Google Drive is your cloud friendly file drawer
April 21, 2016
Google Drive is your cloud friendly file drawer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Overall Satisfaction with Google Drive
Google Drive is one of many cloud linked services that aims to store your information online and embed into your services that Google can tap into. There are many options in the cloud file landscape, but Google Drive is one of the easier to use because it ties directly into your email and other Google account products.
The main reasons to utilize a Google Drive strategy is to free up dependency upon files on your work computer. You can access your Google Drive content from anywhere you can log in to the service, or any device. I have a multitude of spreadsheets and documents from years ago before Google Drive even existed that are in there which have been shared with colleagues and collaborators. I can edit the files, collaborate with the files and save files directly from email into my Google Drive and access them from any computer I am on at the office or at home which is a massive plus for me and my teammates.
The main reasons to utilize a Google Drive strategy is to free up dependency upon files on your work computer. You can access your Google Drive content from anywhere you can log in to the service, or any device. I have a multitude of spreadsheets and documents from years ago before Google Drive even existed that are in there which have been shared with colleagues and collaborators. I can edit the files, collaborate with the files and save files directly from email into my Google Drive and access them from any computer I am on at the office or at home which is a massive plus for me and my teammates.
- Collaborative file editing and workflow.
- Sharing large files and saving a backup of large files.
- Accessing files from different locations or devices without having to risk carrying them on a usb drive.
- Tie spreadsheets and other files directly to live information on the web.
- Cluttered inferfaces can make each app seem different.
- Constant updates that add functionality are nice but constant updates that change where "that button is" are headaches sometimes.
- Further improved compatibility with Mac documents and other file types.
- If you are not careful your workspace becomes a cluttered mess.
- Reduce the amount of risk inherent in carrying USB drives around.
- Improve the ability for teammates to exchange information in a timely manner.
- Reduce the dependence upon specific devices with specific files.
- Ability to remotely print and save PDF files even on Windows.
iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, the list goes on and on and on. The cloudy skies are becoming more and more crowded by the day with providers. Google is a huge company and brand. While there is always the risk that they will disable a product such as Google Reader or create a strange product no one knows how to use such as Wave, you know that you can trust that Google will be around for a long time. Also, the price is very competitive being that it's basically free.