Can I use Cloud Services as an external drive?

quintendehaas · Apr 28, 2012, 11:38 AM

Hi there,
I own a 13" MacBook Pro with a 60GB SSD. I managed to fit everything on this small drive except for my Aperture Library (ca. 25GB). Is there a Cloud Service that I can use to store my Aperture Library in?
I already tried an upgraded Dropbox account (50GB) but in hindsight I learned that you need as much space on you SSD as you use on your Dropbox folder because Dropbox stores a 'copy' of the content on your SSD. Since there is only 12GB of free space on my SSD this didn't work out.

Is there a Cloud Service that I can use just like an external hard drive so that I can store my Aperture Library there and actually use it to see my photos?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Quinten

NazgulRR · Apr 28, 2012, 12:10 PM

Yes, bitcasa is for use just like that! I.e. it acts as an external hard drive over the internet.

http://www.bitcasa.com/

In beta only atm though. Look it up on youtube how it works.

soulniz · Apr 28, 2012, 12:18 PM

iCloud?

WhoisMedina · Apr 28, 2012, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quintendehaas

Hi there,
I own a 13" MacBook Pro with a 60GB SSD. I managed to fit everything on this small drive except for my Aperture Library (ca. 25GB). Is there a Cloud Service that I can use to store my Aperture Library in?
I already tried an upgraded Dropbox account (50GB) but in hindsight I learned that you need as much space on you SSD as you use on your Dropbox folder because Dropbox stores a 'copy' of the content on your SSD. Since there is only 12GB of free space on my SSD this didn't work out.

Is there a Cloud Service that I can use just like an external hard drive so that I can store my Aperture Library there and actually use it to see my photos?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Quinten

You could delete Dropbox from your mac and just use the website but then you could only have access to anything.

I currently use SkyDrive. Since I had an Xbox and Windows Live ID since 2006, I was upgraded to 25 GB free. Standard storage is 7GB free.

scott.n · Apr 28, 2012, 04:40 PM

It won't work. Aperture (and iPhoto and iMovie) libraries only support HFS+ formatted drives.

You'll need to use an external HDD or OptiBay.

Mojo1 · 08:16 PM

Edited because I misread the question and my original post didn't address the OP's question.

GuitarG20 · Apr 28, 2012, 07:58 PM

OP, sounds like it'd be easiest for you to just get an external hard drive and connect that when you need to get in the library... I know it's added bulk, but if you have a workstation set up it's perfectly fine. And, this way you don't need to have internet access to get to the files, just the hard drive. And 25GB is small enough to even just have a flash drive if you want to do it that way.

robgendreau · Apr 29, 2012, 07:50 PM

Yeah, storing photos online would be S L O W even if you could get Aperture to work.

Try a 64GB thumbdrive. Or a SD card, since you probably use them in a camera anyway.

quintendehaas · May 1, 2012, 06:52 AM

Hmmm... Thanks for all your suggestions. Pretty strange there's nothing that suits my needs perfectly with all these cloud developments. I'll just revert back to the 'old' ways of storing stuff.

Thanks!

Abazigal · May 1, 2012, 07:15 AM

Do you need your cd-drive that much? Another alternative would be to install another HDD, and rely on an external drive for the times you need to read or burn a CD.

quintendehaas · May 1, 2012, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abazigal

Do you need your cd-drive that much? Another alternative would be to install another HDD, and rely on an external drive for the times you need to read or burn a CD.

I'm getting the new MacBook Pro when it comes out so I was looking for a solution for the time being. So won't be a problem anymore in the future.

Too big of a hassle to remove ODD.

Thanks anyway!

edk99 · May 1, 2012, 08:51 AM

If it is short term then just get a thumb drive.

ixodes · May 1, 2012, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quintendehaas

I'm getting the new MacBook Pro when it comes out so I was looking for a solution for the time being. So won't be a problem anymore in the future.

Too big of a hassle to remove ODD.

