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I really don't understand why Dropbox is trying so hard to be more than they are - A file syncing service. That's all anyone wants out of them. They sync files,

by dokem 9y ago

I really don't understand why Dropbox is trying so hard to be more than they are - A file syncing service. That's all anyone wants out of them. They sync files, that's all they do, and they do it well. No one wants them to be some collaboration platform pushing the envelope of UI design. I'm sorry Dropbox, but you're just never going to be the show runner. Just keep doing what you're doing - syncing files in the background. There's no shame in that.

arachnids 9y ago
> That's all anyone wants out of them I'm sure they have better data on this than you or I do. There is an unfortunate tendency on HN to assume people are idiots who don't know what they're doing, as evidenced by every "why does company X need Y engineers??!!" comment.
- jackcnreturns 9y ago
  Last time I heard Twitter only needed 100 engineers.
sudoscript 9y ago
Except investors. This "collaborative platform" angle is clearly designed with the IPO roadshow in mind.
djsumdog 9y ago
This is what has made Dropbox so successful. You have files. They sync. It does one thing and it does it really well. I'll also admit their enterprise tool that lets you sync only some files as you need them is also seems cool, although I've never worked at a place that used it, and even if I did, I'd probably have to use it in a VM since I've used Linux at my last three jobs. Dropbox could try to build new products. Keep Dropbox as it is, but then try to branch out and build other tools. Maybe other office tools, or project management tools? They could keep the same login systems if they wants to pitch them to enterprise. But I agree, their core product is sold and should stay that way. Their brand can help them quite a bit if they start offering other products, but only if they're up to the same quality.
jeffbax 9y ago
Probably because it's a dangerous place to be in long term. Storage is going to get cheaper and cheaper from the big guys. Already for me there's no point to paying for DropBox when I can pay for iCloud for similar prices and get all the benefits of the integration that storage provides that DropBox doesn't (photos, etc) for the whole ecosystem. I've never needed to get more storage with DB… the free was always good enough though I'm also sure I'm not a big expense to them… many free users are.

by dokem 9y ago

arachnids 9y ago

> That's all anyone wants out of them I'm sure they have better data on this than you or I do. There is an unfortunate tendency on HN to assume people are idiots who don't know what they're doing, as evidenced by every "why does company X need Y engineers??!!" comment.

jackcnreturns 9y ago
Last time I heard Twitter only needed 100 engineers.

sudoscript 9y ago

Except investors. This "collaborative platform" angle is clearly designed with the IPO roadshow in mind.

djsumdog 9y ago

This is what has made Dropbox so successful. You have files. They sync. It does one thing and it does it really well. I'll also admit their enterprise tool that lets you sync only some files as you need them is also seems cool, although I've never worked at a place that used it, and even if I did, I'd probably have to use it in a VM since I've used Linux at my last three jobs. Dropbox could try to build new products. Keep Dropbox as it is, but then try to branch out and build other tools. Maybe other office tools, or project management tools? They could keep the same login systems if they wants to pitch them to enterprise. But I agree, their core product is sold and should stay that way. Their brand can help them quite a bit if they start offering other products, but only if they're up to the same quality.

jeffbax 9y ago

Probably because it's a dangerous place to be in long term. Storage is going to get cheaper and cheaper from the big guys. Already for me there's no point to paying for DropBox when I can pay for iCloud for similar prices and get all the benefits of the integration that storage provides that DropBox doesn't (photos, etc) for the whole ecosystem. I've never needed to get more storage with DB… the free was always good enough though I'm also sure I'm not a big expense to them… many free users are.