Personal data storage and "clouds"

[CyGuy]

Why in the world would anyone pay for bandwidth to download and upload the same file over and over when you could just store it locally on an SDHC card? Not to mention that keeping content on an SDHC card allows you to easily move that content from one device to another by simply swapping the card. I really just don’t get it. Why rely on a network connection, and pay-per-MB to get to a file you already have?

[ilovejedd]

Offsite backup, not to mention I've misplaced quite a number of flash drives.

[WT Sharpe]

I've been known to accidentally format my backup!

[Phogg]

Originally Posted by Nexutix

Just reopened this thread after a month to post this.

AS many people say here, backup services DO come and go like a breeze. Thanks to MR, I didn't store any data on there.

Spoiler:

Yup.

Every few years a new generation has to learn the hard way.

As P.T. Barnum said; "There's a sucker born every minute, and two to take him."

[flitbee]

Originally Posted by booklover6

I never even heard of Sugarsync. Going to look it up now.

It ain't free..

[DustyDisks]

Originally Posted by Phogg

Yup.

Every few years a new generation has to learn the hard way.

As P.T. Barnum said; "There's a sucker born every minute, and two to take him."

There is a poster on the other forums I read. And he has a saying that is almost a trademark for him. And it apples to off site backup services and life in general!

"If you do not hold it, You do not own it"

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by flitbee

It ain't free..

Like most other syncing sites they have a free 5GB account.

[SmokeAndMirrors]

Originally Posted by CyGuy

Why in the world would anyone pay for bandwidth to download and upload the same file over and over when you could just store it locally on an SDHC card? Not to mention that keeping content on an SDHC card allows you to easily move that content from one device to another by simply swapping the card. I really just don’t get it. Why rely on a network connection, and pay-per-MB to get to a file you already have?

Who says I pay for it?

I don't need an internet connection. I have Dropbox on my smartphone, and I store to SD. Which means I have all my files on the SD card in my phone, if it comes down to it.

[DoctorOhh]

Originally Posted by CyGuy

Why in the world would anyone pay for bandwidth to download and upload the same file over and over when you could just store it locally on an SDHC card? Not to mention that keeping content on an SDHC card allows you to easily move that content from one device to another by simply swapping the card. I really just don’t get it. Why rely on a network connection, and pay-per-MB to get to a file you already have?

You may misunderstand how this "cloud" storage works. All of the files in my Dropbox (Sugarsync) are locally stored. I never have to go to the cloud to access my files. The whole point of these sync apps is to seamlessly move locally stored files between devices. At the same time they also archive multiple old versions of files that have been updated or revised. The only time files are moved between local files and the cloud or vice-a-versa is when they have been revised.

[Nexutix]

Originally Posted by dwanthny

The whole point of these sync apps is to seamlessly move locally stored files between devices.

Another advantage that Dropbox and alike services offer is data reliability for cross-platform sync. In other words, a cross-platform app can sync its data without hosting its own servers and potentially increasing reliability of data. (For example, To-do apps)

Conclusion: It's not all about size/permanent storage. Instead, it's about dynamic functionality it provides.

Open source private cloud services allow collaboration and act as a common workbench for professionals wherein collaboration is necessary. It almost simulates real-time working environment. If I am not exaggerating, MobileRead forums can also be considered as cloud for information sync. Now let's put that on SDcard.

[MV64]

Eh...I'm not sold on cloud storage. I see the value for a lot of people, but I think hard drives work better. More easily accessible. Of course, you can always say: "What if your house catches fire and your hard drives burn up?" But I would counter "what if the cloud service crashes in an age of relentless and increasing computer hacking?"

Free cloud service would be useful, but if you're paying for it already, just get a hard drive and back your stuff up.

[Nexutix]

Originally Posted by MV64

Eh...I'm not sold on cloud storage. I see ... back your stuff up.

Best solution is to use both; unless:
1. It sucks bandwidth
2. Data is personal

[gullable]

Hi All!

I'm wondering if any of you do online data storage or cloud storage as some call it? If you were to compare it to using a USB for instance, would you consider it safer. The average person can have their USB stolen and broken yet when you have your data or documents stored online the chances of it happening are minimal.

I have been using https://www.mypdv.com and http://www.dropbox.com and I find them really good however when compared to a USB or any other form of storage, are they really safer?

Thanks!!

[abookreader]

Originally Posted by gullable

Hi All!

I'm wondering if any of you do online data storage or cloud storage as some call it? If you were to compare it to using a USB for instance, would you consider it safer. The average person can have their USB stolen and broken yet when you have your data or documents stored online the chances of it happening are minimal.

I have been using https://www.mypdv.com and http://www.dropbox.com and I find them really good however when compared to a USB or any other form of storage, are they really safer?

Thanks!!

My own personal opinion is that likely there is no one method that is automatically safer or more convenient than the other methods. If you rely on a service such as Dropbox, then you are placing your trust in complete strangers. So - you have privacy concerns and business continuity concerns and concerns over whether or not ~they~ are maintaining adequate security measures.

If you rely on something like a usb stick, then you have concerns over damage or losing it or your kid deciding to flush it down the toilet (but maybe that's just here) and also remembering to regularly place your files where they need to be.

I think that's why you'll find most people here don't pick just one method for digital items that are really important to us. We back-up our back-ups.

[gullable]

Originally Posted by abookreader

My own personal opinion is that likely there is no one method that is automatically safer or more convenient than the other methods. If you rely on a service such as Dropbox, then you are placing your trust in complete strangers. So - you have privacy concerns and business continuity concerns and concerns over whether or not ~they~ are maintaining adequate security measures.

If you rely on something like a usb stick, then you have concerns over damage or losing it or your kid deciding to flush it down the toilet (but maybe that's just here) and also remembering to regularly place your files where they need to be.

I think that's why you'll find most people here don't pick just one method for digital items that are really important to us. We back-up our back-ups.

There are so many companies that are coming out though. I was even reading an article about this https://www.mypdv.com site at http://www.dailyfinance.com/rtn/pr/r...channel=pscope and there is a huge amount of others that are coming through. I think with their growing popularity you can only assume that they are pretty safe unless you are storing something that is CIA classified...hahaha