Microsoft Backs Down, Lets OneDrive Users Keep Their Free 15GB of Storage

New submitter Farfetched619 writes: In November, Microsoft revealed that they would be reducing free OneDrive storage from 15GB to 5GB for all users, current and new. Microsoft mentioned that some subscribers were hosting movies and large files on the service, which has prompted the company to make this drastic change. Now, after community feedback, Microsoft is allowing free OneDrive users to retain their 15GB of free storage space.

Comments

Another reason to avoid "cloud" solutions

[Hasaf]

"Terms are always subject to change"

Re: Another reason to avoid "cloud" solutions

[TinyTheBrontosaurus]

Pray I don't alter the terms further

Re:Another reason to avoid "cloud" solutions

[Anonymous Coward]

I think this is more a case of "You get what you pay for".

You pay nothing, you get what you get.

Other cloud service providers take your money and and make a contractual agreement to what they have to deliver for that.

Dumb argument

[lyovushka]

"We gave users storage and they have used it. So we are going to cut it." That is the dumbest argument I have ever heard.

Re:Dumb argument

[rudy_wayne]

Bullshit. If you advertise X, then you should assume, right from the very beginning, that *EVERYONE* is going to use the maximum amount of X, and plan accordingly. Otherwise, it demonstrates that you are dishonest and never intended for people to actually use X -- it was just an advertising gimmick designed to draw people in for something that you never intended to deliver.

Re:Dumb argument

[Fragnet]

Not bullshit, no. A reasonable assumption is that usage falls on a curve of some kind and that the peak value is probably not everybody using all 15Gb. For example I'm currently using 1.4Gb of mine. Now if the bean counters see that the peak value of the curve has moved substantially, well, that's what terms of service changes are for. It's just a business decision for them. It's free to you (though not to them) so if you don't like it you can jog on I guess.

And yes, it is a "tragedy of the commons" argument.

Re:Dumb argument

[Daimanta]

Bullshit. If you advertise X, then you should assume, right from the very beginning, that *EVERYONE* is going to use the maximum amount of X, and plan accordingly. Otherwise, it demonstrates that you are dishonest and never intended for people to actually use X -- it was just an advertising gimmick designed to draw people in for something that you never intended to deliver.

You probably know about internet overselling. In fact, the statistical truth that not everyone is going to use a service to the maximal extent of their capability is used in every area where people need to plan. You don't dedicate a persons internet line to them personally since it is quite unlikely that they use it fully all the time. You don't have as many toilets as employees at a company as not everyone will use it at the same time. If you offer storage, not everyone will use the same amount of space as the needs of people are different.

Ofcourse, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be prepared for heavier usage of your system. But to expect MS or Google to make good on all the potential storage space they offered for the total price of zero is lunacy and doesn't work in the real world.

Re:Dumb argument

[Ol Olsoc]

Not bullshit, no. A reasonable assumption is that usage falls on a curve of some kind and that the peak value is probably not everybody using all 15Gb.

And it makes as many friends as overbooking airplane flights does. All over a thumbs drive worth of storage.

It's just a business decision for them.

Apparently one that wasn't so popular either. And no tragedy of commons needed in this case.

The bean counters who may have decided they should cut this storage in half - did they consider the effects of popularity? