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subego · Nov 13, 2010, 01:01 PM

iDisk is garbage. DropBox is awesome.

Apple has mountains of cash, DropBox is probably cheap.

Seems like simple math.

Laminar · Nov 13, 2010, 02:03 PM

I'm fine with it as-is. I'd just be afraid of it becoming subscription-only, which would kill it for me.

subego · Nov 13, 2010, 02:30 PM

While Apple would like for it to be subscription only, I think they know that would generate a lot of ill will. I totally understand where you're coming from though.

OTOH, you get 20GB with the sub, so I think they could swing a free 2GB version. DropBox themselves are swinging it. Anyone know if they're profitable?

Doc HM · Nov 13, 2010, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by subego

iDisk is garbage. DropBox is awesome.

Apple has mountains of cash, DropBox is probably cheap.

Seems like simple math.

It's not just iDisk that sucks. The whole mobile me sync ing is frankly second rate and shoddy. Apple could really do with Dropbox's technical expertise.

I for one welcome our new syncing overlords.

subego · Nov 13, 2010, 04:24 PM

MobileMe is problematic, but I actually had to buy Transmit to make iDisk functional.

Brien · Nov 13, 2010, 05:06 PM

If Apple didn't ruin/dismantle them in the process, yes, buying Dropbox seems like a smart move. I would expect them to kill DB and push iDisk though.

lpkmckenna · Nov 13, 2010, 05:50 PM

I think Apple has a plan for their massive datacenter with new syncing tech. Dropbox might seem backward by the time it's ready.

subego · Nov 13, 2010, 05:54 PM

Which would make the current iDisk, ummm... double-dog backward?

lpkmckenna · Nov 13, 2010, 06:03 PM

Yes.

imitchellg5 · Nov 13, 2010, 06:09 PM

Why does Apple have to buy DropBox to make MobileMe better? If anything, they should buy Cloud.app, or at least use it and DropBox to figure out that iDisk actually sucks.

besson3c · 09:30 PM

I don't think Apple should buy Dropbox necessarily.

We know nothing about the Dropbox storage backend, how it was built, and how it scales. What I would do is buy or contract whatever cloud storage is the most robust and reliable, perhaps Amazon S3, or perhaps Apple has some homegrown SAN they use for the iTunes store that could scale to meet this additional demand. Apple can then build an interface to shuttle files to and from this thing.

The interface and file transfer is not going to be the stumbling block for Apple, it's the basic system design that is the big challenge. In addition to simply having the I/O capacity there is also the issue of cost effectiveness. Fast I/O and storage is expense, there is a good chance that Dropbox is cutting corners. It would be unwise to fixate on the interface and overall customer experience though, that is small potatoes here.

subego · Nov 13, 2010, 09:36 PM

File transfer on iDisk is bad. Really bad. It's been that way for years.

As I said, I needed to buy Transmit just to get it going at a decent speed. As far as I could tell, Transmit's solution was to open five different streams to your iDisk at once.

It's bad.

Wiskedjak · 10:22 PM

What would be the benefit to the current DropBox users of Apple buying DropBox?

besson3c · Nov 13, 2010, 10:30 PM

It does seem to me that Apple is going to have to figure out their MobileMe strategy as a whole before fussing over specific details like how to make a component like iDisk work better. Maybe they have a strategy or no desire to change what is in place now, but my sense is that there is a lot of untapped potential and that MobileMe is perhaps sort of in limbo now?

imitchellg5 · Nov 13, 2010, 10:50 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

It does seem to me that Apple is going to have to figure out their MobileMe strategy as a whole before fussing over specific details like how to make a component like iDisk work better. Maybe they have a strategy or no desire to change what is in place now, but my sense is that there is a lot of untapped potential and that MobileMe is perhaps sort of in limbo now?

For a company that does the iTunes Store so well, Apple really can't figure out anything else about the internet. Ping is pretty much a complete failure in terms of users, MobileMe is antiquated (20 Gb of storage for $99/yr, really?), and iWork.com is pretty much MIA.

mattyb · Nov 14, 2010, 02:38 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

It would be unwise to fixate on the interface and overall customer experience though, that is small potatoes here.

Why? This is Apple's mantra.

angelmb · Nov 14, 2010, 03:16 AM

I miss Aol Xdrive.

besson3c · Nov 14, 2010, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by mattyb

Why? This is Apple's mantra.

Because the interface will be far easier for them to get right than a scalable and cost effective storage backend.

subego · Nov 14, 2010, 10:59 AM

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak

What would be the benefit to the current DropBox users of Apple buying DropBox?

Nil.

Wiskedjak · Nov 14, 2010, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by subego

Nil.

The my answer to the poll is that Apple shouldn't buy DropBox.

subego · Nov 14, 2010, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak

The my answer to the poll is that Apple shouldn't buy DropBox.

Wrong!

turtle777 · Nov 14, 2010, 11:32 AM

Let's look at it from a financial perspective: Dropbox probably doesn't make money, and is still in a venture capital / churn mode. Therefore, their strategy is to grow, and then at some point be bought out.

At that point, whoever buys them will probably re-evaluate the free 2GB offer, since this really doesn't contribute anything.

I'd rather have Apple buy Dropbox than a Microsoft or a Google.

-t

mduell · Nov 14, 2010, 05:08 PM

Originally Posted by Doc HM

Apple could really do with Dropbox's technical expertise.

Are we talking about the same Dropbox retards who can't even handle symlinks correctly and bloat the cloud copy of iPhoto '11 libraries up to twice its on disk size?

SSharon · Nov 15, 2010, 11:37 AM

I voted no because I think Apple would charge too much and screw up the service if they bought it. Apple would update it infrequently, if ever, and ignore the other platforms it runs on.

ort888 · Nov 15, 2010, 11:42 AM

MobileMe should be free. Better and free.

Apple is making ridiculous boatloads of cash. It's time for them to give a little.

nonhuman · Nov 15, 2010, 11:49 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

We know nothing about the Dropbox storage backend, how it was built, and how it scales.

Yes we do. Dropbox uses Amazon S3 on the backend. It's basically just a super easy to use encrypted front-end on top of S3.

Salty · Nov 15, 2010, 06:27 PM

I love drop box... that said I kind of want Apple to stay away from them. They do a really good job, and I don't need the mobile me team screwing up my drop box! I use it to back up my writing and share big files with friends

Phileas · Nov 16, 2010, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

We know nothing about the Dropbox storage backend, how it was built, and how it scales.

Yes we do. Dropbox uses amazon's S3 architecture.

Edit: Posted before reading entire thread, beaten to it by nonhuman.