Thanks anyway!

If you're buying a new computer soon, I'd encourage you to buy a USB external hard drive.

They're very useful for a variety of purposes. Physically small & light, extremely low priced per GB, I use one regularly.

Western Digital builds a nice selection. Google them, or go to www.newegg.com

loriayre · Jul 12, 2012, 10:19 AM

You can actually use the "selective sync" feature in Dropbox that allows you to deselect computers that will store copies of certain files or folders. I haven't used it but info about it is here: https://www.dropbox.com/help/175/en

Apr 28, 2012, 11:38 AM	#1
quintendehaas macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2011	Can I use Cloud Services as an external drive? Hi there, I own a 13" MacBook Pro with a 60GB SSD. I managed to fit everything on this small drive except for my Aperture Library (ca. 25GB). Is there a Cloud Service that I can use to store my Aperture Library in? I already tried an upgraded Dropbox account (50GB) but in hindsight I learned that you need as much space on you SSD as you use on your Dropbox folder because Dropbox stores a 'copy' of the content on your SSD. Since there is only 12GB of free space on my SSD this didn't work out. Is there a Cloud Service that I can use just like an external hard drive so that I can store my Aperture Library there and actually use it to see my photos? Thanks in advance. Regards, Quinten
	0

Apr 28, 2012, 05:37 PM	#6
Mojo1 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2011	Edited because I misread the question and my original post didn't address the OP's question. Last edited by Mojo1; Apr 29, 2012 at 08:16 PM.
	-1

Apr 28, 2012, 07:58 PM	#7
GuitarG20 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2011	OP, sounds like it'd be easiest for you to just get an external hard drive and connect that when you need to get in the library... I know it's added bulk, but if you have a workstation set up it's perfectly fine. And, this way you don't need to have internet access to get to the files, just the hard drive. And 25GB is small enough to even just have a flash drive if you want to do it that way. __________________ MBP 8,3 (17")\|\| HTC One X (LTE) \|\| iPhone 3GS \|\| iPod Classic \|\| iPod Video \|\| iPod Shuffle
	0

Jul 12, 2012, 10:19 AM	#14
loriayre macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2012	Use Dropbox with "selective sync" You can actually use the "selective sync" feature in Dropbox that allows you to deselect computers that will store copies of certain files or folders. I haven't used it but info about it is here: https://www.dropbox.com/help/175/en
	0

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Apr 28, 2012, 12:10 PM	#2
NazgulRR macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2010	Yes, bitcasa is for use just like that! I.e. it acts as an external hard drive over the internet. http://www.bitcasa.com/ In beta only atm though. Look it up on youtube how it works.
	0

Apr 28, 2012, 12:18 PM	#3
soulniz macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2012	iCloud?
	0

Apr 28, 2012, 04:40 PM	#5
scott.n macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2010	It won't work. Aperture (and iPhoto and iMovie) libraries only support HFS+ formatted drives. You'll need to use an external HDD or OptiBay.
	0

Apr 29, 2012, 07:50 PM	#8
robgendreau macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2008	Yeah, storing photos online would be S L O W even if you could get Aperture to work. Try a 64GB thumbdrive. Or a SD card, since you probably use them in a camera anyway.
	0

May 1, 2012, 06:52 AM	#9
quintendehaas Thread Starter macrumors newbie Join Date: Feb 2011	Hmmm... Thanks for all your suggestions. Pretty strange there's nothing that suits my needs perfectly with all these cloud developments. I'll just revert back to the 'old' ways of storing stuff. Thanks!
	0

May 1, 2012, 07:15 AM	#10
Abazigal macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Singapore	Do you need your cd-drive that much? Another alternative would be to install another HDD, and rely on an external drive for the times you need to read or burn a CD.
	0

May 1, 2012, 08:51 AM	#12
edk99 macrumors 6502a Join Date: May 2009 Location: FL	If it is short term then just get a thumb drive.
	0