Dropbox - what is this? Dropbox - what is this program? How to use Dropbox

Anyway, each of us at least once heard the name Dropbox. But since this concept is not familiar to all users of personal computers and laptops, it makes sense to talk about this. Cloud storage of information has long been very popular. You probably already managed to understand, Dropbox - what it is and what this program and service in general is needed for. In short, you download important documents for you on the Internet and do not worry about their spoiling, disappearance, etc.

The essence of Dropbox in a few words

Of course, it is quite difficult to describe such a functional service in several words. However, it is necessary to highlight the most important and important. You created a folder with files on your computer's hard drive. After that, you synchronized it with other devices and uploaded to the server. Therefore, regardless of your location and technology (computer, tablet, phone), you can access the folder stored in the "cloud" at any time. 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 already understood the brief essence of Dropbox. What kind of program is it and how it works, you will understand by reading this article. It is important not to miss the details, so you can enjoy a full range of functions, and there are quite a few of them here, believe me. I would like to note that the developers put a simplified interface, which even the novice user will understand. We can say that the idea was a success, as now millions of people successfully use the service, and this is a good indicator of reliability and quality. And now let's consider the main advantages of "cloud" storage of information.

Advantages of "Dropbox"

About the merits of the service and the application itself, you can say very, very much, but we will consider a few of the main ones, after which you will be able to draw some conclusions for yourself. Of course, there are small shortcomings, of which a few words will also be said. So, the biggest plus is reliability. If you upload files to the "cloud", then you can be sure that no one will steal them from there. Moreover, such servers have a high level of reliability, so they work extremely stably, and if they go into service, then it is planned, therefore, you will be warned about this. Also, you are 100% protected your documents from viruses. Even with the most reliable antivirus on your computer, you do not have such a high guarantee. The reason is that any OS has so-called "holes" in the system, through which spyware penetrates.

But this is not all. As noted above, you get full access to your files via the Internet. That is, you can enter the program at any time, having only a connection to the network. By the way, here it is necessary to say about the shortage. 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. This also applies to a slow Internet connection, although this is more likely the problem of your provider, not the service. Here, perhaps, and everything that concerns pros and cons.

Dropbox program - what is it and how to use it?

With the service as such, we sorted it out, so now I would like to say a few words directly about the program. First, it's 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 about is that you need to download the Dropbox from the official site, so you can avoid faking the utility, infecting the system with viruses, stealing files, etc., unpleasant moments. Also pre-register on the official website. His address is Dropbox.com. The process takes no more than a few minutes.

Further everything is extremely simple. The files you need are placed in a special folder. It is called, as a rule, exactly the same as the program. After a while, it depends on the speed of your Internet connection and server load, all documents will be available on other synchronized devices, and you can use them. Please note that another program or computer must be installed on another computer or tablet. Well, now let's get a little acquainted with the functional that the service offers us.

Service Features

Of course, you should understand that the amount of space that is allocated for each user is limited. When you register, you immediately get 2 gigabytes. In principle, this is quite enough, especially if it is a question of 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 will get 250 megabytes, hence 4 people - 1 gigabyte, etc. If you work in an office where the same file is edited by several employees, and then a lot of copies are created, then you must agree what is That, it is not so simple.

In the case if you have a "Dropbox", you can change one file, adding or removing what you need. Moreover, the functionality of the program allows you to rollback to earlier versions, which is extremely convenient. Another important point: if you work with large files, then this service will be an indispensable assistant for you. This is due to the fact that now you do not need to upload files to mail or Skype. It's enough just to send users special links, passing 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 much attention to the simplicity of the program, and they succeeded in their fame. Let's see what we need to do to add our first file to the "cloud". First of all, you need to install the program, then activate the account, it can be business-class or normal. Drag the file you need to the created folder and click "Save As." You are probably wondering, but how does the synchronization of Dropbox go? You do not have to do anything, after all, after you add your first document, it automatically synchronizes 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, you need to go to the official site and go to your account. The address is as follows: http://dropbox.com. At the top of the working screen you will see an icon, if you click on it, it will be written "download". We click and add the necessary file from the computer. After that, the corresponding indicator appears, which indicates that the documents are being downloaded. At the end, you will hear a beep. Through the Internet, you can not upload files that take up more than 10 gigabytes.

