I am trying to co-ordinate large files (some files over 50mb) and folders with a group of people within a virtual library.

June 12, 2012 12:59 PM

I am trying to co-ordinate large files (some files over 50mb) and folders with a group of people within a virtual library. People should be able to view the entire library of folders at once, and everyone should be able to upload and download the folders. It needs to be free, or very low cost.
posted by nanook to computers & internet (8 answers total)

Dropbox is free up to 2 gb.
posted by desjardins at 1:07 PM on June 12, 2012

Google Drive is free up to 5gb
posted by idb at 1:37 PM on June 12, 2012

Thanks, dropbox is great and I use it all the time, but I want something that people don't have to download to their computer, there are also some less tech people in the group who could easily move, erase or mess up the files in dropbox quite easily. I should have mentioned that in my initial query.
posted by nanook at 1:41 PM on June 12, 2012

If you want people to both be able to upload and download, without some form of serious enterprise-type controls there's not much you can do to prevent people from moving, erasing, and messing up the files in question.

You can also use Dropbox totally through the browser...you don't have to install the client that does the local sync. Dropbox and Google drive are the de facto free standards for this sort of thing these days.
posted by griffey at 1:55 PM on June 12, 2012

Dropbox lets you undo things like deletions for thirty days for free. So even if someone manages to mess up your files, you'll probably be safe.
posted by katrielalex at 2:08 PM on June 12, 2012

You can share folders in Google Drive/Docs as read only.
posted by wongcorgi at 3:20 PM on June 12, 2012

Seconding the Google Docs suggestion. Caveat: Everyone needs a Google password, and not everyone wants one. I've done this twice where I gave Docs lessons to two boards. Most embraced it, to varying degrees.

Just remember: There are always going to be tech holdouts who refuse to learn. Not your problem as long as you give due diligence to teaching them. Also, they cannot alter Docs if you share it as View only.
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 11:02 PM on June 12, 2012

Keepandshare may work. Browser based, 7 GB space free, but with ads unless you take a pay plan.
posted by caclwmr4 at 1:27 AM on June 13, 2012