Does iCloud drive use up hard drive storage space?

You're welcome

Thanks for the Heads up, just fired it off to them

I followed your advice on the day, not had a reply as yet ....

You won't get a reply, but they will get your feedback

zinnerear wrote:

When one goes to purchase a new mac online and is given the question of how much internal storage to purchase, why doesn't Apple enlighten the potential purchaser by informing them of how much space iCloud and Mail will consume and why it might be a good idea to buy enough? I thought I only needed enough for my apps and some 'workspace' for active projects as I use an external hard drive for everything else. Now I know different. Wasn't Apple's slogan early on, "Think Different"?

How do Apple know how much space you will use when you don't ?

😉

Csound1 wrote:

You won't get a reply, but they will get your feedback

Thanks

Hmm, this is an intriguing topic. I myself, once an Apple Genius, now a full-time professional photographer and videographer have found myself at odds with the whole "cloud" thing. As a normal consumer, it's very convenient that it backs up my iPhone and iPad, and my photos are safe, and synced with my Mac. However, as a professional I need all the reliable storage I can get, which means I don't prefer that iCloud Drive suck up all of the storage on my Mac Pro (2013). It only has a 256 Flash SSD, and I too was paying for the 200Gb iCloud drive service.

My solution: I purchased a device called "Transporter" made by Connected Data and Drobo. Some of you may have heard these names. I'm an avid user of Drobo units for my professional work, as I can increase the size of my drive array at any given time, and it's super secure. So dependable, that my first Drobo from 2010 it still in use. It's reached nearly 20TB, BUT it's nice to see that the thing still runs strong. This still did not resolve my issue with cloud storage on my mac, until 2013 when I purchase the Transporter.

This device is remarkable, in that you actually "own" your cloud. Let me explain. It's a small little cone shaped device, that can be purchase with or without an installed HDD. I purchased without on Amazon, and it cost me about $200. I bought a $60 2TB HDD to put inside. The way it works, is very much like Dropbox, but you don't pay any fees. The storage unit is located in home or office or wherever, and is typically plugged into an ethernet port on your router or modem. You create an account with their service (free), register your Transporter and download the Mac App, and corresponding apps for Windows, iOS or Android depending on your use. Just like iCloud drive, the Mac and Windows versions will create a folder in your Finder (Windows Explorer for you PC peeps). At that point, you can drag and drop any files you want into that folder just like iCloud Drive. However, there is a benefit here as the device has a folder SPECIFICALLY for off system storage. The Transport Library folder will allow you to save documents, regardless of the size, and it will be physically located on your Transporters internal HDD, but accessible from any device you have setup with the app and your sign in credentials.

That said, the app on iOS and Android have a function like iCloud to make a backup of all of your photos and videos on your device. It does this very well in fact. I use multiple, and iPhone and an Android, and once an iPad. All of those devices were backing up to my Transporter. Now, this is where it gets cool for me, because I live in Tokyo, but travel to US on a regular basis. But nothing changes with the functionality, but I wanted to have my files local for my work flow. I bought a second, and the files can sync over to the other Transporter thousands of miles away, and I'm good to go before I even land. It has collaborative features as well, if this is something you're interested in.

Short version, you own your own cloud and off system storage. So you could back up photos and videos from your devices, files from your computers, but have access to all of it from every device. You can send and share files to and from the device from your computer or mobile device. And when you want to share something, you just share a link to the file or folder like you would with Dropbox, and your recipient doesn't have to create an account to download the file locally. $260 3years ago, and the thing is still making it work for me. It is absolutely essential that I have it. It has integration with other apps on iOS and Android, and is stupid simple to setup and get going. They have a wonderful support team, and the quality of the product is second to none, in my experience.

For a pro, a Drobo Mini of Drobo 5D with a Transporter for convenience, and for the regular person that wants to save storage, just a Transporter with 1-2TB HDD will make all the difference for backing up and relocating files, photos and other stuff you want.

Magnificent, thank you 🙂

That is really useful info, thank you! I'm using a DroboMini and had seen the Transporter but wasn't sure what it did. Now I know, after your post! I'm disappointed about iCloud Drive.... I also thought it was a good way to make a safe backup off site, but I was wrong! Tried to give you a helpful vote but I think only opening poster can do that?

iCloud is a synchronization service, it is not additional storage, using as if it is will fail. As you have found out already. Use it properly, or use something else, simple choice.

Why is it that Apple do not provide the option for iCloud Drive to sync a file or not as per other offerings? I feel sure given the posts I have read here - and countless others across the net - they are aware of the disappointment amongst users. Having that feature would boost the sales no end IMO. I for one would sign up immediately.

It's not a product they sell. There's nothing to boost. Apple has designed their iCloud service for the way they feel their customers use the cloud.

They cater to immediacy and sharing, not archival storage.

Users are disappointed in all kinds of things.

How can it be something they don't sell when you have to pay for it? I take it from your reply Apple make no profit from the revenue from iCloud Drive paid plans? I and countless others feel Apple in this instance haven't designed iCloud Drive for the way customer wants to use the product. I agree users are disappointed in all sorts of things - but the balance weighs heavily on the negative side with this particular offering. One look here and elsewhere confirms that.

There are millions of satisified iCloud users. There is no "iCloud Drive" plan. There is iCloud Storage, of which iCloud Drive is a component.

A user has the option to purchase additional iCloud storage. Where do I imply there's no profit? Apple's (considerable) profits are driven by their overall approach, not by any one product or offering. iCloud fits into the way millions of Apple customer use their products.

If you can believe the published stats about the oh-so-secretive Apple, iCloud has roughly a third of the US cloud market. And ~300,000,000 registered users. 9,000,000,000 photos uploaded annually to this supposedly weak iCloud thing. Seems to me they are getting it right for a sizable part of the market, despite not offering selective sync.

That can't be disputed because you want them to ape a feature Dropbox provides.

It doesn't fit your needs. No harm, no foul. Get Dropbox. I use both. I'm sure lots of people do, as they are different products.

Who (apart from you) says that it is for no profit?