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Google Drive is all the rage in today’s hotly contested cloud-storage space. The offering, which was first announced on April 24, is widely believed to be the next big answer to services like Dropbox and Box and could very well become a popular option for those who already work with Google Apps or are looking to move their data away from their current storage service.
Even before its official launch, a lively Internet debate questions whether or not users should try out Google Drive. There are some who say that Google’s data-ownership policies and track record of wanting to control data should make anyone think twice about using the service. Others say it might simply be better to help out a smaller company that developed a successful cloud storage service long before tech giants such as Google and Apple got into the business.
But at this point, there doesn’t appear to be any compelling reason for folks to turn their back on Google Drive. Yes, there are some concerns and those might be warranted among some users, but for the average, mainstream customer, Google Drive seems like a fine option.
Read on to find out why the typical Web user should sign up for Google Drive when it goes live:
1. Privacy concerns are mostly paranoia
It’s no secret that Google has come under fire over the last few years from privacy advocates who say the company wants to control users’ personal data. But much of that is paranoia. Yes, Google has said that it wants to search and manage ever more data. But the huge concerns surrounding Google Drive and the privacy of content stored in the search company’s cloud seem to be overblown.
2. Free storage is quite large
One of the nicest things about Google Drive is that it provides ample storage out of the box. According to Google,the service will support 5GB of free data, allowing customers to store their music library, video and a lot more content without having to pay the search firm anything.
3. Integration matters
When discussing cloud-based storage services, integration is a vastly important consideration. There’s nothing worse than getting content into the cloud only to realize that transferring it from one service to another is nearly impossible. Google Drive includes integration not only with the search company’s own applications, but with those from third parties as well. That’s a key consideration before choosing a cloud-storage solution.
4. Near-universal functionality
According to Google, Drive will work on a host of platforms, including the PC, Mac and Android out of the box. Although iOS support will be coming at a later date, it’s nice to know that the service is platform-agnostic. The more places data can be accessed and shared, the better.
Its Hard to Beat Google Drives Prices
5. Cloud storage is the future
Although many Web users are loath to send data to the cloud for fear they will never get it back intact or it will be stolen by malicious hackers, everyone must realize that cloud-based storage is the future. So, it’s better to jump on the offering now with a reputable company than wait and see if something changes. Trust me, it won’t.
6. Online security has typically been Google’s strong suit
Security experts have railed against Google for Android security, but when it comes to the safeguarding online data, it’s hard to find fault with the company, at least to this point. In that case, the threat ofmalicious hackers stealing data from Google Drive might not be such a major concern. Things can change rapidly, of course, but from an online-security perspective, Google does a fine job.
7. It’s about having another data backup
Want a simple reason to use Google Drive? It’s another fail-safe in the event you lose data. Like it or not, today, tech users must find as many places to back up data as possible. But in far too many cases, they don’t. With Google Drive, there’s another place available to ensure important information is kept safe in the event of a disaster.
8. The competitive comparisons aren’t fair
Several competitive comparisons are currently being made on the Web betweenGoogle Drive and a host of competitors, including Dropbox, Box and Microsoft SkyDrive. But what all of those comparisons miss is that Google Drive is designed with more features, including the ability to collaborate on Google Docs and have data instantly shared with Google+. Google Drive might be a cloud-storage solution, but it’s also much more. And it’s important not to lose sight of that.
9. It’s cheap
As noted, Google is offering 5GB of free data when users sign up for Drive. But even when customers have to start paying out some cash for the offering, it’s quite cheap. Google Drive comes with 25GB of storage for just $2.49 per month. And those who want even more storage will find similarly cheap pricing. Such value for the money matters today.
10. Consider the long term
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it’s important for all would-be Google Drive users to take the long view. Out of all of the companies competing in the cloud-storage space, what firm has the greatest chance of succeeding over the long term?It has to be Google. So, why risk leaving content with smaller companies that might go under? When it comes to important data, it’s best to leave it with the firms that have the highest likelihood of sticking around.