Comments on: Transferring big files with DropSend and TransferBigFiles

Transferring big files, at least with these free services, is iffy at best

[ruminator]

1. What's your opinion on the file transfer services that are not free?

2. Didn't an earlier poster (with whom you disagree) already warn about encrypting files before sending them? In your opinion, how many users actually do this? Can this encrypting be made an automated part of the transfer process?

3. Do you have any comments on the user who suggested breaking up into smaller files (such as .rar files)?

4. If it takes several hours just to get a failed transfer on these services you describe, then the inconvenience of coordinating sender and receiver is far outweighed by the successful FTP transfer you allude to, IMHO.

[mhinnewyork]

ruminator:
1. I didn't try any of the commercial options. My need for large file transfer was temporary and these make more sense to someone whose need is constant.
2. I have no idea how many people encrypt sensitive files. No one does. As for automating encryption, many companies use a secure file transport but the file itself is not encrypted when it gets to its destination. I wouldn't want software from the company holding the file to do the encrypting.
3.It requires a certain level of techie skill at both ends which leaves out many people. Plus busy people can't be bothered.
4.The problem with FTP is getting non-technical people to download it. HTTP can be used to download files too, but I'm not up on the pros and cons of FTP vs. HTTP downloads.
Michael Horowitz

[ronchavis]

Michael,

Regarding the Dropsend problem, where the upload hangs/ freezes/ stops....I began experiencing the problem with almost every send, after about 6 months as a paying customer.

Like you, I sent Dropsend and email concerning the problem and they never got back...pretty bad.....since they never mind taking my payments. Can you please recommend a service that at least responds to customers with problems?

Thanks!

[my-dropzone]

I'd like to also share another great resource for sending, receiving and storing files. And, the good thing is, everything is drag and drop. There's not browse and attach. It's web based, secure and you can drag and drop files from you desktop or other PC location to the dropzone to send as a link, attachment, or direct to other dropzone users. It's like having your own private, secure network. You can send files to anyone, anywhere from anywhere.

Check it out: www.my-dropzone.net.

[pro-integrations]

I've used commercial products from companies such as Savvis (wamnet.com), which provide suitable solutions for large (HTTP) file transfer. Web latency and operation timeout will always be an issue when trying to HTTP push a file up to a webserver.

One concern rasied over the free solutions is the potential to for unwilling users to post up confidential records for accountants (or other professionals) to download. No SSL, no Security, and no regard for their own privacy. I'm not aware of their policies for bot traffic, but a simple site:www.transferbigfiles.com google search shows that the contents of said uploads are available for index.

Might be best if you are needing this for more than the occasional transfer look at alternate skydrives provided by free mail clients such as Hotmail, gMail and others. Or even your own web-host with restricted access, 1gb of space can be cheaply sourced from the multitude of hosting providers out there.

PRO.INTEGRATIONS offers this as a service, through a secure (SSL 256bit rolling key) helpdesk portal. More info on: transferlargefiles.proactive-solutions.com.au

Paul MacNeill
PRO.INTEGRATIONS