Evaluate the best cloud storage tools

(MoneyWatch) Someday, you'll be able to tell your kids about the great "cloud" storage explosion of 2012 -- the year that Google Drive launched, Dropbox made major upgrades, Microsoft (MSFT) rolled out a totally revamped and competitive SkyDrive, and everyone finally felt comfortable storing their files online.

In recent weeks, I've spent a little time comparing competing cloud solutions and discussing their respective terms of service. Today you can directly compare the cost per gigabyte of each of the major alternatives.

Technology blog Ars Technica has published a pair of charts that show which platforms (Windows, Mac, iPhone, Android, and so on) each of the major cloud services runs on.

For platform compatibility, two services are neck and neck. SkyDrive is green across the board except for Linux; Dropbox works with everyone except Windows Phone. Google Drive, iCloud, and SugarSync work with most platforms, while Box brigs up the rear with more red than green (it only offers client apps for mobile devices, not the desktop).

When it comes to storage prices, things get even more interesting. On price alone, Box is the clear winner, costing around 3 cents per GB across the various plans (100-300). SkyDrive is a close second at about 4 cents per GB. And Dropbox is the most expensive, clocking in at 20 cents per GB. Of course, all of those services give away several gigabytes of storage for free, so it's possible to get value from any of them without spending any money at all.

There's a lot of excellent information at Ars Technica -- check out the complete story and see the charts for yourself.

[iiillxlliii]

The best for me has been Sugarsync. A big comparison chart is available here: http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1080740/bigchart-7.jpeg
Unlike dropbox or google drive, you can sync any folder and backup any folder. you can upload by email too. Sugarsync allows to sync multiple computers and can sync folders between multiple computers.
Sugarsync gives 5gb, extra 0.5gb for using the link below, 2gb for inviting 20 friends,625mb for completing some simple steps and additional 250mb if you download and complete simple tasks on your smartphone app.Then there is the option of500mb per successful referral, 10gb if they take up a paid account.
I got 8.375gb (5+0.5+2+0.625+0.250) within minutes. Get it by clicking this link: http://******/KbjOKH.

[iiillxlliii]

https://www.sugarsync.com/referral?rf=egf9risyznihv&utm_source=website&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=referral&shareEvent=541346

[Bojax39]

Irregardless of cloud tools and storage options......

As the cost of terabyte and above mechanical storage devices spiral downwards, there is absolutely no reason to risk your sensitive business or personal data in a "cloud".

Use local devices to store your jewels and a cloud to store your junk.

[hypnotoad72]

So how many of us have the necessary internet bandwidth and speed to make use of such connections?

Have people read terms of service agreements to see if their data gets a royalty-free copy to be used by the cloud provider?

How about data protection and ID theft?

What if the cloud business goes under thanks to competition; as people may ditch local backup sources, are customers let to rot (as usual)?