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	<title>cloud &#8211; Terence Eden’s Blog</title>
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		<title><![CDATA[Remote Storage: Ubuntu One vs Dropbox]]></title>
		<link>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2011/03/remote-storage-ubuntu-one-vs-dropbox/</link>
					<comments>https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2011/03/remote-storage-ubuntu-one-vs-dropbox/#comments</comments>
				<dc:creator><![CDATA[@edent]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:36:35 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[linux]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[backups]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cloud]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dropbox]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[storage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ubuntu]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://shkspr.mobi/blog/?p=3709</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[I&#039;ve been looking for a way to manage my backups.  Burning DVDs and then leaving them around the house doesn&#039;t strike me as a sensible way to preserve my data any more.  I just want a simple way to thrust my files onto the cloud with the minimum of fuss.  The two big contenders I could find are Ubuntu One and Dropbox.  Both allow me to map a drive and seamlessly sync my files just by copying them …]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I've been looking for a way to manage my backups.  Burning DVDs and then leaving them around the house doesn't strike me as a sensible way to preserve my data any more.  I just want a simple way to thrust my files onto the cloud with the minimum of fuss.</p>

<p>The two big contenders I could find are <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111122053844/https://one.ubuntu.com/">Ubuntu One</a> and <a href="http://db.tt/9gtlUat">Dropbox</a>.</p>

<p>Both allow me to map a drive and seamlessly sync my files just by copying them in there.  I don't need to worry about regularly running a "sync" command. Just drag, drop, done.</p>

<h2 id="quick-comparison"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2011/03/remote-storage-ubuntu-one-vs-dropbox/#quick-comparison">Quick Comparison</a></h2>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th></th><th>Ubuntu One</th><th>Dropbox</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody><tr><td>Price per year</td><td>US$29.99 per 20GB</td><td>US$99.99 per 50GB</td>
</tr>
<tr><td>OS Support</td><td>Ubuntu Only. Windows support in beta</td><td>Linux, Windows, Mac</td>
</tr>
<tr><td>Mobile Support</td><td>Music and contact sync only</td><td>Full file support</td>
</tr>
<tr><td>Application support</td><td>Yes, via CouchDB</td><td>Flat filesystem only</td>
</tr>
<tr><td>Security</td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110309134908/https://wiki.dropbox.com/TipsAndTricks/TextBasedLinuxInstall">Files stored UNencrypted</a></td><td><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/help/27">All files stored on Dropbox servers are encrypted (AES-256)</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>

<h2 id="there-can-be-only-one"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2011/03/remote-storage-ubuntu-one-vs-dropbox/#there-can-be-only-one">There Can Be Only One</a></h2>

<p>I really <em>really</em> wanted to go with Ubuntu One.  It's cheaper and the money I pay for it would support my favourite Linux distribution.  For US$90 I could get 60GB and feel good about paying for Linux.</p>

<p>But it's not to be.  Dropbox wins on three counts.
<span id="more-3709"></span></p>

<h3 id="mobile"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2011/03/remote-storage-ubuntu-one-vs-dropbox/#mobile">Mobile</a></h3>

<p>Firstly, <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/anywhere">Dropbox Mobile</a> is supported on a wide range of phones.  Sure, I only use Android now, but I may move back to BlackBerry.  Bizarrely, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111011025930/https://one.ubuntu.com/downloads/">Ubuntu One Mobile</a> only works for syncing music and contacts.  So, no pictures, documents, movies. Far too limited for me.</p>

<h3 id="command-line"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2011/03/remote-storage-ubuntu-one-vs-dropbox/#command-line">Command Line</a></h3>

<p>Secondly, command line options.  I run a headless server at home which is primarily used for storing the household's music, movies, and photos.  It runs Xebian - a Debian variant.  Yet it seems that Ubuntu One only works on Ubuntu machines.  While I kind of understand the logic behind that - it's a business limiting decision.
By contrast, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110309134908/https://wiki.dropbox.com/TipsAndTricks/TextBasedLinuxInstall">Dropbox works fine on the command line of just about any Linux distro</a>.</p>

<p>I never run Windows or Mac.  But, I'm sure one day a job will mandate that I do - so it makes sense to go with the one with wider support.</p>

<h3 id="security"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2011/03/remote-storage-ubuntu-one-vs-dropbox/#security">Security</a></h3>

<p>Both services use SSL to encrypt during transmission - but Dropbox uses <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110703055010/http://aws.amazon.com/articles/1697?_encoding=UTF8&amp;jiveRedirect=1">Amazon S3 to keep the contents of the files secure</a>.
While I'm sure Amazon has its problems, Ubuntu One doesn't keep its files encrypted and makes no mention of physical security.</p>

<h2 id="other-options"><a href="https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2011/03/remote-storage-ubuntu-one-vs-dropbox/#other-options">Other Options</a></h2>

<p>I'm aware that I could buy several gigs of space via a cloud server somewhere and treat my filesystem as a giant SVN.  But this has an easy to use front end, paid support, and apps for my mobiles.</p>

<p>That said, if you can convince me there's a better option - please let me know!</p>

<p>You can <a href="http://db.tt/9gtlUat">sign up to Dropbox using my referral link</a> - that way, we both get extra space.</p>
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