What is the best cloud service to use. (1 Viewer)

Aug 27, 2009
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We all like free, my Dropbox tells me it cant take any more pictures without making a payment. What is the best cloud storage out there with a realistic storage for free or at least good value. Motorhomers need good cloud storage.
 

Photo4x4

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Ah cloud storage...

Having very recently purchased a new laptop from PC World, Knowhow cloud storage was a part of the package.

Okay, I'll give it a try, I thought.

It started automatically when the computer was switched on. The blurb states that your first upload can take up to 5 days! Well I thought let's give it a go.

Now I have often seen my computers (I have several, 1 for my accounts - Vista, 1 for my photographic work - Windows 7, and 1 for my internet and general work - Windows 10) begin loading or transferring files and the initial estimate (say 3 hours) quickly recalculates as the process actually begins and then comes up with a much lower estimate (say 20 minutes in my example). So I thought that I would give it another go and see what happened.

I stopped the upload and started it again the next day. It took a whole day just to calculate how long the first upload would take. Then it estimated that it would take 256 days to complete the upload, and that was just selecting my document files! :eek: I can't imagine how long it would take if I had selected my photographic files. That of course would be if I left it on all the time. I tried a couple of times but with the same result. Indeed I did leave it running for three days and it had still not reached 1%.

I have now uninstalled it and contacted PC World to cancel the automatic yearly subscription. Yes, it is automatic with no way to adjust this from your on-line account or Knowhow control panel (naughty)! I wonder how many people get caught out with that?

So be warned Buttons, it may work for you, but if not make sure you contact them to stop the payments each year.

BTW of course I already back-up my photographic files to an external hard drive and also to DVDs.

Good luck.

KH

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Aug 27, 2009
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Thanks.....I do back up to my externals but my real problem is my partner, she gives me so much grief that I am not sharing photos from my storage to her Ipad. It worked ok until we ran out of space so now every time she see's a photo on my laptop she says why haven't I got that picture on my ipad;)
Any way of transferring large files from lap top to Ipad would be appreciated. (y)
 

CeeJay13

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iTunes seems to be the only way to do it easily from PC to iPad. I say this after trying to advoid loading iTunes to my laptop!
 
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iTunes seems to be the only way to do it easily from PC to iPad. I say this after trying to advoid loading iTunes to my laptop!
Thanks CJ I have done it via Itunes in the past but will have to do some prep as I cant remember how I went about it.

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Robert Clark

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Thanks.....I do back up to my externals but my real problem is my partner, she gives me so much grief that I am not sharing photos from my storage to her Ipad. It worked ok until we ran out of space so now every time she see's a photo on my laptop she says why haven't I got that picture on my ipad;)
Any way of transferring large files from lap top to Ipad would be appreciated. (y)
Services such as Dropbox will work on multiple devices and keep the all sychronised, providing you've got sufficient memory on each of the devices, OR you can share files/pics etc on a peacemeal basis
Simply install Dropbox on each of the devices and log in using your usual details
 
Apr 9, 2014
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I think it would depend alot on what you are storing if it is photos and you are just wanting general images stored as opposed to RAW formats etc.. then you may want to investigate Google a bit as apparently from their blurb.

Google Photos
Per your Google Photos settings, High Quality uploads are stored for free but Original quality uploads will use up your Drive storage.​

If it is general files (backups) then you have 15Gb for free with Google. Amazon if you have Prime provide unlimited photo storage.
 

tonka

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Messed with dropbox in the past but not bothered to much lately.
Just added Google drive, only 15gb free but for me seems very easy to use. Loaded a program on my PC nad now i have another "drive" listed.. I can upload from my new ANDROID :) !! phone and tablet and then drag them down to the home PC.. All quite idiot proof..
If your looking for a lot of storage then your going to have to pay..

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Mack100

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I use Backblaze, $50 per year
https://www.backblaze.com
Backs up both internal drives on my iMac and both external drives. It's a continuous backup, about 86Gb per day but then I do have a very fast connection, about 150Mbs.
 

CeeJay13

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I have a NAS (Network Attched Storage) RAID drive (Redundent Array of Independent Disks) on the network. Accessible by all devices (except iPad or iPhone without using iTunes).

Back up to independent disk while travelling, backup to NAS drive at first opportunity. DVD for permanent backup.

I know this isn't Cloud storage, but it works for me as it is limitless - in that I can always add more storage if needed.

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Oct 8, 2014
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I'm a newbie and always will be. You never know it all.
Since I became unemployed I have been playing around trying to build my own server. I had a couple of redundant computers from my business and have built a server it can be accessed from anywhere and I think it is more secure than the cloud services.
I know nuffing!! but everything can be done without any specialist software Windows OS provides all the tools and hard drives are cheap. 8tb is currently available for around £200 it will fit into a normal bay on any computer and you'll find it hard to fill.
Just takes a bit of research, time and hair loss.(y)
 
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Why not just have your own cloud ?

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Thanks Jim I do already have a remote storage device with 3TB which I manually back up but for some reason my lovely lady isn't able to connect to it. I think I will have to go back to basics and revamp my system. My son is over in December I think this can be his first job when he arrives.....(y)
 

GJH

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I have a NAS (Network Attched Storage) RAID drive (Redundent Array of Independent Disks) on the network. Accessible by all devices (except iPad or iPhone without using iTunes).

Back up to independent disk while travelling, backup to NAS drive at first opportunity. DVD for permanent backup.

I know this isn't Cloud storage, but it works for me as it is limitless - in that I can always add more storage if needed.
We've used NAS for several years, in addition to having a number of USB external drives. That way we can back up all our files in multiple ways and share any files we wish to. It also means that we aren't at the mercy of companies which might change their Ts&Cs at any time, go bust or have insufficient security to protect our data.

The answer to the question in the OP is "None of them" as far as I'm concerned. That was the case when they first came into the market place significantly about 20 years ago and is the same now.

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GJH

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I use MyCloud from WD for a personal Cloud
Plug in and play
Remote access via app
Seems to work adequately.
The first NAS drive was had was a WD one using software which was supposed to be future proof - until it wouldn't work under Windows 8 and WD didn't want to know. I managed to get it working but it refused to under 8.1. We now use Seagate hardware and FreeFileSync software.
 

Langtoftlad

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...We now use Seagate hardware and FreeFileSync software.
:LOL: :LOL: I've also got a couple of Seagates which work well on my home network but I've never been able to get them to work remotely, hence getting the WD's :LOL::LOL:.
I'm convinced this NAS & Cloud stuff is a branch of the Dark Arts.
Even when I get it all to work, I'm never quite sure how I did it :cool:.

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GJH

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:LOL: :LOL: I've also got a couple of Seagates which work well on my home network but I've never been able to get them to work remotely, hence getting the WD's :LOL::LOL:.
I'm convinced this NAS & Cloud stuff is a branch of the Dark Arts.
Even when I get it all to work, I'm never quite sure how I did it :cool:.
I've known a couple of network managers like that :LOL:

The Seagate Dashboard software that came with the drive we have is very temperamental, which is why I looked for an alternative.

This thread has reminded me that I;d forgotten to replace our old WD drive (which died a few weeks ago) so I've just been to Maplins for another Seagate drive (Personal Cloud) so I shall see how that software works.
 
May 8, 2016
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I have never yet seen a public cloud offering I would trust with sensitive data.

Acronis backup with & Buffalo Terastation NAS storage (RAID 5.1) works for me
 
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Amazon Prime gives you unlimited 'photo' storage. But of course you have to be a Prime subscriber.

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