JMPC
Level 1 (25 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Is iCloud Drive a good substitute for Dropbox?

Hello.


I'm on a MacBook Air - 2014 with OS X El Capitan 10.11.5 installed.

I'm an user of iCloud Drive, but I currently only use the free 5 Gbs. I would like to upgrade to 50 Gbs.


I have an iPod Nano 3rd Generation & only this MacBook Air. My question is:


Is iCloud Drive a good substitute for Dropbox, Onedrive and other 'digital storage platforms'?

Is it safe enough to store any kind of files on it? Or is it only adequate for the iLife family apps and other Apple specific files (QuickTime, Final Cut Pro...).

Can I safely store a video on any format? Safely store Microsoft Office files on it?

If I upgrade to 50 Gbs (or more) will it be worth it?! Because currently 5 Gbs is enough for me... but if I could use it the same way I use Dropbox & Onedrive, I won't hesitate upgrading.

 

Thank you in advance for any help you may give me.

Best regards.

MacBook Air, OS X El Capitan (10.11.5)

Posted on Jul 6, 2016 1:08 PM

by Csound1,Solvedanswer
Csound1 Csound1
Level 9 (50,402 points)
Desktops
A:

It offers nothing for a single device that can't be done without it Unless you use iCloud mail, in which case it offers mail). As an "off the Mac" storage solution it is no use.

Posted on Jul 6, 2016 1:26 PM

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Q: Is iCloud Drive a good substitute for Dropbox?

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  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Jul 6, 2016 6:37 PM in response to Lawrence Finch
    Level 9 (58,848 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 6, 2016 6:37 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

    Lawrence Finch wrote:

     

    iCloud Drive works like Dropbox; it is not the same as iCloud. But a big difference is that Dropbox folders can be shared with anyone you choose, while iCloud Drive files and folders can only be shared among devices sharing the same iCloud ID.

     

    I use both; I use iCloud Drive to share files among my 3 Macs, 2 iPads and 2 iPhones. I use Dropbox to share files among the members of my development team.

    Thanks for the clarification!

  • by Csound1,

    Csound1 Csound1 Jul 6, 2016 6:38 PM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 9 (50,402 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 6, 2016 6:38 PM in response to Meg St._Clair

    But this question refers to iCloud Drive specifically

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Jul 6, 2016 6:40 PM in response to Csound1
    Level 9 (58,848 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 6, 2016 6:40 PM in response to Csound1

    Csound1 wrote:

     

    But this question refers to iCloud Drive specifically

    Yes, I understand that. What I meant was I wouldn't have a problem with that feature of iCloud Drive because, the way I use DropBox, I keep everything on my Mac as well so, it would be pretty much the same.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jul 7, 2016 8:14 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 9 (53,936 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 7, 2016 8:14 AM in response to Meg St._Clair

    iCloud Drive is really set up to act more like iTunes Match where an additional copy is kept in the cloud for access by other devices but is not designed to act as off-computer storage. It can be used that way but it isn't intended to be used that way. 

     

    Jan. 2016: Using iCloud Drive without caching files locally on computer - https://discussions.apple.com/message/29707288#29707288 - "You can turn off iCloud Drive on your Mac (system preferences > iCloud > iCloud drive > off) and access iCloud Drive via your browser at iCloud.com > iCloud Drive."

     

    Oh, I also dislike the way Apple (and therefore other people posting to ASC) uses one term for multiple things which leads to confusion:

    - iCloud is used to refer for services such as Match, Apple Music, iCloud Drive.

    - Apple uses the same term "app" for things that run on computers and iOS devices, but they are decidedly not the same (yet??? -- I shudder).

    - Coming down the road is "MacOS". Or wait; wasn't that what was introduced back in the 1980s? My G4 on the floor next to me already has MacOS on it (OS9).

     

    You'd think if they can come up with all these new gadgets they could come up with some new names.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Jul 7, 2016 8:20 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 9 (58,848 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 7, 2016 8:20 AM in response to Limnos

    Limnos wrote:

     

    You'd think if they can come up with all these new gadgets they could come up with some new names.

    I agree, it can be quite confusing. I've also been tripped up by "Air" and "Mini" I expect "Pro" is going to present similar problems when, as they do, people post in the wrong forums.

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jul 7, 2016 8:43 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 9 (53,936 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 7, 2016 8:43 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Oh, and "SE". Isn't a SE a cute little box that runs System 7?

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Jul 7, 2016 8:48 AM in response to Limnos
    Level 9 (58,848 points)
    iPhone
    Jul 7, 2016 8:48 AM in response to Limnos

    Limnos wrote:

     

    Oh, and "SE". Isn't a SE a cute little box that runs System 7?

    How could I have forgotten! What's next, the iPad LC? The iPhone Newton?

  • by Limnos,

    Limnos Limnos Jul 7, 2016 8:58 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 9 (53,936 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 7, 2016 8:58 AM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Coming soon: Siri's older sister "Lisa"
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