Benefits of Dropbox over an ordinary network drive

This question is asked, probably, every second user. You already know a little about the work of Dropbox - what is it, 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" storage of files in "Dropbox", you can continue working with documents whenever you like and where it suits you. As for network drives, the situation here is slightly different. The fact is that most often there is no possibility of synchronization, and without access to the Internet it is impossible to get the document you need. This is what the "Dropbox" program is good for.

But this is not all. If you worked with a document without an Internet connection, then all changes will be synchronized and made after the access to the network is available. This is extremely convenient, because you do not need to add or delete something yourself. Unfortunately, network drives currently do not give such wide opportunities to their users, and the feature set here is much smaller. As noted above, you are 100% protected your files, they can not be hacked or "taken away" in any other way, so you will only win. Moreover, it's 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 after registration is to instruct, after which you will be sure that everything is done correctly and your account is set up. Next you will be invited 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. Here you can upload new documents, create folders and edit them. Be attentive, the more convenient and understandable for yourself you will edit this menu, the easier it will be for you in the future. Here you can add files to folders that will be available to all people.

Another useful tab is called "events". It can not be said that it is vital, but its availability can greatly simplify the life of a simple user. Here you can track activity across your entire account or in a separate folder. Also there is access to the tab called "Shared Files and Folders". Here you can open a document or even an entire folder. In simple words, it is possible to make the document available for use by other users of the service. After that you can send direct links to the file, the recipient can only navigate through them and download the content. A public folder you can either create, or make it existing.

What can be stored, and a little more about the pros

Let's take a closer look at what you can download to the service. As we've already figured out, installing Dropbox is pretty simple, after the process is completed, you can enjoy 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 helpful. The matter is that you can send by mail links to the sold goods or service. This not only saves power, but also precious time. Also here you can store the backup files. Unlike network drives, they are stored for a month, so if necessary, you can easily restore the data you need.

Currently, all applications for mobile devices allow you to access the program for free. Therefore, you have access to the content at any place and time, but this has already been said. It's also worth noting that Dropbox on your computer is installed very quickly and does not take up much space. This is especially true for old laptops and PCs, where every 100 megabytes of RAM is of great importance. It is not necessary to repeat once again that this is a great way to forget about what CDs, DVDs and flash drives are. Here, perhaps, and everything that can be said about the basic functions of the program. As you can see, there is everything you need for both beginners and advanced users.

Some more useful information

If you often work on large projects that are constantly changing, the best way to simplify yourself and those around you is to install the program described and take advantage of the service features. There is a Dropbox for Windows, Linux, Android and other popular operating systems. Therefore, you can install the program on almost any platform. You can find for yourself a huge amount of useful information and files, for this it is recommended to use a public folder where people add different documents. If any of the colleagues at work has made changes to the file, you will immediately see it and will be aware of it. 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 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 family. Developers of this software have created an information site, allowing to share impressions of the utility, its address: dl.dropbox. Remember, if you mistakenly made a change to a document, do not panic, you can easily undo it by rolling back to the previous version. The same applies to accidental deletion. During the month, all information on the activity of your account is stored.

Conclusion

Despite the fact that the program is extremely easy to use, the review turned out to be quite voluminous. We completely 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 a file to the service that is stored there. If you ask what benefit the developers, the answer is simple: for this they get good money, as most buy seats and premium accounts that give more opportunities. After reading the article, you had to understand the meaning of the Dropbox work, what kind of program it is and what audience of users it is aimed at. They are completely different people, businessmen, students, office employees, architects, etc.

The most important thing is how to use Dropbox, even a child will understand, this is the main plus of the service. In combination with high reliability and security of files, you get an indispensable assistant. If the allocated free space is not enough for you, then for only $ 10 per 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 every year this amount is steadily growing, which indicates the popularity of the service. Here, in fact, and everything about Dropbox, what kind of program, we hope you became clear.