Cloud storage is a burgeoning market, gaining fast consumer traction with lots of players getting into the mix given increasing demand and lucrative revenue streams.
For today's PC user, digital photographer, graphic artist, videographer and music fan the decision of where to store all those important files and documents can be tricky as deciphering vendor offerings, as well as the pricing options, isn't always so clear.
So in an effort to help Tech Times takes a look at what Google Drive and Dropbox are offering to help you decide which cloud locker best fits your needs.
Dropbox has been a favorite in cloud storage for a number of years, offering a reliable, easy-to-use platform for cloud storage. There are a number of ways to use Dropbox, whether online or using the desktop app, which greatly increases how easy it is to use the service. While the site is easy to use, the design doesn't offer many options for customization.
Google Drive is gaining in popularity as well, largely because of its integration with other Google services and ease of use. It boasts a great design, and is accessible to anyone with a Google account. Not only that, but Google Drive is also linked with Google's full suite of apps, allowing users to create and store documents, spreadsheets, and Powerpoint presentations.
Both services allow users to upload files to cloud storage directly from the desktop folders, as long as the app is installed on the computer.
Google Drive has been very rigorous in terms of pricing, offering 15 GB of storage for free, with $2 per month for 100 B and $10 per month for 1 TB. Dropbox also offers $10 per month for 1 TB, or users can pay $99.99 for a year of 1 TB storage.
But consumers shouldn't just take price points and usability into account. The best solution is choosing a cloud provider that you'll be with for awhile, and that you know your files are safe and protected. And, honestly, given the marketplace is currently in what's called a "race to zero," or a race for one company to offer cloud storage for free, consumers may want to take a bit of time before selecting a vendor.
The reason? Well industry watchers believe that price will soon go the way of the dinosauer in that cloud storage will no longer be a price war scenario. What will matter will be the tools and services being offered with the storage. So it may be a matter of trying each out for a month and checking out the features and user interface as both are likely going to be powerhouses in new functionalities coming down the pipe
At some point, in the very near future, it's likely all of our data will be stored online, and it's already happening in the mobile world with music streaming and photo auto-uploading capabilities.
