Keeping Accounts Cheap
Sometimes being popular can be tough. We’re coming up on 3 million files hosted and our system is starting to get quite inundated on a daily basis. Not only is this load causing some slowness and errors at times, but it is raising our costs as well.
We have always been about offering our upgraded accounts at a very cheap level and were not planning on changing that. Don’t worry, we are NOT getting rid of our free account option and we are NOT raising our upgraded account cost. Phew, bet you thought we were gonna say that huh?
What we are going to do is simply lower the single file size limit on FREE accounts from 50mb to 10mb. This will ensure that we can keep our costs low and pass them on to our paying users. If you’d like, drop us a line to let us know your thoughts on the issue, thanks.
And remember, you can always upgrade to a 2GB account with a 200MB file limit for only $2 a month. We think that is a pretty cheap/fair price all in all.
Luke
Hi everyone, earlier I posted a blog about DropBoks. I want continue saying how much I love the service. I have noticed all the resources DropBoks uses and I am happy to say they are a wonderful service. I am so happy that I had and still have the wonderful opportunity to use this service. I mentioned other storage sites, but I have to say, DropBoks won me over simply because of its simplicity and inginuity. I have also noticed that DropBoks has the fasted Upload and Download speeds on the net. Thank you to Luke and the team for providing a wonderful service. I hope that it is around forever. Thank you again for the service. It is fantastic.
Luke,
LOVE the service! it is very user friendly and i deal with some not so computer savvy people, so this is a perfect solution. BUT…:-( we often can not get in. We receive the error: “Type Error 500″. Is that due to the number of users accessing? Is that going to be fixed anytime soon, or is it something that can be controlled from a user perspective?… (i.e…operator error) *grin*
Louanne
I love this service as well. One quick note though, we use the dropboks as a way to send clients video, with the drop from 50mb to 10mb this is probably unrealistic and we will have to pursue other options. Is there a paid option or perhaps some free option that includes advertising that would work? Thanks for all the great work!
I understand that you need to lower your costs, but I wish you could make the file size larger than 10 megs. This means that you will be just one of many sites that offer free hosting for small files. I think you would be better served if it was possible to lower the file size to 25 or 30 megs. That way you would still stand out from the crowd.
Thanks
Larry Lewyn
Bobby,
Yes there is a paid option. Simply click the Upgrade link at the bottom right
Luke
I’m very disappointed with the new 10mb limit. This site provided an easy way to store files that were too big for email, and now I will have to find an alternative. I would much prefer you lower the 1gb cap to 250mb than lower the max file size to 10mb.
I agree with Shawn — decreased total storage capacity would be very much preferable over decreased individual file size. One already send files of up to 20 MB by e-mail (e-mail which one can then send to one’s self if it’s for storage purposes). For me, the main strength of Dropboks was that it provided an easy way to store files that were too large for e-mail; now that this will no longer be the case, I do not see myself needing to use it much anymore.
I understand your reasons for needing to do this, especially in today’s tough economy, but I hope you will consider a different solution. In any case, thanks for all the service you have provided to me and others.
I agree with Shawn and Etha. I have been using dropboks and really love it. But with the 10mb file limit I will be looking elsewhere. A 20mb or 30mb from 50mb will be fine. I would rather you reduce the storage limit.
Thanks for all the service. It’s been great for me
While I understand the need to cut costs, I think eliminating larger file size (50mb) completely limits some of the versatility of Dropboks.
Yahoo mail, for example, already allows the sending of files up to 10mb in size. Dropbok’s larger capacity was a much-needed solution for my publishing class, which at times had completed, publish-ready files greater than 10mb in size that we needed to distribute and resubmit for proofreading reviews.
Perhaps, instead of eliminating the 50mb file cap entirely, you can set a limit of the number of large size files that a customer may have in their Boks?
I do not know if it is feasible and economical to monitor accounts for file sizes and the number of files already held of certain size level, so if it is not feasible, then I apologies for such a suggestion.
Actually I understand about that.
Because, web hosting is not cheap when comes to host a load balancing web application with an increasing database.
Anyway, I hope that the team will always provide the best deal for the users.
