One way or another, each of us at least once heard the name Dropbox. But since far from all users of personal computers and laptops are familiar with this concept, it makes sense to talk about it. Cloud storage of information has long been very popular. You have probably already managed to understand Dropbox - what it is and why this program and service are needed in general. In short, you upload documents that are important to you on the Internet and don’t worry about their damage, disappearance, etc.
Dropbox in a nutshell
Of course, it is quite difficult to describe such a functional service in a few words. However, it is necessary to highlight the most important and important. You have created a folder with files on the hard drive of your computer. After that, you synchronized it with other devices and downloaded it to the server. Therefore, regardless of your location and equipment used (computer, tablet, phone), at any time you have access to the folder stored in the "cloud". Agree, this is extremely convenient and effective. Especially considering that today there are special applications for mobile devices that allow you to view documents stored in this way.
You have already understood the brief essence of Dropbox. What kind of program it is and how it works, you will understand by reading this article. It is important not to miss the details, so you can enjoy the full range of functions, and here, believe me, there are a lot of them. I would like to note that the developers have put a simplified interface in which even a novice user will understand. We can say that the idea was a success, since now millions of people are successfully using the service, and this is a good indicator of reliability and quality. Now let's look at the main advantages of "cloud" storage of information.
Benefits of Dropbox
You can talk a lot about the advantages of the service and the application itself, but we will consider a few of the main ones, after which you can draw certain conclusions for yourself. Of course, there are small flaws, which will also be said a few words. So, the biggest plus is reliability. If you uploaded files to the "cloud", you can be sure that no one will steal them from there. Moreover, such servers have a high level of reliability, therefore they work extremely stably, and if they go to service, it is planned, therefore, they will warn you about this. You are also 100% protect your documents from viruses. Even with the most reliable antivirus on your computer, you do not have such a high guarantee. This is due to the fact that any OS has so-called “holes” in the system through which spyware programs leak.
But that is far from all. As noted above, you get full access to your files over the Internet. That is, you can enter the program at any time, having only a connection to the network. By the way, it’s worth mentioning a lack here. If you do not have the Internet and there is another device, not the one from which you downloaded, then you will not get access. The same applies to a slow Internet connection, although this is more likely the problem of your provider, rather than the service. That, perhaps, is all about the pros and cons.
Dropbox program - what is it and how to use it?
We figured out the service as such, so now I would like to say a few words directly about the program. First, the most important thing is that you need to download and install the program. The process is exactly the same as for installing any other software. The only thing you need to remember is that it is advisable to download Dropbox from the official website, so you will avoid faking the utility, infecting the system with viruses, stealing files, etc. unpleasant moments. We also pre-register on the official website. His address is Dropbox.com. The process takes no more than a few minutes.
Then everything is extremely simple. The files you need are placed in a special folder. It is called, as a rule, in exactly the same way as the program. After some time, it depends on the speed of your Internet connection and server load, all documents will become available on other synchronized devices, and you can use them. Keep in mind that a program must also be installed on another computer or tablet. Well, now let's take a look at the functionality that the service offers us.
Service Features
Of course, you must understand that the amount of space that is allocated for each user is limited. When registering, you will immediately receive 2 gigabytes. In principle, this is quite enough, especially when it comes to small programs, presentations, etc. materials. But you have the opportunity to expand. To do this, you need to invite new users to the system. For each person you get 250 megabytes, therefore, 4 people - 1 gigabyte, etc. If you work in an office where the same file is edited by several employees, and then many copies are created, then you must agree to figure out what is that is not so simple.
If you have Dropbox, you can change one file by adding or removing what you need. Moreover, the program’s functionality allows you to roll back to earlier versions, which is extremely convenient. Another important point: if you work with large files, then this service will become your indispensable assistant. This is due to the fact that now there is no need to upload files to mail or Skype. It is enough to send users special links, clicking on which you can get an important document.
Step-by-step instructions for adding files to the cloud
We’ve already figured out a bit how to use Dropbox. In principle, there is nothing complicated, because, as noted above, the developers paid great attention to the simplicity of the program, and they did it well. Let's see what needs to be done to add your first file to the cloud. The first thing you need to install the program, then activate the account, it can be a business class or regular. Drag the file you want into the created folder and click "save as." You probably wonder, how does Dropbox sync work? You do not need to do anything, because after you add your first document, it automatically syncs with the web service and devices where you have access to this program.
If you want to use the service directly, without the participation of the program, then you need to go to the official website and go to your account. The address is as follows: http://dropbox.com. At the top of the home screen you will see an icon, if you point at it, it will say "download". Click and add the necessary file to us from the computer. After that, a corresponding indicator will appear, which indicates that the documents are being downloaded. At the end, a beep will sound. You cannot upload files over 10 gigabytes over the Internet.
