Google Docs Vs. Evernote Premium for Archiving

: Image by Daniel F. Pigatto via Flickr

Google recently announced that you will be able to use their Google Docs service to store files of any type. They are adamant that this is not the fabled GDrive. Based on my preliminary experience, I would have to agree. While Google's new file storage service is very affordable, it has some serious limitations.

First, let's spell out what Google offers, for the uninitiated. Google used to allow you to keep documents on their servers in the Google Docs formats. If you uploaded a Word or Wordperfect file, it would be converted to their format. Same for Excel and PowerPoint. Google recently announced that you will be able to upload any file up to 250 MB for storage in Google Docs.

It is true that you can upload any kind of file to Google servers. I tried a few. However, there is one big problem. While uploading your files to Google Docs is extremely affordable, there is a huge maintenance overhead. Your files can't be tagged worth a damn. The best you can do is create folders where you can put your files. Otherwise, there is no way to keep track of what is where.

On the plus side, you have the cheap storage price. In addition, Google Docs gives you the ability to share any of your files. This is great if you have a large file, less than 250 MB that you would like people to download. No bandwidth charges.

Evernote Premium, on the other hand, allows you to upload up to 500 MB of files into your account per month. But, they offer unlimited storage. In addition, Evernote allows you to tag and organize your files for easy recall. The downside to Evernote is that the maximum file size allowed is 25MB, considerably less than Google Docs.

It is a tough call as to which service is better. While, Evernote offers unlimited storage, there are monthly limits and file size limits. Evernote excels in the ability to tag your files for easy retrieval.

Google Docs has a tiered storage price structure, which is extremely affordable. In addition, they offer a larger file size.

On the one hand, you have better archiving; on the other hand, you have better storage options. Each offers an advantage the other does not give. This makes choosing a better service difficult.

But then, both services are very affordable. Nothing stops you from subscribing to both. Each one has its strength; which may be prove to complement the other with a little imagination.

Google Adds Shared Folders to Docs [File Sharing] (lifehacker.com)
Google Docs gets file storage: Is this the GDrive? (news.cnet.com)
Google Docs' "Upload Any File" Available Now (smarterware.org)

Before Getting Out of the Gate

Tonight, I was working on a new blog project. Google and Blogger have been good platforms for me in the past. I was able to get the domain pointed and was working on the layout and template. Suddenly, the website was blocked. I had searched for ways to publish that were not subject to censorhsip. I wound up on the Hive blockchain. It's great for censorship resistance, but it's not without its problems. In any case, I was thinking that maybe I was being too paranoid. Now, before getting out of the gate, I have a blog censored. I'm trying to think of what I could have posted, reposted, or even been associated with that could have caused the blog to be blocked. I can't think of anything. If this doesn't pan out after review, I may need to look for an alternative hosting option. I was already looking at Publii as an option. It only requieres simple FTP updates. I prefer not to use Wordpress as experience has taught me that you an customize a theme and add plugins ...

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