« Mobile Scribe | Main | My Protopage »
XDrive
August 16, 2005 in 0 out of 5 stars, A service, Hosted softwareXDrive: An online hard-drive that you can use for file sharing, backups, and other goodness. XDrive, Inc. Because it allows me to backup my critical files online through an easy to use backup program, but it also just acts as a 'folder' that I can access from anywhere with an internet connection.
Even better, I can send out invitations to people and they can access my files, and even be given permissions to administer files/folders, etc and even invite other people.
The price is also great. $10/month for 5GB of space (and 2 months free if you sign up for a year). They've also done a great job of documenting how to use it. It took me about 2 minutes to set it up and get it going. The only thing that could make this cooler would be the ability (for a fee, obviously) to CNAME, or alias part of my domain over to them, so that I could do something like send clients to : http://clientfiles.mysite.com/clientx/ etc. That would make this thing unparalled. As it is, I can still send clients out to a folder created specifically for them (and them only), but the url is for a resource on xdrive.com $10/month or less for 5GB of space (unlimited transfer) Reviewed by Michael K. Campbell Editors note: See also StongSpace.What is it?
Who makes it?
Why is it the killerest?
What could be improved?
How much does it cost?
Rating?
Comments
Thanks for the review. How does this, if at all, compare with StrongSpace? Are they different services or competitors and since you have used both which would you rather use?
Posted by: Paul Watson | Aug 17, 2005 3:58:06 AM
Paul,
I'm the one that made the original suggestion to Carson -- he lets you submit cool stuff to his site.
StrongSpace, from what I saw, doesn't allow you to share your files with others. I could, effectively, send you an invite to see some of my files from my XDrive account, but I didn't see that StrongSpace had this functionality. Plus XDrive provided me with backup software that runs on my local machine AND the software creates a networked drive - I can see it from DOS/anything. It's VERY cool.
Posted by: Michael K. Campbell | Aug 17, 2005 8:45:25 AM
Eh. Working with Xdrive. Found some horrible compatibility problems with Firefox and 'tweak network settings'. After weeks troubleshooting those connectivity problems, it's become more palatable. Also, there is a problem with Firefox -- if I leave a window open and goto bed... when I wakeup, Firefox is munching 90% CPU.
It will be interesting to see what, if anything, AOL does with Xdrive. I give kudos to Xdrive tech support; they've been tremendously responsive, if not always helpful...
Posted by: dqueue | Aug 17, 2005 8:15:01 PM
Wow, I hadn't noticed that AOL had acquired them[1] (happened on 8/4). Lame!
[1] http://www.xdrive.com/aboutus/pr_08_04_2005.jsp
Posted by: Carson McComas | Aug 17, 2005 8:22:29 PM
I hate to say it... but I had to cancel my subscription.
KILLER idea. Far from killer functionality. For the last 7 days the system has been so messed up that I can barely use it. I can only log on for a few minutes - and all of my backups keep dissappearing.
NOT a good backup situation. Not even a fun way to transfer files. Not even a cool toy at this point. In other words, I wouldn't use it if it were free right now - it's just so undependable, etc.
I've contacted customer support. All I've gotten are replys that tell me that they are having "difficulties" and they are working on it - keep trying...
They've agreed, very easily, to refund my remaining subscription though. So good on them.
(Read more about it here:
http://blog.angrypets.com/2005/11/xdrive_thats_ba.html
)
Posted by: Michael K. Campbell | Nov 15, 2005 9:21:55 AM
Thanks for the update report Mike. I haven't de-listed them because it sounds like they may yet be able to pull it off, but with your report, and some other reports[1] I've seen around the web, looks like they get a demotion.
[1] http://www.download.com/Xdrive-Desktop/3640-2085_4-10301018.html?pn=3&sb=0&v=0
Posted by: Carson McComas | Nov 15, 2005 5:11:41 PM
From a reliability and dependability perspective, ShadowStorae is superior to Xdrive. http://www.shadowstorage.com
Yes, Xdrive does have the application which you can install locally to handle backups but ShadowStorage has an easy-to-use web-based interface that is fast with dependable uploads and downloads. Also, i got a toll-free fax number with the account. The integration is sweet. Xdrive has yet to successfully deploy fax capabilities. You'd think AOL buying Xdrive would have helped, but so far things seem to have gotten worse.
Posted by: Billy D. | Nov 19, 2005 2:15:00 PM
In three months it never completed a full back-up. Customer support does not respond, literally. Attempts to get a refund meet a run-around. Don't buy X-Drive!
Posted by: L. McIlwain | Jan 28, 2006 1:11:59 PM
Five months of XDrive has been nothing but frustration and poor customer service. (And I'm a techie.) I'm giving up and searching for a better backup solution.
Posted by: Lee G. | Mar 22, 2006 9:59:21 AM
Beyond horrible!!!!! I signed up for this free trial service recently and it worked of course but i could never see pictures in the thumbnails. My comp tech couln't figure out why this was so I decided to cancel before they charged my credit card
The problem is that i cannot get through on the phone. I have tried relentlessly to call 866 463 7483(am i the only one who has had this problem,... i can't imagine i am..i am in san diego)since they say that is the only way i can cancel. I emailed them trying to make it clear that the phone connection wasn't working. I call on my cell phone and all i get is a message that the number is not available in my area. My land line just goes beep beep beep.
I tried about 13 times and the one time i got through yesterday afternoon this happened. .....they said "their system was not working and i would have to call back" or something to that effect. I explained over and over and over again that I could not call back since my phone was not able to connect and that it seemed like a fluke that i was able to get through this one time but it was like they had ears but didn't hear what i was telling them. Than i got on the phone witht the supervisor Julie and to her credit she said she would credit me back if i did get charged ...thanks a lot Julie! She said oh we are open 24 hours, so now it's 230 in the am and i have tried to get through 15 times or so at 20m inute intervals. Why do i have to go through all this hassle for something that should be such a simple easy trial. Why can't you grasp the fact that i can't get through on the phone when i keep telling you -over and over. Are you just trained to filter out the words that you don't want to hear. Aren't you supposed to be a customer service professional taht solves problems? I hate so much wasteing my time getting into all of this but i have to vent and now i am off to all the other blogs i can find to post similiar complaints . And tomorrow it's off to the bbb and chamber of commerce and d and b to lodge complaints.
I didn't even get asked why i wanted to cancel.
I guess the only thing that i can do is keep trying in the morning to call. Or perhaps I;ll call some friends out of state to see if they can get through
Posted by: scott | Mar 31, 2006 2:38:57 AM
Xdrive, together with AOL, is in the process of making significant upgrades to its technology infrastructure that will greatly enhance user experience. The move will allow Xdrive to leverage AOL's massive infrastructure, network redundancy, and exceptional safety and security, and expand our storage technology to a whole new audience. It will also allow us to rapidly develop and deploy innovative new web, mobile and desktop applications to our storage platform and use them to enhance a range of AOL products. Xdrive users will benefit from AOL's technology and support infrastructure and will have full access new products and services as we continue to grow. If issues arise during the integration, users can email support@xdrive.com, access our 24/7 Customer Support center, or call our support department toll free at 866.GO.XDRIVE (866.469.3748), Monday-Friday, between 6:00AM - 6:00PM PST.
Posted by: Doctor Xdrive | May 7, 2006 9:35:52 AM
New XDrive Problems
Between 6/1/06 and 6/6/06 Xdrive used my monthly direct-billing to bill me six times!! That has put my checking account account in overdraft.
When I speak to support at 703-499-0141, they can only refund the amount billed and that will take 7-10 working days.
To get reimbursed for overdraft fees I must fax my statements to Mike Bishop at 703-265-7981 with no promise of when I may get reimbursed.
On the three times I asked to escalate my complaint I was transferred to "Tier 2" at which, after being on hold for about two minutes, a recording came on stating that this was the line for "AOL City Guide", to address City Guide inquiries to John Gaines at 310-979-5245, and to call 866-469-3748 for any XDrive inquiries.
One of the five reps I spoke to admitted that the multiple billing was a systemic problem, and it was obvious to me that they had attempted to put a remedy in place but it is not working, eg. referring escalations to a non-working number.
Has anyone else reported these problems?
