Thirith on 6/11/2012 at 14:13
I've started using cloud services such as Skydrive and Dropbox more extensively, not least because I'm currently working two jobs, doing a lot of work from home, and it's an improvement over having everything on USB drives. I've mainly been doing this via the services' browser portals rather than using the service apps on my computers at home and at work because I've been trained to have as few active services on my profiles as possible.
However, I'm now thinking that perhaps this is old-fashioned and the apps have little to no impact on how well the computers work. Can any of you tell me whether there's much of an impact on a system's performance if they've got the Skydrive or Dropbox app running in the background, synchronising folders and files? If there is, e.g. if the system stutters every now and then because it's synchronising data while I'm playing, I'll stick to using the browser portals. Otherwise, though, it would be much more practical to install the apps and access synchronised folders as if they were regular network folders shared across the computers.
Renzatic on 6/11/2012 at 20:32
Dropbox only pegs the CPU when it detects something has changed in its folder structure. Even when it's going full tilt, it doesn't jump above 3.5% usage, and only lasts as long as it takes to upload the file and check it against the online database. Otherwise it just sits there, eating up 50MB of ram without wasting any CPU cycles.
I haven't tested out Skydrive yet, but I'm thinking I'll see similar results with it. I usually have at least one running at any given time, and I've yet to see either one bog down my machine.
Yakoob on 7/11/2012 at 01:22
I got dropbox but dont like it just yet as you need to set it up in a specific place; I kind of wish you could create repositories in different areas ala SVN so that I can keep different files in logical places rather than moving anything I want to be synched to the dropbox folder. Also hate how it doesn't give you much feedback (cant tell which file is being synched or how much is done, except for arbitrary 'synching 4 files, 2 hrs remaining').
I also recently started using the online google docs, so I am eager to download their client and see how it compares.
Hows skydrive?
Renzatic on 7/11/2012 at 01:32
Quote Posted by Yakoob
I got dropbox but dont like it just yet as you need to set it up in a specific place; I kind of wish you could create repositories in different areas ala SVN so that I can keep different files in logical places rather than moving anything I want to be synched to the dropbox folder. Also hate how it doesn't give you much feedback (cant tell which file is being synched or how much is done, except for arbitrary 'synching 4 files, 2 hrs remaining').
Just look at the folders. If it has a green checkmark, every file within is synced. A blue swirl? It's uploading something within. You can find out which file it's uploading specifically by diving into the folder and seeing which ones have the blue swirl at the corner of the icon.
No, it's not the most verbose thing in the world, but I find it fairly straightforward
I like it's browser based client a little better, but other than that, it's almost exactly the same.
Thirith on 7/11/2012 at 07:56
Thanks for the feedback, guys. So far I'm pretty happy with Skydrive, even when just using the browser portal. I've now installed the app and it's definitely handy. Also, while one of my jobs is completely batshit crazy when it comes to IT security (we have to work using the same rules as the UK Foreign Office, while having the most inept IT support...) at the other place they were more than happy to give me admin rights so I could install the Skydrive app.
The one thing that threw me about Dropbox (which I'm also using since the other teachers use it to share course materials) is that shared folders on someone else's account count towards my data limit. Since we're using film clips for the course, those 2GB were quickly used up...
zombe on 7/11/2012 at 11:11
No need to have DropBox run all the time - just start it if you need to sync and close it afterwards. Syncing while using the files (hence likely altering them) is a waste of resources.
Thirith on 7/11/2012 at 11:33
I'm usually all for saving resources - but if I'm just using Word, Excel and Powerpoint with Dropbox or Skydrive synced, what would I be saving those resources for?
Yakoob on 8/11/2012 at 01:12
I just got GoogleDrive installed and it does even less as far as feedback goes - wont even tell me what speed its synching at o.0 . All I get is "300 out of 700 files synched." And apparently the little file-status-icons dont show up on my Win7 :|
EDIT: actually decided not to derail but (
http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140400) start a new thread in CommChat
zombe on 9/11/2012 at 12:09
Quote Posted by Thirith
I'm usually all for saving resources - but if I'm just using Word, Excel and Powerpoint with Dropbox or Skydrive synced, what would I be saving those resources for?
As a courtesy, i would save _their_ resources - no need to sync when you alter the files 5 sec later.
