Developers also offer to interact with the Dropbox storage on Windows, MacOS, Linux computer operating systems, on iOS, Android and Windows Phone mobile platforms, as well as in a browser.
Regardless of the choice, from a functional point of view, the versions are approximately the same. Somewhere ahead, computer OS breaks out due to the speed of information processing and the breadth of the proposed settings. At some points, smartphones with tablets are also in the lead – for example, due to the built-in scanner, which helps to instantly transfer paper documents to the network.
And on mobile platforms, the system of push notifications is easier to organize: once colleagues view documents, make a couple of edits, and now a scattering of notifications has already appeared on the screen.
Distributed by Dropbox according to the Freemium model. For free, developers offer 2 gigabytes of free space on hosting and a standard functional set of synchronization, corporate file access and general work on documents.
Extra space can be “earned” by inviting friends, colleagues, and other members of the community. Up to 16 gigabytes are given out for each new Dropbox fan (of course, fraud protection is provided – each new user must complete a series of tasks: as an option, install hosting on a mobile platform, add files or fill out a questionnaire, indicating important personality parameters).
Well, if no one agrees to cooperate, and 2 gigabytes is not enough for full-fledged interaction with the service, it is easy to change the Freemium subscription to a premium one. There are two tariff plans available:
- Plus. The cost is $9.99 per month or $99.00 per year (potential savings $20.88). Among the advantages – 1 terabyte of free space, remote cleaning of downloaded information in case the data fell into the hands of fraudsters, priority service when contacting technical support, the ability to transfer documents to “offline mode” for use and editing without access to the network.
- Professional. The cost is $19.99 per month or $199.00 per year (save $40.88). The functionality is the same as that of Plus, but with some features: the free space will increase to 2 terabytes, the synchronization method will be allowed to be configured (as an option, not all directories and folders can be transferred, but only some), and the files placed in the basket will be stored on servers Dropbox and will be available for recovery within 120 days.
A separate advantage is the change of access parameters. Each individual participant can be turned into a colleague of a certain status. Someone will be able to edit everything at once, while someone can only study the information and make fleeting edits.
Functional diversity and important benefits
Developers recommend starting interaction with Dropbox by reading a special instruction that describes the key theses and details.
But, if you didn’t manage to devote time to reading, the main essence is as follows:
- Sequence of actions. Immediately after registration on the chosen platform, a special folder is organized, which is synchronized and continuously updated, providing the same platform both when using a web browser and when working through smartphones or tablets.
- In addition to synchronization, developers identify two more important processes – download history (information about recent actions is stored for 30 days, but with a Professional subscription – up to 120 days), and a version control system. Each owner of the “folder” is able to know what changes have been made lately and by whom. Both processes help you roll back changes, close access to files, or restore documents due to mistakes.
Reviews
Both critics and individual community members agree that Dropbox is a balanced, flexible and intuitive platform that simplifies some actions and facilitates cooperative interaction. However, it was also not without criticism. Firstly, not everyone likes a modest set of 2 gigabytes in the basic version. Secondly, the protection of personal information is not well thought out.
Ill-conceived logins and passwords are easily hacked, which means that documents can fall into the wrong hands in just ten minutes. And most importantly – Dropbox will not even warn you about the use of non-standard equipment.
