Dropbox is one of many “cloud storage services” that offer to store
your files in “the cloud.” You can store
documents, pictures, videos, and music in the free 2GB of space (can be increased
to 2.5GB with some additional steps).
Dropbox can accessed by either going to their web site, https://www.dropbox.com/ and signing up or
logging in (on any Internet connected computer), by using the Dropbox program
(from the web site or ninite.com), or by app (both Android and iOS).
Slight tangent:
What is “The Cloud?” The cloud is just a
way of saying non-local data storage. Your
data is stored on a distant computer. It’s
the same idea as web based email, such as Gmail and Yahoo. You can store up to 25GB in Gmail, and other
services offer varying amounts of storage.
With Dropbox
installed on your computer, you can tell it which folders and file you want to
keep updated. When you click and drag a
folder or file to the Dropbox folder, which tells it to sync that item. You can treat that folder just like any other
folder, meaning that you can also copy it to your own local storage, such as an
external hard drive. You can even save
files directly to Dropbox.
The Dropbox acts
just like any other folder on your computer.
You can copy, cut, paste or delete files as you see fit. If you right-click on the file, you now have
a “Copy Dropbox Link” item in the menu.
You can email this link, once pasted, to people. They can only see that item, no others.
In my Dropbox, I
also have folders for pictures I’ve taken of my backyard, documents for the computers
and classes, screenshots from car racing, and my stories. Mini and Myrtle are my Chevy Cavaliers.
You can use
keyboard commands or the right-click menu to organize the files and create new
folders, or delete folders and file you no longer want in Dropbox.
F2 Renames
highlighted item
More commands: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/126449
