Google Drive and Dropbox differences

[kurzz]

I've been playing around with Google Drive today and noticed that Google seems to handle file changes differently from Dropbox.

I use Apple disk images a lot and with Dropbox, only small changes to the disk image gets uploaded. Whereas, with Google, the entire disk image gets re-uploaded again. Is anyone else noticing this? I don't know if this is actually what it is doing but it sure is taking a long time to upload a 1 byte test change to a text file within the disk image. (I've unmounted it).

If this is true, this might be something to consider for those who are thinking of using Google's product.

I haven't yet tested how it handles Apple's bundle packages like iPhoto.

 

[snberk103]

Thank you for the observation. Don't have Google Drive yet - terms of use are a bit scary. But if they fix that I will know what to look for when I test it.

 

[kurzz]

I justed wanted to follow-up and here's what I've noticed:

- Google re-uploads the entire file, instead of changes within the file (this makes a difference when dealing with zip, dmg, or other containers.

- Google keeps copies or versions of every file modified (like Dropbox), except they keep the entire file. So making a small change to a zip or dmg document and closing it, results in a different version of the entire file, doubling the disk space registered by Google Drive. For example, my 500mb disk image, now takes up 1gb according to Google and triples if I make a tiny change to it. Google Drive auto-deletes versions that are 30 days old but provides no option to disable versioning for a file.

These are the two things that Dropbox has no problem with. It only uploads changes within a file (the blocks or bits) and its versioning system doesn't register as taking up more space.

 

[tomtendo]

Google Drive vs Drop Box

Whats your take on these two 'similar' services?

 

[MacDawg]

Hard to beat Dropbox integration into everything (apps, etc)
I have both, but haven't really used Google Drive much at all

I love Dropbox though, and it is totally a part of my work flow
It works as advertised, works really well and just continues to expand into apps

 

[roadbloc]

Not keen on many Google things other than Android and the search engine. I use Dropbox. It's fast enough for me.

 

[maflynn]

I don't think I want google claiming ownership or using my stuff. I could be wrong but dropbox doesn't do this.

For google most of their services are geared to creating and generating targeted ads, I prefer not having my files being used in that manner.

I'm content with dropbox and what they offer.