Technology TidBits

Drop box is a free* web service where you can back up files, share files with others, and as long as you have an internet connection, save files to this location.

And it is simple simon to use.

And you can download the software to multiple computers and log in with the account you created.

How much easier can it get?

To get started, first visit Drop Box’s website to download the software:

https://www.dropbox.com/

1.  Download the software by following the links. Drop Box works on Windows, Macs, and Linux systems.

2.  Create an account – give yourself a password.  When you log in for now on, you will use the email you provided as a user name and the password you just created.

3.  And that is about it.  For Windows users, a drop box icon will appear on your desktop; for Mac users, you will be asked where you would like your drop box icon to live.

So how do you share files with others?

1.  Double-click on the private folder.

2.  Right click on the file you would like to share.

3.  Choose Drop Box.

4.  Click “Copy Public Link.”

You’ve now just created a hyperlink to the file (even though you can’t see the link until you paste it somewhere).  Within an email message or another document, right-click and choose paste – you have just pasted a direct link to that file (try it here:  http://dl.dropbox.com/u/3262389/dropbox.doc)

This works very similar to our current Nefiles sytem, except you have the opportunity to share files with folks who do not have Richmond accounts – maybe you are in a dual-degree program and want to share files with colleagues at VCU;  perhaps you’re working with Professors across law schools.  This is a quick and easy way to share files.

If you’re working on multiple computers, this is also an easy way to work on files across platforms.

And lets not forget about a nice place just to back up your My Documents folder!

*Drop Box provides 2GB of space for free – you can have a lot more; it will just cost you a bit.