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Dropbox
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I, for one, don't use Dropbox. However, I'm a loyal member of the PPC community, so I feel just as affected as everyone else. It's times like these where big companies like Microsoft (Skype), Google (all of their software), and Dropbox (their sync app) try to squash us, but we join together to fight them and create workarounds. The PPC community on here and everywhere is going strong still, because most of us, even though we collect them, still use them daily for a certain task. Just because they are old doesn't mean they are not useful. I use my eMac as a juke box, I'm sure I could have used Dropbox to sync music across my devices, my iBook I use to take note, and my PowerMac G5 I use as a main computer alongside my MacBook Pro and HP desktop (which I'm having lots of issues with, so that is when having the G5 comes in handy)... If Dropbox were to ever read this, here is what I want to say to them... I could have been a paying costumer, but I will never have the need if I can't use the software on the computers I need it the most on.
Yes, that's their 'positive' spin on this.
However, keep this in mind
What happens when you have multiple files to upload? How patient are you going to be uploading each file individually. The website only has a provision to upload one file at a time. What if those are large files?
Who has time to sit there and upload a 1GB folder full of files by hand? How much more difficult is that than just dropping the folder into the Dropbox folder on your HD and letting the desktop app take care of the upload?
My point is that this really is not a viable option.
You know I have dibs on that Intel iMac.
If you want this iMac, all it'll cost you is about $1700! If you're serious, let me know!
No, no no. I was looking at around the cost of the iMac G5 you gave me, oh maybe 10 or so years from now.
Boo! This is a major blow to all PPC users. I've added my voice to the forums, all we can hope is that they reconsider and at least let the app continue working without support.
I'm not hopeful though. Anybody know of any alternative cloud storage services that work on PPC?
I'm not hopeful though. Anybody know of any alternative cloud storage services that work on PPC?
I've been looking since canceling my account with DropBox and it looks like the majority (if not all) services are requiring an Intel CPU and at least 10.6.
It looks like PPC owners will have to resort to their own personal clouds and VPNs...etc. LAME.
You do realize that PowerPC Macs are obsolete and by using it you understand that most modern services will not work on it, right? Don't forget that.
That's one of the things about having PowerPC Macs as a hobby. You find work-arounds, etc, to make your machines still good today.
Of course I realize that PPC Macs are obsolete machines. Technically, a modern service that currently works that will soon stop working is a different scenario. Of course I do not expect or demand that services or certain software packages being created in the Intel age be made compatible with PPC hardware. I do however, expect that something that has been made compatible with the PPC architecture (at a time when PPC Macs were already obsolete and there was no change in that stage of obsolescence) to continue to be compatible to at least the degree that it is now.
But yes, thank you and I will do my best not to forget that fact that I have already been dealing with for the past few years. And doesn't my statement of using a personal cloud and VPN access constitute a work around?
Only obsolete because Apple made it that way. Many XP machines that are older can run a hell of a lot more modern software thanks to Microsoft's generous support. I highly doubt Dropbox will even be considering dropping XP support yet, an OS that is six years older than Leopard.
Maybe every 2Gb/free Dropbox user should consider telling Dropbox they will happily upgrade to the subscription service if PPC support is manintained? Afterall, this is probably a business not security decision - they simply can't match the PPC support costs with the current PPC user revenue.
I no longer use sync services but from what I can tell, Sugarsync looks superior anyway?
I no longer use sync services but from what I can tell, Sugarsync looks superior anyway?
No.
Sugarsync works like Dropbox but they limit you to file size of no more than 300mb. So if you have say, a 450mb video file you drop into the folder it won't upload.
One of the reasons I never fully committed to the service.
Yes, you just need to make an account and download the last PowerPC version of the client. Much like Dropbox, it creates a 'Sugarsync' folder in your home folder. You access the app itself to do various things and there is no direct link to the folder (like with the Dropbox icon in your menubar) but the syncing works the same way.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1932210/SugarSyncManager.dmg
Oh, the irony of providing a Dropbox public link to this in a thread discussing the demise of Dropbox!
Apparently, the 300mb limit is only via the web interface, the desktop application is fine.
I think the main advantage of Sugarsync is the ability to sync any folder you wish.
Hmmm I should check this out again then.
The last time I used Sugarsync was a couple of years back and this limitation was very real then. It's why I stopped using it.
I've just read there might be restrictions on file sharing sizes...guess it's a case of trying it out to know for sure.
I've also read about someone using a homebrew Python client for Owncloud on a G4 which is a Dropbox substitute but requires a bit of tech savvy:
http://forum.owncloud.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=16743
Then there's Unison, again, not exactly straightforward:
http://ppcluddite.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/sync-files-across-your-macs-with-unison.html
So it looks like Sugarsync is up to something.
I downloaded the newest PowerPC version and was directed to their website to sign up. But from there I was redirected to a page with all their paid options, with just a tiiiiiny link at the bottom to the free version.
Now it tells me that the free version is just a 90 day trial! And when I'm look to sign up in that section of the site, I'm only directed to the OSX-Intel download...
Sigh.
I downloaded the newest PowerPC version and was directed to their website to sign up. But from there I was redirected to a page with all their paid options, with just a tiiiiiny link at the bottom to the free version.
Now it tells me that the free version is just a 90 day trial! And when I'm look to sign up in that section of the site, I'm only directed to the OSX-Intel download...
Sigh.
Keaton and I emailed the CEO of Dropbox, Mr. Andrew Houston. I highly doubt we will get a reply but this is quite a shame. What ticks me off even more is that you can still get it working on Windows 2000 even though they dropped support for that too.
How did you implement that? Is rsync working with local backup drives or an online storage?
It syncs with my Intell server that is running Dropbox via SSH. It works for the most part, still a few bugs that need to be fixed.