Posted by: Uncle Bob | Jun 7, 2006 2:03:06 PM
I've had similar billing problems.
On June 7, I signed up to evaluate their service. From what I understand in the terms of the trial I was not be billed until the end of the 30-day trial. And yet, 17 days after signing up, I was charged.
Repeated attempts to contact someone have not been successful. Only once did I get to an actual person who just punted me to some other department where I was routed to voice mail.
It surprises me to read that they're an AOL company, because they sure as hell act as if they're a fly-by-night company.
Posted by: Al | Jul 14, 2006 6:03:51 AM
I had a horrible experience. I signed up for the free trial, encountered incredibly slow upload speeds, never had the system send invites when I shared a folder, cannot reach them by phone, and they shut down their support forums. I am afraid I will have to contact the bank to prevent charges.
Posted by: Jay | Jul 27, 2006 9:53:43 AM
Xdrive has been billing my account on a daily basis... I get charged for a conversion rate, and since Xdrive refuse to repsond to my emails. I've had to cancel my bank card to stop them helping themselfves to all my cash. So far I have 7 debits showing on my statement in as many days. Really I think this is a Fraud and need to be stopped. However I'm in the UK and do not have the powers to stop this company stealing other peoples money.
Posted by: Michael Beaumont | Aug 6, 2006 5:34:56 AM
Thieving bastards. Similar to all the experiences above, I trialled Xdrive, it was too slow, so tried to cancel. There was no way to cancel Xdrive on their web site and money started coming out of our account. I don't want to be put on hold on an international call which according to other experiences above won't make any difference anyway.
If anyone reads this in the US, please alert your consumer affairs department and throw a brick through their window for me.
I have just cancelled my credit card have now have to wait 7-10 days for a new card to arrive. Pain in the arse!!
Posted by: Matt | Aug 18, 2006 2:21:18 AM
Xdrive is now offering free 5 gb at no catch for aol and nonaol users. By the Xdrive Desktop will not install on my machine says SOAP is missing. I went through great lengths finding SOAP on Microsoft Developement page which has ditched support of it's own product. Had to install a series of patches just to install correctly. Then with all my hard work, xdrive desktop says sorry not a known server.?? I'm baffeled, the web drive at kw: Xdrive says all my services and I can browse all the function but the desktop function doesn't know me. I give up.
Posted by: John Hilla | Oct 7, 2006 4:48:40 AM
It seems to be a H O A X
1) They will offer a cool service that works fine at first.
2) They will get your credit card number and start billing.
3) The service will stop normal functioning, i.e. it does not work as it did.
4) You can't cancel your account without a war.
5) Result. You have paid six months to a year and you have received nothing.
Sue them, please.
Posted by: Jesse | Oct 19, 2006 10:40:48 PM
I had told them to terminated my account before trial period ended, but now I am charged!!
Xdrive is just cheating our money.
Any Internet police here??? Help~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Posted by: adam | Oct 28, 2006 12:07:55 PM
Xdrive, together with AOL, is in the process of making significant upgrades to its technology infrastructure that will greatly enhance consumers experiences. The move will allow Xdrive to leverage AOL's massive infrastructure, network redundancy, and exceptional safety and security, and expand our storage technology to a whole new audience. It will also allow us to rapidly develop and deploy innovative new web, mobile and desktop applications to our storage platform and use them to enhance a range of AOL products. Xdrive consumers will benefit from AOL's technology and support infrastructure and will have full access to new products and services as we continue to grow.
866.GO.XDRIVE (866.469.3748)
Posted by: Doctor Xdrive | Nov 4, 2006 10:26:47 PM
Hi, for a secure, fast and reliable backups of all your important data you have to try an online service like IBackup (www.ibackup.com). IBackup's online backup services include applications for interactive and automatic scheduling of backups with compression during transmission, incremental/full backups, encryption, synchronization, open file support for MS SQL Server and Exchange Backups and many more. None other than PC World recently rated IBackup as the `best all-around’ service’ in a review of online backup services.
Besides backups, you can restore the stored data easily and that too from previous versions of files and folders stored. Using 'IDrive' (www.ibackup.com/IBDrive_new.htm) you can map your online IBackup account as a network drive on your computer. You can then drag and drop files to the IBackup account from the Windows explorer.
