To many people, the DropBox file storage service was just another step in the evolution of technology. It was only a matter of time before it found its own competition. The new question being asked is: “Why get DropBox when your very own cloud is available to you?” OwnCloud offers users something more than DropBox, but is it really worth the switch? OwnCloud hasn’t been knighted by the cellular world yet, since cell phone apps are pending on both the iOS and Android platforms, but it is being touted as the latest to give DropBox a run for its money.

OwnCloud has the better Cloud

With DropBox you get 2 GB of free space to store your data, and if you manage to get others to join in the fun, then you get another 50 MB of space for each person. In that sense, OwnCloud beats DropBox, since it’s not just storage space, it’s a more complete service. Your cloud on the OwnCloud is going to be supported on a server, and there’s
no restriction in terms of space. The user gets to decide how much space he’s going to need and takes control from there.

OwnCloud offers a much larger experience to Cloud users than DropBox does. In addition to storage, you can also add in your contact details, update a calendar to keep track
of your appointments and engagements. You can even listen to all your music with the OwnCloud music player. If you ever got sick of adding bookmarks to site only to have them disappear in a pile you don’t have to worry, OwnCloud lets you add bookmarks too.

DropBox takes the Cloud cake

OwnCloud may talk a big game but the very fact that it’s still not available for smart phones will set it back a notch. There’s still a small wait in the future for OwnCloud as neither Android nor Apple have approved the app yet. Cloud technology is most often accessed by people for the storage of their pictures – pictures taken through their cell phones. DropBox is already offering these services, and OwnCloud has not yet even put them on the table. This gives DropBox somewhat of an edge for the time being.

DropBox is also fairly user friendly. It doesn’t take you for a loop or leave you wondering what’s going on when you’re trying to setup your Cloud space. OwnCloud, however, is complicated, but just about anyone can’t get their hands on it. You’d need some geekiness in your system to get around the installation.  Both the OwnCloud and DropBox are services which take Cloud technology another step forward into the future. However, they both suit a certain specific type of audience. People should take a close look at the features and their own needs before choosing. At this point, removing the technical hurdle of the installation process, OwnCloud seems like a clear choice for many, because it offers a larger and less restrictive experience to the user.

==== About the Author ====

Chris Allen has been working on cell phone security, cell phone privacy, cell phone data backup and a whole host of other things that leave many users baffled. Readers flock to his articles for the latest scoops on news, tips, tricks, and reviews of cell phone tracking software.