Google Docs and Dropbox

Posted by on 12 September 2009 22:50 Leave a comment (6) Go to comments

I’ve been using a couple of “online” products the last few days for managing my documents. The first is Google Docs. It’s a lightweight, online editor for documents, spreadsheets, and slideshows. Everything is stored on the servers of the ubiquitous Google. It’s (usually) readily accessible, but only as long as you have an internet connection. (No there is Google Gears for offline file management, but it doesn’t “officially” run on 64-bit linux, which is what I have. There is a package someone has put together, but I haven’t got it all to work yet…)

The other product I’ve been using in Dropbox. Basically, it allows you to sync files across multiple computers. It stores your files on their servers and even keeps revision and deletion history. You can set up the client on Windows, Mac, or Linux. Dropbox then synchronizes them all. If one of them dies, it’s simple to put everything back. And all of your files are accessible on your local machine if you don’t have an internet connection. And, obviously, you’re not just limited to documents, spreadsheets, and slideshows–you can put up any file you like.

What is my evaluation? Google Docs is a lot easier to use. No daemon to install, no separate account (assuming you already have Gmail). But if you need to work on a document offline and haven’t explicitly exported it or installed Google Gears, you’re out of luck.

Dropbox leaves everything in your hands. You have your own copy of the files, with which you may do as you please. No internet? No problem. And you have no vendor lock-in. You edit files using whatever programs you like. You keep them in their native format (which means no data or formatting loss during file-type conversions). Plus, you can even upload and download files using the web interface, making your docs accessible even on a computer where you don’t have Dropbox installed.

Final answer: Google Docs for the little things where I need a quick and easily accessible document. But Dropbox for reliable handling of everything else.

Want a Dropbox  invite? Shoot me an email or leave a comment.

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  • http://blog.3dbloke.com/ 3dbloke

    I’ve been looking at several cloud-based backup and syncing offerings recently. Started with Carbonite but the data loss incident in 2009 has put me off their offering. Mozy looks good, and I may go with their Home Unlimited service as a general backup of my main home PC (used by wife and son). Dropbox also appeals; it has similar features to Mozy, with the difference that a single account allows syncing between computers, rather than a [simple] backup service. I can see a place for Mozy and Dropbox coexisting, though this may be over-complex and I’m not sure it would be good for the computer or the internet connection! As I write this, I’m tending towards using Mozy for the home desktop, at least. Alongside that, I think I could try Dropbox to sync my laptop with the desktop, taking advantage of Dropbox’s “LAN sync” feature. I’ll probably still use Achronis for monthly complete backups to USB / NAS drives as well. All sounds a lot of bother and expense, but then there is a lot of data to lose.

  • http://blog.3dbloke.com 3dbloke

    I’ve been looking at several cloud-based backup and syncing offerings recently. Started with Carbonite but the data loss incident in 2009 has put me off their offering. Mozy looks good, and I may go with their Home Unlimited service as a general backup of my main home PC (used by wife and son). Dropbox also appeals; it has similar features to Mozy, with the difference that a single account allows syncing between computers, rather than a [simple] backup service. I can see a place for Mozy and Dropbox coexisting, though this may be over-complex and I’m not sure it would be good for the computer or the internet connection! As I write this, I’m tending towards using Mozy for the home desktop, at least. Alongside that, I think I could try Dropbox to sync my laptop with the desktop, taking advantage of Dropbox’s “LAN sync” feature. I’ll probably still use Achronis for monthly complete backups to USB / NAS drives as well. All sounds a lot of bother and expense, but then there is a lot of data to lose.

  • http://ellingsens.net/ Thomas E

    3dbloke: unless you have a *lot* of important data I’d go for a 50 gig account at Dropbox for 99$a year. I store all the things I can’t lose. Right now thats all my photos and a few select documents + some music. Movies, tv-series and such I can always download again should everything fail. I’m extremely happy with Dropbox, especially since I use 3 clients everyday and it’s so nice to be able to access data seemlessly.

  • http://ellingsens.net Thomas E

    3dbloke: unless you have a *lot* of important data I’d go for a 50 gig account at Dropbox for 99$a year. I store all the things I can’t lose. Right now thats all my photos and a few select documents + some music. Movies, tv-series and such I can always download again should everything fail. I’m extremely happy with Dropbox, especially since I use 3 clients everyday and it’s so nice to be able to access data seemlessly.

  • http://blog.3dbloke.com/ 3dbloke

    @Thomas_E: Since posting my March 9 comment I have taken out a 12-month subscription to the MozyHome service for the shared desktop PC (wife, son, myself). For their data backups I needed something that I can set up and forget… MozyHome fits this.

    Dropbox requires some proactive planning and organizing, so is less suitable for my wife and son (12 yrs).

    For myself, I have opened a free Dropbox account and with referral bonuses (and the recent 2nd anniversary video) I am up to 5.75GB. I’ve also opened Dropbox accounts for my wife and son, and have started putting important stuff into shared folders. Even with my son only using the PC, Dropbox has proved very useful for sharing photos and docs.

    Dropbox certainly has enabled some valuable tidying up of files that previously existed in two places. Now they are in Dropbox, using shared folders where this makes sense.

    My wife has, so far, resisted my attempts to get her to take an interest using in Dropbox, though. :/

    I agree with you: Dropbox is excellent. I guess my only concern with anything like this is “what if it goes wrong?”. The good thing, at least, is that the files are stored on the PC / laptop.

    For the full belt-and-braces backup, I still use Acronis on PC and laptop approx monthly.

  • http://blog.3dbloke.com 3dbloke

    @Thomas_E: Since posting my March 9 comment I have taken out a 12-month subscription to the MozyHome service for the shared desktop PC (wife, son, myself). For their data backups I needed something that I can set up and forget… MozyHome fits this.

    Dropbox requires some proactive planning and organizing, so is less suitable for my wife and son (12 yrs).

    For myself, I have opened a free Dropbox account and with referral bonuses (and the recent 2nd anniversary video) I am up to 5.75GB. I’ve also opened Dropbox accounts for my wife and son, and have started putting important stuff into shared folders. Even with my son only using the PC, Dropbox has proved very useful for sharing photos and docs.

    Dropbox certainly has enabled some valuable tidying up of files that previously existed in two places. Now they are in Dropbox, using shared folders where this makes sense.

    My wife has, so far, resisted my attempts to get her to take an interest using in Dropbox, though. :/

    I agree with you: Dropbox is excellent. I guess my only concern with anything like this is “what if it goes wrong?”. The good thing, at least, is that the files are stored on the PC / laptop.

    For the full belt-and-braces backup, I still use Acronis on PC and laptop approx monthly.