Easily manage your multimedia files with 'IDrive Multimedia'. On double-clicking on a multimedia file, it will open up your media player and starts playing instantaneously. You can even create 'playlists' or do 'shuffle' using your favorite media player pointing to IDrive's media files. Streaming of video files is also instantaneous. You can even use advanced functions such as fast-forward with near instant response. You can share all the media files with others by creating sharable links and emailing them.
For added security, you can use IBackup Professional (http://www.ibackup.com/professional/), whose encryption is based on a user-defined key so that the data stored on IBackup Professional servers cannot be decrypted by anybody other than you. You can also restore up to 30 prior versions of files backed up, including the most recent version of the data files.
Posted by: Ben | Nov 16, 2006 4:18:20 AM
i just skimmed thru this and i didnt see anything about how it is free now, anyway xdrive is free now (at least with a aim screename[which is also free])
so thats a free 5gigs of online storage, and you can pay for it if you want 50 gigs
although i hate aol i will use this
Posted by: sonicjosh | Dec 15, 2006 1:07:43 PM
I have the free xdrive through AIM and it seems to have gotten worse than before. I though I was in luck to find the 5 gb for free since my computer needed to be reset. So I went ahead and saved everything and had a new hard drive installed. Backing everything up was easy, at first I was able to get into everything, but now I cannot open or save any of my files. Everything I had for school is now lost and the best part is that since I have A free AOL account, I cannot get any help except for the articles posted on the website which don't explain anything. Now I have several importaint files "saved" on Xdrive but have lost everything that I needed since it has curupted all the files. I should have figured this wouldn't have worked just because it is AOL and nothing from them works the way it should.
DO NOT USE XDRIVE, ITS ONE BIG HOAX!!!!
Posted by: kathy | Jan 6, 2007 2:07:31 PM
I used Xdrive a few months ago, and It really sucked. Sometimes it worked, others it didn't. It took me HOURS on the phone to cancel my account, and I could barely understand the INDIAN guy on the other end. Xdrive, as I see it has made errors, including but not limited to:
1. Selling a service that does not work reliably, and sometimes not at all
2. Outsourcing to India, and having Indians who you can't understand try to help you.
3. Xdrive has an EXTREMLY bad server infrastructure that cannot handle the ammount of trafic it gets.
I once read about this poor lady who "backed up" all of her tax records to Xdrive. When her computer crashed, she didn't worry, for she had "backed up" all of here stuff to Xdrive. She found that the files were still on Xdrive, only to wait a few days while her computer was fixed to find that Xdrive lost her files. On it's old home page, Xdrive.com had something on it about how every file was put on a tape drive for an extra backup. So the lady contacted support so she could get the tape backup. Hewever, the support person replied and said that there was no such thing..........
DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT USE XDRIVE. IT WILL CATCH UP TO YOU!!!!!!
Posted by: Brandon | Jan 13, 2007 10:37:10 PM
I tried using the free 5gb version of Xdrive, because ...what can you loose? Just time, patience, sanity, and CPU cycles. First, Their website contains a few broken links. Including the one to email technical support. When I did get to a place to email customer support I received a response email telling me to email aol directly for customer support. Now, if they are so smart, why can't they forward it themselves, or better yet, put the correct email address in their own application.
I could not get their software for Xdrive desktop to install. The version from the Xdrive website is 153. I tried three times, both downloading and running directly. I was able to download and install version 154 from CNet. Why would a company download an older, non functioning version from their own web site and give a free download service the good version?
Once installed I couldn't use the desktop. I sent a detailed message indicating that the problem was a problem with a proxy login. They sent back a generic email asking for details that would help them solve the problem. ALl of these details were contained in my original email. The second email suggested that I call 1-866-goxdrive. After wading through the usual touch tone responses it says that phone support is for paying customers only.
I now have five emails with suggestions, none of which fix the problem. I have a stand alone PC with a broadband connection. It uses the Microsoft Windows XP firewall. This sounds like a plain vanilla computer. I wonder why they can't make their product work?
Posted by: George | Jan 21, 2007 2:30:25 PM