I know that it must be hard with the 10 MB limit, but lets be real. First, DropBoks has done a really great job. I am just happy they did not lower the account limit. As long as they don’t lower the MB per file below 5 MB then I will be fine. There are other services out there, but nothing that compares to DropBoks. DropBoks has simplicity and is simply the fastest service that I have ever used. Thank you to DropBoks and I hope that you are forever, simple. Also, can’t wait for the extra services such as bulk download. That will be wonderful.
Hi there,
I used to have 2GBs subscription for half a year, and all this time Dropboks was fast and reliable. Several days ago I realised that I hardly use 5% of my 2GBs and actually pay money for the service I don’t need, so I canceled the subscription – I was sure I can manage with my 50Mb if I need to send something once a month.
Now I truly hesitate if I need Dropboks any more. It’s a pity, I should say. My Gmail allow to send big files (up to 25 MB), so I won’t bother my colleagues to use a third party file hosting when I can send big files by e-mail.
There are a lot of altenative hosters like http://drop.io/ where you can share bigger files for free without any troubles. They are not as smart and cool as DB, but still free. I truly hesitate that people would pay for the service they can have for free ;(
I think it’s much better for the users to let them share, say, 50 Mbs files, but have just 200-250 Mbs on their accounts.
P.S. And yes, I understand that we are talking about such a meaningless stuff as $2 per months, but I’m very upset anyway
Thanks,
Alena
why?, we all love your free file storage
Hi,
Sounds like a good idea but isn’t it a big drop from 50mb to 10mb (how about 20mb instead). With so much competition out their it would be a shame to have to change to say …adrive, humyo etc. (I prefer your ease of use – but 10mb is a little low).
Many thanks
Shar
I still love dropboks.. although the new 10mb limit sucks, but I think i;m still going to continue using it. it’s easy to use and the speed is great!
I guess it was only a matter of time… “If it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t” is an old adage that often rings true. When is “free” not free? When the life is squeezed out of it and it is reduced to a shell of its original self. (OK, maybe that was too dramatic…)
Plainly put: The new lowered free file upload limit is nasty. I probably won’t have much use for it at 5MB.
I know there are costs inherent to everything that is “free” but this change is pretty drastic. Have you looked into how many of the users actually take advantage of the free 1GB? I do not and never plan to. There are plenty of services that offer terabytes of storage for low costs. But none stood out with purpose and the simplicity of DropBoks. I agree with the prior comments that lowering the free total storage limit is less of a problem for continued use of your great service. I would bet that opinion is reflected by a major portion of your users.
Why not offer targeted fees: a minimal charge for a smaller total storage and/or a minimal charge for larger file transfers? But keep the free upload limit closer to the 50MB size. That’s the key part of why we use your service.
And thanks for allowing us this forum to offer our reactions.
I still love dropboks..
pls don’t reduce the size….
please don’t change the storage size please….
Please give me a price for about $40 a year (payable via Paypal or some such on-line service)– with no tech support for the extra space beyond what you supply for the free account.
I actually pay yahoo $15 or 20 per year for web mail access for a mail client that i no longer use– however I find the yahoo Web Portal invaluable — I use the RSS feeds a lot and the text storage also aswell as the address book with it’s “.csv portablity.”
my cell is an ancient palm based pda
Yes I am that old as to use the tern web portal.
Thank you.
lease give me a price for about $40 a year (payable via Paypal or some such on-line service)– with no tech support for the extra space beyond what you supply for the free account.
I actually pay yahoo $15 or 20 per year for web mail access for a mail client that i no longer use– however I find the yahoo Web Portal invaluable — I use the RSS feeds a lot and the text storage also aswell as the address book with it’s “.csv portablity.”
my cell is an ancient palm based pda
Yes I am that old as to use the tern web portal.
Thank you.
Not so good, that is really low and I might have to go elsewhere. Right now our company cannot afford another bill.
This 10mb limit isn’t that much of a problem, considering that you can have an archive split into parts of 10mb each if you really need to host a bigger file.
It’s a lot better than having less total space on the server.
