Dropbox: Stupid, or Stupidest file host

Tom · March 22, 2013, 06:14:58 AM

So yeah, I have to use Dropbox for work, and apparently out of the 100MB or so of files I have uploaded myself, my entire 2.5GB is full. Apparently it counts shared files, that don't use any actual space on their service, as against every single account that is sharing those files.

Soooo retarded.

Mr. Analog · March 22, 2013, 06:43:21 AM

If your client is using it they should pay to upgrade their storage to the Business Plan sheez

Lazybones · March 22, 2013, 07:58:33 AM

They are rather clear how it works on the site. If it is for work they should probably be providing you a business account with a pooled limit.

Or get them to use owncloud

Mr. Analog · March 22, 2013, 08:00:25 AM

Or get rackspace somewhere a VPN and FTP set up

Tom · March 22, 2013, 08:20:57 AM

I don't care if they are clear about it. It's stupid.

Lazybones · March 22, 2013, 08:45:51 AM

How can shared files not use space on the service?

Melbosa · March 22, 2013, 08:55:06 AM

OK, so let me get this strait. I upload a 1 MB file, and share with 5 people. Now I've used 6 MB of my account storage limit?

Mr. Analog · March 22, 2013, 08:57:35 AM

Quote from: Melbosa on March 22, 2013, 08:55:06 AM
OK, so let me get this strait. I upload a 1 MB file, and share with 5 people. Now I've used 6 MB of my account storage limit?

https://www.dropbox.com/help/59/en

Tom · March 22, 2013, 09:01:22 AM

Quote from: Melbosa on March 22, 2013, 08:55:06 AM
OK, so let me get this strait. I upload a 1 MB file, and share with 5 people. Now I've used 6 MB of my account storage limit?

No, its someone who has a file that shares it with you, it now counts against your usage, even though it also counts against everyone elses limits as well.

Lazybones · March 22, 2013, 09:05:37 AM

Quote from: Mr. Analog on March 22, 2013, 08:57:35 AM
Quote from: Melbosa on March 22, 2013, 08:55:06 AM
OK, so let me get this strait. I upload a 1 MB file, and share with 5 people. Now I've used 6 MB of my account storage limit?

https://www.dropbox.com/help/59/en

The Important part:

QuoteIf everyone invited to the shared folder is on the same Dropbox for Teams account, the size of the shared folder will be counted against the Team's shared quota once.

IE you should not be using personal dropbox accounts for collaboration, you should share links to files in your personal account and that is about it.

If someone with a giant account shares a shared folder with you it is also OK on your end as long as you are not uploading to it.

Reasonable policy to prevent stacking free accounts and force business users to you know pay for the business service.

Melbosa · March 22, 2013, 09:07:28 AM

OK so can you stop being a part of a shared file once you are done? Re-consume the storage used?

Tom · March 22, 2013, 09:16:03 AM

Quote from: Lazybones on March 22, 2013, 08:45:51 AM
How can shared files not use space on the service?

The question is why it uses everyone's space rather than just the original sharer's.

Quote from: Lazybones on March 22, 2013, 09:05:37 AM
Quote from: Mr. Analog on March 22, 2013, 08:57:35 AM
Quote from: Melbosa on March 22, 2013, 08:55:06 AM
OK, so let me get this strait. I upload a 1 MB file, and share with 5 people. Now I've used 6 MB of my account storage limit?

https://www.dropbox.com/help/59/en

The Important part:
QuoteIf everyone invited to the shared folder is on the same Dropbox for Teams account, the size of the shared folder will be counted against the Team's shared quota once.

Quote from: Lazybones on March 22, 2013, 09:05:37 AM
IE you should not be using personal dropbox accounts for collaboration, you should share links to files in your personal account and that is about it.
They just shared with me, so I accepted the folder. My bad for thinking that their terms didn't suck.

If someone with a giant account shares a shared folder with you it is also OK on your end as long as you are not uploading to it.

I haven't shared to this big folder. Yet its still taking up like 2GB of my storage.

Lazybones · March 22, 2013, 09:20:02 AM

Quote from: Melbosa on March 22, 2013, 09:07:28 AM
OK so can you stop being a part of a shared file once you are done? Re-consume the storage used?

I believe if you have uploaded to the shared folder and you don't own the shared folder all you need to do is go to the sharing section and LEAVE the shared folder.

I have a corporate folder containing about 2GB shared to my personal free account right now from a subcontractor... I does not appear to consume any space for me but also I haven't uploaded anything to it.

As to why this should cost you anything, remember that accept for phone clients or advanced settings EVERY device attached to a dropbox store gets ALL FILES and ALL Updates... IE that is a lot of replication going on when a single file is updated...

Mr. Analog · March 22, 2013, 09:21:45 AM

The basic answer is they offer premium services to stay in business so Dropbox's interest to push those service by shaping their free offerings.

Tom · March 22, 2013, 09:27:35 AM

Yeah, well I don't use the drop box client at all.

It's still stupid.