Google Drives

Google has a number of apps available for use with your Google account.  One such app is the Google Drive.  The Drive is a cloud based storage for files created by other Google Apps and supports storing up to 30+ other file types by simply uploading them.

There are a number of advantages to the Google Drive.  First and foremost it's in the cloud, so you can access your Google drive with any mobile device or desktop computer that supports connecting to the internet and where you have an internet connection.

Secondly, Google Drive allows you to share individual folders and files within your Drive.  You simply right click on the folder or file you want to share and click on Share.  There are a number of great options to chose from.  You can either share with any one on the web, meaning any one can search for something and your document may be available to them in the search results.  The other two options are to either give access to anyone with a link to your folder or file or share privately is the last option and you would have to set permissions at the user level.  I find the anyone with a link the most useful.  Below the share settings is another option.  You can specify whether they will have access to Edit, Comment or View.  Really depends on why you are sharing that file or folder with someone.

Google Drive is really best for supporting collaboration, whether that's sharing files among family members, classmates or coworkers, Drive is really easy to use and very intuitive.  Let's explore a few ways Drive can support students and businesses.

I was using Google Drive and Google Hangouts for a class I had in Fall 2013.  We had all of our documents created in a shared Folder where anyone could go in an edit them.  We used the Google Hangouts to collaborate with each other, posting ideas, status', and deadlines.  It really helped as this was an online class with the group working and taking other classes, we never needed to meet face to face, it was all done with Google Drive/Files and Google Hangouts.  We new when someone posted something new or added a comment as we would get alerts in our gmail accounts.  It worked out really well and made the project a success.


In terms of a comparison from a business perspective when deciding what file sharing product to use, certain aspects of Microsoft's SharePoint are similar to the Google Drive.  In it's simplest form, SharePoint is used as a central location for employees to keep documents (central repository).  As a business, it depends on wheat you're looking for when deciding which product to purchase for your employees.  If you are a Microsoft shop and want all the hooks into your current Microsoft environment, then SharePoint might be the way to go.  However, sharing to external sources take a little more resources, time and energy to do.  Since it's cloud based, Google is really ready to go when you are.  There is also a cost factor, Google is on the cheaper end of the two.  It really comes down to weighing the options they offer and the price you're will to pay for them.