Because of this, I was doing some looking around at different places for online storage the other day. I came to realize how many articles there are about Dropbox. I saw a few different sites talking about other options here and there, but Dropbox seemed to be everywhere. With a few Google searches, I came across several great alternatives. Even if you are using a service to back up certain files, there is nothing wrong with using an additional source to back up. You can use one service for personal and one for work, or one to back up pictures and one for ebooks. Most cloud storage services have the same basic features; uploading files via a web browser, sharing links to files, undelete and so on. Below are several options to use in replacement of, or in conjunction with Dropbox.
1. Flipdrive
Not everyone needs a lot of storage. Flipdrive’s free option is pretty small in comparison to the others here. You are given 25 MB. This may not sound like a lot, but if used wisely, you can really pack a lot in there. In the limited storage space, Flipbox is great option for backing up things like your contact list, an ebook you are reading, a few really important documents,bookmarks or IM history logs. To go along with the 25 MB, they give you a places to store contacts, bookmarks, calendar and you also have unlimited storage for your photos. The unlimited photo storage option is worth signing up all by itself.
2. Box.net
Box.net is a pretty substantial jump in size over Flipdrive. You are allotted 1 GB of space. Having the added space opens up more possibilities. Going with these guys allows you access from your mobile device, whether it be Blackberry, iPhone, iPad or mobile browser. I don’t need to tell you how handy this is for the person who lives and dies by their phone. The Blackberry app is shortcut to the mobile version of the site.
The biggest limitation here is the file size allowed; you can only upload a 25 MB file or smaller. When you look at the size of the actual size of most files, they are not really too big. If you do need store a larger video or something larger, you will need to go with another option.
3. MozyHome
Mozy is the next size increase of the bunch; they offer 2 GB of storage for free. The software you download to use Mozy is pretty simple and works with both Mac and Windows (no Linux). When you initially install the desktop software, Mozy will scan your computer for files to back up. It doesn’t back up things like your OS or .iso files.
Once you have set up for the first time, as long as you have an internet connection, your files will be automatically backed up at all times. I don’t have a lot of big files on my netbook, but here is a screenshot of an initial search for files to upload. My initial backup took quite a while, I had almost 7500 small files to back up. What I like about Mozy is, you don’t need to change the way you store your files. In the settings, simply choose the folders you want to back up; that’s all. The backups are automatic. With Dropbox, you have to store everything in the Dropbox folder or it does not get synced.
4. Adrive
Adrive offers the largest amount of free space; a whopping 50 GB! In the free version, there is not an option for a desktop client.This is both a blessing and a curse. You can upload multiple files at the same time using their Java based uploader. The downside of not having a desktop application, is you lose the automatic syncing. With the free version you lose features like uploading files with FTP, the desktop app, mobile version and need to view a few ads. Is it worth it to see some ads and not have mobile access for 50 GB of free space? I thought it was. My only complaint about Adrive is needing to prove you are human every time you sign in to the free version; the other stuff is more than acceptable.
Do you back up your documents on a local drive or somewhere in the cloud? intro image ken mccown