I feel that limiting the file size of uploads isn’t the real issue, the real issue is the total amount of uploaded content that you offer to free users. Being a free user myself, I would be saddened if you did this, but it seems to be that the best course of action would be to lower the total amount of storage for free accounts, which would make free users who like your service, begin to pay for a paid account.
First, I love the service DropBoks provides and I think it is a wonderful system with which I have had no problems in the past.
But the 10mb limit is a bit of a drag. While it is possible to split archives into smaller parts, this requires software that not everyone has – I know I don’t have that capability right now. And one of the things I have really liked about DropBoks is that it is a way to host files, specifically music, for personal use, without having to feel any guilt at making files public and breaking copyright laws, but allowing access my files when I am away from my personal computer. I often deal with large files, long audio tracks that are more than 10mb.
And, if I want to share a song with a friend but not make it public, I have been limited in the past by the size restriction put on email attachments (also 10mb). If DropBoks’ limit is also lowered to 10mb, there are files I will be completely unable to host or send without making them public.
I agree that either a drop in total storage from 1Gb to something smaller (500mb or 250mb), or even a smaller decrease in individual file size (25mb-30mb) would be much preferred over a 10mb file limit.
please don’t do that… please reconsider it..
my log on id is bellevuehomecare@cox.net, I am inquiring as to the reduction in file allowance space. I am a free account holder, does that mean that i am going to lose any files over 10mb
Mr.Luke of the DropBoks Staff,
I was just writing you to let you know that although I believe the site was much more useful with the larger file size per file, I know where you’re coming from.
On a regular basis, I help a friend upkeep, and upgrade his site, and the heavy traffic can get very demanding. I know the maintenance requirements, and they are quite large.
I use DropBoks occasionally, it is not something I would care to pay for, but maybe a feature you could include would be as follows:
Have a date program that lets you know the last date that that particular user visited, and keeps track of that date. Then, if the user hasn’t logged on for a while, they lose some max file size. Maybe if they’re not on for a week, they lose two megabytes per file of storage space, with a minimum of maybe 10Mb. Versus, if they’re on every day, maybe once every three days, their maximum file size would be upped a meg, with a maximum of 50Mb.
Also, maybe if someone uploads a file larger than ten megs, then loses that amount of storage per file, they will still be able to keep that file until they delete it.
I do not know the complexity of such a script, nor am I capable of writing one, it is only an idea I had. I hope it proves useful, as my aim is to help you improve your site.
Just in case that wasn’t clear (and no, I am making NO assumptions, just making sure) that was an idea for the free files.
I hope my input has made a difference, or at least given you an answer to a solution. (If you don’t already have one, I’m not saying I’m right and you’re wrong)
~Cam B.
I agree with the other commenters. 10mb is too low of a cap. But I’d be fine with around 25mb. Even if you halve the storage size would be fine, because I don’t use DropBoks enough to fill the 1gb cap.
If the file limit remains to stay 10mb, your service isn’t as useful for me and I might end up canceling my account.
It’s OK, I upgraded, it’s cheap and simple – exactly what I need.
I will simply use another website that has 50 mb upload ability.
Thanks for your service
Luke,
Maybe if you would change from a paid subcription scheme to a one-time pay / occasional pay, people would be more happy with it.
Paid subscription is too much of a commitment for users, it doesn’t matter what the amount is (even if it is $1/month). I know one photo
sharing site that offers its users the following choice:” share your photos with the world for free but there will be adds on the side pannel, or give us $1 and whoever views your albums will not see the add panel next to your album for the next month!” Users figure: “It is a one-time pay and all my friends will be done viewing my new vacation photos within a month, and I don’t care what happens after that.” So they pick up a cell phone, dial some cryptic payment command for the SMS gate and bingo! No adds. And that is easy too, because it doesn’t require paypal registration, just a working cell phone. Keep in mind that people as not as greedy as they are lazy and afraid of the commitment
tnx for this site. i use very well. although i’m a free user i really appreciate it. tnx alot. and i recomend it to my friends. may be at least one of them should use premium accnt. tnx alot
Congratulations! Great to hear that Dropboks has had such great success.
