Has anyone used JustCloud for storage?

[Artist]

I was looking up various ways of storing images and ran across JustCloud.

Has anyone had experiences... good or bad?

Would be nice to know the ups and downs of this free storage site.

Thanks in advance.

Bill

[mercphoto]

Well, its Windows only, so I have no use for it personally. But I wonder how in the world they make money if its free. I also wonder if they have multiple sites to store your data.

You also need to wonder just how long will it take you to do the initial upload, and just as important how long it will take to recover your backup set if the worst case scenario happens. A backup system is of no use if it takes months to get the initial image up or would take months to restore in the event of failure.

This is why I use Crash plan. Sure it costs money, but its cheap. They have multiple sites where my data resides. Plus I was able to use their "seed" option to make my initial backup image on a hard disk, rather than spend the estimated 8 months of continuous upload to do so. And, if the worst case scenario happens, I can get my restore image sent via hard disk as well, rather than try and download all my files (again, which would take a few months). I use an external hard disk with Apple's Time Machine for fast access to all my backups, and Crash Plan in the event that the entire system fails (lightning strike, fire, flood, etc.), knowing that I can get all my Crash Plan data via hard disk in about 3 days for a small fee.

[Artist]

Bill

Thanks for the quick reply... as I am PC it may work ... is why I am asking... and I appreciate your input.

The whole cloud technology thing I find a bit of a mystery in many aspects... privacy and retaining rights to data being some.

You are right about the FREE aspect also... hope there are more answers.

Bill

[mercphoto]

If it weren't for Crash Plan's seed option, for both backup and for restore, I would not signed up for any cloud based backup. For the amount of data I planned to backup it would literally take more than half a year just to get the initial backup completed. And a few months to do a restore, if and when I needed it.

I don't think the Just Cloud service has an option like that. For me, that alone is a killer. I don't think most people are thinking about the amount of time aspect to these cloud services. If I need my backup, I need it quick. It is one thing to restore a file or a few files. Completely different if I have a total failure and need everything.

Then the other thing, if Just Cloud isn't mirroring your data to multiple sites that is bad as well. What if THEY have a failure?

Last thing, no cloud service should be your only plan. You still want a local backup. Conveniently, the Crash Plan service can ALSO backup to a local disk, in addition to their cloud service. I don't use their local option, as I prefer Time Machine, but for a Windows user it would be a good alternative.

[wondershots]

Originally Posted by mercphoto

If it weren't for Crash Plan's seed option, for both backup and for restore, I would not signed up for any cloud based backup. For the amount of data I planned to backup it would literally take more than half a year just to get the initial backup completed. And a few months to do a restore, if and when I needed it.

Yup! My initial backup just finished this past weekend. I started it in JULY!. I use BackBlaze.

[Artist]

Thanks for your input... as I suspected all is not as easy as it might seem when storing photos that have large files.

Now that TB external portable devices are available backing up to them may be a reasonable option also... yes I know... remember to back up.... store in another "safe" place... etc.

The whole photo storage experience has become more complicated with cameras generating larger files.

Other ideas are appreciated… in a world where a “shoot” can (and does) easily take up much more space than can be put on a DVD.