Advantages of Dropbox over a regular network drive
This question is probably asked by every second user. You already know a little about the work of Dropbox - what it is, and what is the use of this service, we also figured out, but I would like to say a few words about the network drive. In principle, these two services are very similar, the difference is that when working with "cloud" file storage in Dropbox, you can continue to work with documents whenever you want and wherever it suits you. As for network drives, the situation here is a bit different. The fact is that most often there is no synchronization option, and without access to the Internet it is impossible to get the document you need. That's what the Dropbox program is good for.
But that is far from all. If you worked with a document without an Internet connection, then all changes will be synchronized and made after access to the network appears. This is extremely convenient, because you do not need to add or remove something yourself. Unfortunately, network drives do not currently provide such wide possibilities to their users, and the set of functions here is much smaller. As noted above, you are 100% protect your files, it is impossible to hack or "steal" in any other way, so you only win. Moreover, it is free, so why not take advantage?
A little program menu
Let's take a closer look at what we are offered and how useful it is. The first thing that is recommended to be done after registration is to receive instructions, after which you will be sure that you did everything correctly and your account is set up. Next, you will be offered to participate in the referral program and receive another 6 gigabytes of additional space. So let's take a closer look at the “files” menu. From here you can upload new documents, create folders and edit them. Be careful, the more convenient and understandable for yourself you are editing this menu, the easier it will be for you in the future. Here you can add files to folders that will be accessible to all people.
Another useful tab is called Events. This is not to say that it is vital, but its presence can significantly simplify the life of a simple user. Here you can track activity throughout your account or any separate folder. There is also access to a tab called “Shared Files and Folders”. Here you can open a document or even a whole folder. In simple words, it is possible to make a document available for use by other users of the service. After that, you can send direct links to the file, the recipient can only click on them and download the contents. You can either create a public folder or make it already existing.
What can be stored, and a little more about the pros
Let's understand in more detail what can be uploaded to the service. As we have already figured out, installing Dropbox is quite simple, after the process is completed, you can enjoy the full functionality. Here you can download scripts, content, music and much more. If you are engaged in sales on the Internet, then this service will be very useful for you. The fact is that you can send by mail links to the goods or services being sold. This not only saves strength, but also precious time. Also here you can store backup files. Unlike network drives, they are stored for a month, so if necessary, you can easily restore the data you need.
Currently, all mobile applications allow you to access the program for free. Therefore, you have access to the content anywhere and time, but this has already been said. It is also worth noting that Dropbox installs on your computer very quickly and does not take up much space. This is especially true for older laptops and PCs, where every 100 megabytes of RAM is of great importance. Do not repeat once again that this is a great way to forget about what CDs, DVDs and flash drives are. That, perhaps, is all that can be said about the main functions of the program. As you can see, there is everything that is necessary for both a beginner and an advanced user.
Some more useful information
If you often work on large projects that change every now and then, the best way to simplify your life and those around you is to install the described program and take advantage of the service. There is Dropbox for Windows, Linux, Android and other popular operating systems. Therefore, you can install the program on almost any platform. You can find a huge amount of useful information and files for yourself, for this it is recommended to use a public folder where people add different documents. If any of your work colleagues made changes to the file, then you will immediately see this and will be in the know. Mobility is the main hobby of the program, it is always at hand, as noted above, you do not need to perform Dropbox authorization. Logging in is automatic and even offline.
It is not necessary to use the program only for work. While on vacation, you can upload photos and videos to the "cloud" and send them to your friends and relatives. The developers of this software have created an information site that allows you to share impressions of using the utility, its address: dl.dropbox. Remember, if you mistakenly made a change to a document, then do not panic, it can easily be canceled by rolling back to the previous version. The same applies to accidental deletion. All information on the activity of your account is stored for a month.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that the program is extremely easy to use, the review is quite voluminous. We fully understood the concept of Dropbox, what it is, and also what the program is for. The main thing is to understand the principle of work. You upload the file to the service that is stored there. If you ask the developers what benefits, the answer is simple: they get good money for it, since most people buy a place and premium accounts that provide more opportunities. After reading the article, you should have understood the meaning of Dropbox, what kind of program it is and what audience of users it is aimed at. These are completely different people, businessmen, students, office workers, architects, etc.
The most important thing is that even a child will understand how to use Dropbox, this is the main advantage of the service. In combination with high reliability and file security, you get an indispensable helper. If the allocated free space is not enough for you, then for only $ 10 a month you can purchase another 100 gigabytes of space. As a reference, I would like to say that in 2011 the company earned more than $ 240,000,000, and this amount is growing steadily every year, which indicates the popularity of the service. Here, in fact, is all about Dropbox, what kind of program it is, we hope you understand.