It is disappointing to hear, however, that you are considering reducing the per-file size so significantly. It would be greatly appreciated if you were to reconsider the maximum file size and instead make it 20 MB.
Regards,
SLR
Congratulations! Great to hear that Dropboks has been so successful.
It would be greatly appreciated, however, if you were to reconsider the per-file size to 20MB instead of 10 MB.
Regards,
SLR
I am still going to use DropBoks even if the uploading size was reduced to 10mb per file.
And I do understand why you need to do that.
Thanks DropBoks!
Very worst idea.
Your free service has been great for private users like myself but now I have to agree with several other comments and may have to get a gizmo to store my photos and archival material. Thanks for everything and good wishes for your continued success.
Michael
Luke,
It’s a great idea to cut down the usage of free storage to 10MB. When things become cheaper or free, it is quite natural everybody will dump everything, useful or not-doesn’t matter, in their storage. When you restrict the free space or put forth a proposition that you are going to charge, I’m sure, everybody will think twice before they exhaust the free limit and start paying for the service.
I wish you good luck.
not a great idea. i’m sorry to hear that.
Hey Luke…
I completely understand.. but your services have benefited me.
It was required because people might be dumping unnecessary data.
Wish you all the best
Thanks
Luke and Dropboks Team. I love the idea that you had about lowering the limit. It works perfectly for me and even better, there are NO errors anymore. I am so excited about it. The service is also a lot faster. Great job team. Also, I am eager to hear the news about the bulk-download feature that you have mentioned. That would make my life so much easier. The service already makes my life easier. I love it. Again, great job and I look forward to hearing from the company soon.
Thank you,
Patrick
I like that you found a good solution that works for everyone, and once i quit smoking i will be upgrading
I have been looking for an online file storage site. I found dropboks and it seems to be the best so far because of its simple design and fast upload. I am using bo.net but it give problem loading big files and the speed is very slow. I also tried some other sites such as mediafire, mozy, but this one seems to be truly wonderful. My sincere cogratulations to you and perhaps the cheapest upgrade so far I have seen.
I love dropboks, but the 10MB file limit essentially removes it’s greatest ability: sharing files that are too big to e-mail. It’s not like anyone uses dropboks because they need extra hard drive space. It’s all about sharing, and 10MB puts it back in the same category as email.
I think it is a great service you provide and I’m sorry to hear that you will lower the free limit. I know I sound like a cheapie, but I use dropboks for my own volunteer work (in community radio) so the “free” 50 mb matches my own free status. I’ll take 10 mb if that’s all you’ll give, but a 50% reduction would be easier to adjust to.
Thanks for your help in the past!
At 10 MB per file, this service is no longer useful to me. It was the 50 MB file size limit that brought me here in the first place. Free is a good value, but if it’s going to stay at 10 MB, I’ll probably just go ahead and delete my account.
Thanks for your efforts.
Hello,
I opened a free account to try your service and would be happy to upgrade to a paid service @ $2/month but for one problem. I test-loaded a few files, created a folder for some and tried to move related files into it. I high-lighted the file by clicking on it, then held down the left mouse button, moved the highlighted area over the folder, and released. Each time I try this, the file disappears.
Clicking the folder does not open it. Deleting all loose files except the folder shows 0% usage, so the file is not lurking hidden inside.
I am using Linux/Firefox.
Any advice will be most welcome.
John
Going down to 10M fit well .doc and .rtf files, single pictures etc, but if you have a larger .pdf (10-15-20M) you are in trouble. Accepting all the arguments for the better usage imposed by this size reduction, I would opt for a reduction to c.25M, just because this type of files.
(and congratulations and thanks for this excellent and cool storage facility, indeed)
Its a nice product, and I also understand that keeping it running can be tedious, but free is the under current of Internet…
Thanks for the storage. Still waiting for Chrome support and file sharing!!
Happy user. But, you guy’s still around???
Best should erase the free accounts inactive. Check the inactive accounts for 3 months and inform users by e-mail, 2 weeks previously, that if they want to keep their files, they have to connect in their account for these last 2 weeks. I uses DropB. only for my customers, when they want to give me big files. And 10Mo it became too little.