD 7970
    Sound Card
    onboard
    Screen Resolution
    2560*1600
    Hard Drives
    C:\Intel series 520 SSD , 250 GB
    D:\ WD 750 black with Intel 40gb SSD cache Intel RST
    E:\ WD 2TB Black
    PSU
    Corsair AX 1200
    Case
    TT Mozart TX
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Logitech G-15
    Other Info
    Windows 8 VM is install on his own SSD.
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