Local Servers Vs Web Based Application?

[eugegall]

Hi All,

Any help would be deeply appreciated.

I run a small business with a maximum of 3/4 users.

Two of whom (Myself and the Mrs) need to start sharing the same data. Word, Excel documents, photos and so on.

What is the cheapest, safest and most effected way to do this?

We use Apple Macs of some sorts.

Is Office 365 our best bet?

Thanks

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

I would get a small nas. Don't use much power, easy to set up and no monthly subscriptions!

 

[Cookie]

Google Drive?

Free \o/

 

[Thrill]

Office 365 is a good shout, infact it's probably the best option out there at the minute. If you want to do it local, get a small server and stick FreeNAS on it. Easy to configure and really powerful.

 

[M26]

Dropbox

 

[Gareth]

HP Microserver (N54L), you can get them for less than £100 then you can get 2TB drives for around £80.

 

[Paprika123]

Google drive/office 365.

 

[iain187]

Dropbox

That was my first thought. Free etc

 

[blburied]

That was my first thought. Free etc

The backup is someone elses problem too.

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Cloud is all swimmingly well...

Until your internet connection is down and you can't access any of your data.

 

[Thrill]

Cloud is all swimmingly well...

Until your internet connection is down and you can't access any of your data.

Can with dropbox

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Can with dropbox

No you can't. He wants to share data between 4 members of staff in a office. If the internet goes down the files won't be shared between the pc's, and they will have to resort to memory pens to share data.

 

[Paprika123]

Google drive/dropbox let you access the files offline.

If the internet is down a couple of files is going to be the least of their worries.

 

[eugegall]

Thanks all.

All due respect. We have been trading for 14 months and our internet has dropped off once for about 5 minutes. I'll take the risk with that tbh.

I'm also thinking something web based that way everything i stored safe and can be accessed via any machine, tablet or mobile device.

I think office 365 is $5 per person per month which included the use of ALL MS Office for mac.

 

[BoatNonce]

Another vote for dropbox.

 

[eugegall]

I really don't want to use dropbox. Don't ask me why but I just think we need something more comprehensive.

 

[Trophy259]

An old PC and openmediavault is an awesome and scalable NAS.

 

[Paprika123]

http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/c...85&WT.intid2=ODC_ENGB_FX102918418_XT104063440

I'd go for the middle one as it gives you desktop versions of the software. £8.40 a month.

 

[iain187]

No you can't. He wants to share data between 4 members of staff in a office. If the internet goes down the files won't be shared between the pc's, and they will have to resort to memory pens to share data.

Unless you are out in the sticks I think you'd probably live with that...


Anyway, by 'comprehensive' what do you actually want?

 

[Longy]

Office365 - Exchange Email and Sharepoint/Sky Drive Pro plus full Office Professional suite which will always be up to date - great for businesses.

Plus you get Office for your smart phones

 

[Rob]

I'd say dropbox, but if you want access to MS office, go for exchange and and use skydrive. Couldn't be much more simple.

Although funnily enough today 365 is having a mare, first time in 6 months though tbh.

 

[Thrill]

I'd say dropbox, but if you want access to MS office, go for exchange and and use skydrive. Couldn't be much more simple.

Although funnily enough today 365 is having a mare, first time in 6 months though tbh.

We use 365, it's constantly having one for us!

 

[Longy]

I've got loads of clients on Office365 no one ever seems to report any issues?

 

[Rob]

There is actually a reported service problem when you log into web admin at the moment, it's under repair but mostly fixed. Sending emails can take upto 30 minutes today it seems and even then it's hit and miss.

 

[Paprika123]

There is actually a reported service problem when you log into web admin at the moment, it's under repair but mostly fixed. Sending emails can take upto 30 minutes today it seems and even then it's hit and miss.

It varies depending what servers your "package" is held on. There are no problems showing in my web admin at the moment for any of the 365 services!

 

[BatFastard]

What security do you need on these files? How often will be accessed and edited? Will you need access of these files if someone works from home?

 

[dk]

We use 365, it's constantly having one for us!

its nicknamed Office 363 in the industry, although the number will be dropping weekly probably

I use skydrive (soon to not be called skydrive as MS lost the case against Sky TV) for all my file sharing needs these days, oh and dropbox, both are good.

 

[msremmert]

I set up a NAS behind our network which my dad and I ftp to. We also have luxury of having a pretty fast line though.

 

[cava83]

The three questions are;

1) How much data are we talking about in regards to storage?
2) What are you using for emails at the moment? Exchange/iMap/something else?
3) Do you currently have MS office installed? (I presume so)

Prescription based or local, either or will be offset against your tax as a business expense so it's negligible however, subscription business (depending on software) normally costs more over time.

Please note that the $5 a month subscription does not include software.

Thanks,

G.