Just not going to be able to get away from iCloud...

[Dreambird]

... are we? *sigh**
 

Have managed so far but a lot of new apps aren't giving a choice between iCloud or Dropbox or "carry it in a Gunnysack!"

 

[kimmer]

... are we? *sigh**
 

Have managed so far but a lot of new apps aren't giving a choice between iCloud or Dropbox or "carry it in a Gunnysack!"

 

What do you base all this on, Dreambird?

[Dreambird]

Oh probably things that aren't valid anymore but for a little "niggle" in my own mind.... like when iCloud first came out that people found things like their photos and such had been altered... as in compressed to allow for more space. I'd be the first to admit that many of my art pieces are terrible space wasters being from back when .jpg was too lossy so they are huge .tif files. I just like to make sure nothing gets altered as they are the originals and I want them to stay that way. I'm sure it's paranoia on my part but it is what it is, I just like to be sure. Another reason for wanting a second back up. Time Machine hasn't ever changed anything but if I need to upload any to even Dropbox... it's a copy.
I don't like that these cloud servers, (dropbox) does it too), remove your files on your HD if you chose to quit syncing some or all the stuff you have been. Dropbox nicely whipped a folder full of .rtf files off my HD when I dropped my attention and I had to go fish it back off TM.

Generally I don't need heavy lifting syncing to other places, as it's just little old me using the machine and my HD still has tons of room and generally there's not a lot of sharing going on. Just with my sister now and then so email works fine. I just need to sync for a back up and prefer the external drives for that.

I'm just getting old, crazy and set in my ways, I guess... 

[Xairbusdriver]

I had assumed your complaints were about current Systems, however...

like when iCloud first came out

I think that is what we might call early OSX history! I can't even remember when it "first came out". I think it was actually birthed back with the me.com system!
Dropbox changed from its 'early' iteration to become an app on your computer. It looks like a folder but it actually moves any files you place in it to the Dropbox servers (which is all the "cloud" is, anyway). But you can always keep a copy on your local drives.

Dropbox nicely whipped a folder full of .rtf files off my HD

I've never seen that happen. I suggest you contact Dropbox, but I'm sure they will require more details.

a lot of new apps aren't giving a choice between iCloud or Dropbox

I think you have been asked to provide some more info about that. What apps do you need that require you to use iCloud (or any other external, web-based storage system)?
As for the title of the topic, I'm not sure I understand why you think Apple should be doing less with iCloud. It is integral to all of its mobile devices and I expect it to become even more a part of the Desktop. Oh well...

[Dreambird]

Jim, Dropbox turned out to be easy... after digging my files back out of TM I inspected DB a little better. In prefs for that one you can exclude folders from auto sync so it is now up to you to put what you want, where. And so far it has been a stellar app as to respecting my wishes.

iCloud once again demonstrated it's "take over and conquer" immediately after my update to iOS 11 without so much as an "by your leave" ran my data usage on Bell up to 1.5GB. Now I have what has always been a generous plan IMO at 1GB of data, I don't know what the charge will be for the extra. I'm sorry I don't have the time to explain better right I'm about to run out the door for an appointment. That particular incident was simple... when iOS 11 loaded Cellular Data was just turned on for everything!

I can find many many places online where people talk about their experiences and one I read last night had his photos arbitrarily compressed as iCloud took the liberty to "save space"... DB notifies you if you are running short of space and gives you the options. My .tif files are all around big being uncompressed .tif files and I'm be furious if they had were compressed and altered that way. Of course a person with various files that are in any way important to him/her would be a fool to not have them backed up manually on an external etc. Hence why I'm investing in a little seagate portable.

Just my opinion which in the grand scheme of things is worth nothing is that Apple is dancing themselves into another corner which a poorly managed app. DB is floating around somewhere in some imaginary cloud, yes but it does work very well.

Just my 2 cents... I can't say if I wrong or right, just my personal feelings. Oh the dude that had his photos messed with was in 2016 so not THAT long ago. I believe you are right though about the MobileMe... I remember that.

[Dreambird]

Stumbled across this today from what I'd consider a reputable source... his opinion roughly mirrors mine... 

https://www.macworld.com/article/3162344/data-center-cloud/icloud-is-one-of-apple-s-biggest-challenges-in-2017.html

[Xairbusdriver]

Has he changed his opinion in the last 19.5 months?

[Dreambird]

I dunno, Jim... but even if "he" has I can find many more who don't think iCloud is the cat's meow. But in any case the verdict on the extra 500mb of data I was inadvertently over last month when iOS 11 installed with iCloud and cellular data blazing was an extra $30 on my bill. I get 1GB as part of my plan and that's always been more than I needed... whatever happened there went over 50%.