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Looks great, absolutely. My concern is why websites like this tend to "hide" or de-value the login link. I regularly have to access the Dropbox website, but wi

by tannerc 13y ago

Looks great, absolutely. My concern is why websites like this tend to "hide" or de-value the login link. I regularly have to access the Dropbox website, but with every change they make the login button seems to get smaller and smaller. I get that they're a business and need new customers, but it feels like existing customers "just aren't that important."

s0rce 13y ago
I think in the current iteration the login link is slightly more visible, at least closer to the sign-up button, then it was in the past.
timdorr 13y ago
Because that's not the primary access point. You normally log in through the app. For cases where you want to use the website, the app provides you a link to it that automatically logs you in. It's de-valued because the majority of people that see this page are looking to sign up, learn more about Dropbox, or download the app. This page is optimized for those common use cases.
- freehunter 13y ago
  There's a perfectly valid use case for using the Dropbox site to get to your files. A huge benefit of Dropbox is the ability to access your files anywhere, including a computer that does not or even cannot have the client installed. I'm thinking of a library machine at your university, your grandmother's computer, a friend's computer where you don't want to sign them out of their own desktop client, a work laptop where you're not allowed to install your own software, etc.
  - oatmealsnap 13y ago
    yea, and it's pretty clear where to log in.
    - tannerc 13y ago
      Certainly is. The problem is that the link seems to get smaller and more hidden with each update. Even without seeing the numbers I think it's obvious why they're doing it, I'm just wondering: is there a better way to callout the login for existing users without interfering too much with the process for potential customers?
  - wikwocket 13y ago
    If you like, you can use dropbox.com/login, which is pretty easy to remember.
- donniezazen 13y ago
  In my case I would like websites to expose login and password dialog, so, for example, password managers could have easy access to them.
- hrktb 13y ago
  I think too much credit is given here. Another way to view it is that it is more important for Dropbox to have new people signup than already converted people login in. Of course loging in should not be unfriendly, but pushing slighly out of sight on the home page is fair game. BTW my main use case for login to the website is for accessing my files from someone's computer or a different account, so yhe appis not helping.
- jrochkind1 13y ago
  > Because that's not the primary access point. You normally log in through the app I know tons of people who use Dropbox for file sharing with their friends and colleagues, exclusively via the web interface. They don't even know there IS an app, and never install apps on their laptops, they think the web browser is all there is. (And the dropbox web browser UI is actually quite good.) It is not obvious to me what is typical for the majority of dropbox users though (and then the majority of paying customers may be different again)

by tannerc 13y ago

s0rce 13y ago

I think in the current iteration the login link is slightly more visible, at least closer to the sign-up button, then it was in the past.

timdorr 13y ago

Because that's not the primary access point. You normally log in through the app. For cases where you want to use the website, the app provides you a link to it that automatically logs you in. It's de-valued because the majority of people that see this page are looking to sign up, learn more about Dropbox, or download the app. This page is optimized for those common use cases.

freehunter 13y ago
There's a perfectly valid use case for using the Dropbox site to get to your files. A huge benefit of Dropbox is the ability to access your files anywhere, including a computer that does not or even cannot have the client installed. I'm thinking of a library machine at your university, your grandmother's computer, a friend's computer where you don't want to sign them out of their own desktop client, a work laptop where you're not allowed to install your own software, etc.
- oatmealsnap 13y ago
  yea, and it's pretty clear where to log in.
  - tannerc 13y ago
    Certainly is. The problem is that the link seems to get smaller and more hidden with each update. Even without seeing the numbers I think it's obvious why they're doing it, I'm just wondering: is there a better way to callout the login for existing users without interfering too much with the process for potential customers?
- wikwocket 13y ago
  If you like, you can use dropbox.com/login, which is pretty easy to remember.
donniezazen 13y ago
In my case I would like websites to expose login and password dialog, so, for example, password managers could have easy access to them.
hrktb 13y ago
I think too much credit is given here. Another way to view it is that it is more important for Dropbox to have new people signup than already converted people login in. Of course loging in should not be unfriendly, but pushing slighly out of sight on the home page is fair game. BTW my main use case for login to the website is for accessing my files from someone's computer or a different account, so yhe appis not helping.
jrochkind1 13y ago
> Because that's not the primary access point. You normally log in through the app I know tons of people who use Dropbox for file sharing with their friends and colleagues, exclusively via the web interface. They don't even know there IS an app, and never install apps on their laptops, they think the web browser is all there is. (And the dropbox web browser UI is actually quite good.) It is not obvious to me what is typical for the majority of dropbox users though (and then the majority of paying customers may be different again)