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HELP! I'm running out of room on my device!
Cloud vs USB external vs Network
What? I'm lost already!
This is all pretty straightforward, just looks scary. Oh, and if the 5GB and 2TB means nothing to you, or any of the techy word look like Martian to you, pop on over to our FAQ page where we explain it:
Cloud Storage
OK, mythbuster, you don't actually store your digital media in a cloud... the moisture would play havoc with the USB wiring 😆.
Sitting at your computer/Mac or with your portable device in your hand, it 'feels' like you are saving to a mythical place far, far away. The fact is, it is likely far away from you, in some data storage facility where an extreme amount of machines, or ''servers'' exist. These are located throughout the world; (yep, these places do exist, not just in the movies).
Several tech giants are the market leaders in this such as Apple, Google & Microsoft just to name the household names which for easiness we'll concentrate on here, BUT there are several more who specialise in this field alone.
If you have an Apple ID, as a result of owning an iPhone, or iPad, (or Mac) you will automatically have access to the 'iCloud' through your profile and, (Oct '24), will get 5GB of data FREE.
This is there primarily for you to back-up your device(s), and allows them to sync together, but there may be enough for you to use to store additional data too.
Check out the 'upgrade' options from within your iCloud app for current deals per month or year, generally these will be affordable and tailored to what needs you may have.
If you have an Android device, it will be running some form of Google's open source operating system, and similar to Apple, gives you access to FREE storage, this time of 15GB, (shared across gmail, Google Photos & Google Drive). Again primarily this is for back up and sync requirements, but can be used to store office docs etc, allowing you to work 'from the cloud' and save the same document from home or office regardless.
Google do offer users 'deals' at times to expand that storage, and like Apple, can tailor an offer for your needs.
Since the advent of modern Windows based systems, the requirement to 'sign-in' to Microsoft has pretty much matched with the way you register your Apple or Android device, and recently, as storage solution have changed, Windows actually tries to direct you to save your documents primarily to 'One Drive', (you can tell the system not to and save to 'My Documents', on the standalone device). With the popularity of being able to work from home or work, this is the ideal solution to work 'from the cloud', and although that particular function isn't of much use to the crafter, it does offer a guaranteed 5GB of storage.
If you are an Office 365 subscriber, (that's the apps that let you use Word, Excel, Powerpoint etc), then you automatically get a 1TB storage limit on the drive, with the option of upgrading from there, once again to suit your needs.
✅Storing your digital stash on the cloud in perfect if you want a clutter free, and tech free, environment, but does have the downside of requiring to have a stable and usable internet connection at all times, or at least when you need it. Those on fibre optic broadband pretty much take this for granted, but if you live in an area not serviced by fibre or copper broadband, you may wish to opt for a more local option.
✅Keep an eye of emails from your storage provider, it isn't unheard of for them to offer a ridiculously low price for a years data storage, just to get more customers, and the hope of them renewing the following year.
External or USB drives
Aren't they the same thing?
Well, technically yes, if you mean the way they connect to the 'host' or device using a USB connection, BUT, the way they store data is different.
USB Thumb drives, or sometimes called 'flash' drives refer to the way the data is stored. This is a rapidly changing environment, but the rule of thumb, (pardon the pun), is you use thumb drives up to 64GB and External 2.5" or 3", or SSD, (Solid State Drives) for larger amounts up to some ridiculous amounts....
OK, I'll answer before you ask;
💾Thumb drives, the 'James Bond' method of transferring data, uses 'flash' memory, which we won't bore you with the details, but is fabulous for smaller amounts of data in the short term, but can fail in the longer term and with multiple uses. Do take a bit of punishment though, after all the are generally kept in your pocket or handbag.
💾2.5" & 3" HDD, (hard drive disc), drives have physical metallic discs, sometimes in multiple layers that the 'head' read and writes too, similar to an old LP player. These drives are portable, but not designed to be moved around a lot, and don't handle being dropped well.
💾SSD, or solid state discs are the latest of the three technologies, and will in all likely hood, be the one that becomes commonplace, however being the cutting edge now means that they are more expensive, and do 'technically' have the same limited number of write/rewrite issues as flash drives, but technology is moving on and that is becoming less of an issue.
❗Be aware, all drives have common enemies. That is heat, moisture and impact. If you have your drives in direct sunlight, in a badly ventilated or damp place, this can reduce their life span, but by far the worst thing any drive can suffer is being dropped. Generally thumb drives will get away with it, but the circuits on HDD and SSD are fairly fragile, with HDD's especially vulnerable to damage to the physical disc, and the head
❗NEVER remove the drive before 'safely remove hardware' process is complete. The rewrite process may still be incomplete, and this can lead to corrupt and unreadable data. HDD's are particularly prone to failure in interrupted removal, as the 'head' may still be between discs, and if the disc falls on the head, it can damage both the disc and head, rendering the drive inoperable.
✅If this is the option you choose, just a couple of tips; Flash drives are OK, but possible not the 'safest' option, yes flash drives are pretty hardy, but the do have a reputation of failing without warning, so if you prefer the handiness of the lightweight device, please do ensure you have the data backed up with the other methods on this page.
HDD vs SSD is very much a personal choice but with both cases our advice would be stick to the known brands such as SanDisc, Seagate, Toshiba, WD... although the list is not exhaustive, these manufacturers have a proven track record & background in tech, and more importantly in data storage. If these four brands offer a 4TB solution for £80 to £100 and a different brand offers for £50, you know there is something not right, you really do get what you pay for. If in doubt just ask in our Facebook community if you need help.
✅As with anything else, do your research first and keep an eye on Managers specials and Holiday deals throughout the year, these things generally do pop up on a fairly regular basis on special offers.
Network drive (home cloud)
Don't worry, we'll keep this as simple as possible, but you can really get deeply into this one and customise your own storage and access throughout your home, and beyond.
There are options to buy a network drive in a box, that plugs into the wall and connects with a network, (LAN), cable to your router, (that's the box your internet provider gives you). You can then download an app, or log into the associated website and access the drive on your devices, whilst on your own home network, (via wi-fi or wired to the router), and depending on the app, via mobile internet outside the home.
The simplest option is probably the Western Digital range, but there are other manufacturers out there who offer differing levels of storage solutions for those with greater technical ability.
It is also possible to build your own network if you have multiple users in the household, and want everyone to be able to share documents, by using a standalone, 'always-on' device with storage drives attached, shared with your home network. This is possible the most cost effective solution, BUT does require a good bit of technical knowledge to build and manage.
✅'Home Cloud' whether by a dedicated drive, or by self built network is ideal for those who want the ability to access their data from any device in the household, (or beyond), and offers the additional bonus of not having to swap over USB devices, working directly from the screen.
Modern network settings actually allow most devices to 'mount' and external or network drive as a drive letter, ie your Windows machine will be c: and your network drive can be z:
The downside of dedicated drive with app is the initial cost versus a standalone external drive. The option to build your own does require a good solid knowledge of network systems and shared access.
✅As with anything else, do your research first and keep an eye on Managers specials and Holiday deals throughout the year, these things generally do pop up on a fairly regular basis on special offers.
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