Dropbox - A Virtual Flash Drive

As great as a flash drive is for storing and easily moving your data, Dropbox is even better. Dropbox is a cloud based data storage site with benefits far beyond the basic storage a flash drive can deliver.

Reasons to Use Dropbox

1. Unlike a flash drive, you can't forget to take your Dropbox with you. You can't drop it in a sink, a puddle, or a bowl of soup. You can't step on it, drive over it, or mow it with your lawn mover. In other words...since you can't physically hold it, you can't physically lose it.

2. Your Dropbox can be accessed from any computer you've installed it on. If you're not connected to the Internet when you access your Dropbox, it will be synced to all your devices next time you're online.

3. Your Dropbox can be accessed from any computer that's connected to the Internet, whether or not Dropbox is installed on that computer. Just go to Dropbox.com and sign in to your account.

Image from Dropbox

4. Dropbox has an app for iPhone, Android and Blackberry. You can access your files on the go!

5. Dropbox allows you to share folders with others who can collaborate with you and edit files. No more emailing files to others and getting lost in multiple revisions.

6. A "Public" folder is available on your Dropbox which enables the sharing of files or folders without allowing edits or alterations.

7. A "Photos" folder is available on your Dropbox for sharing images with others by way of a unique link. They can only see the images you allow them to access.

Are you convinced? It's time to get started.

Go to the Dropbox website and watch the demo. Then download it to your computer and create an account.

Just about anything you need to learn about Dropbox can easily be found in videos at YouTube. Some users of Dropbox upload videos to YouTube (usually just out of the goodness of their hearts) in order to help others learn more about the service. Some are more professional than others, and some are in languages other than English, but you're sure to find a few that are beneficial to you.

Go to  YouTube (click here) and search topics such as "using Dropbox" or "Dropbox tutorials". 

Watch for further posts on FHClassNotes about specific features of Dropbox that are beneficial to your efforts in genealogy.

- Caroleen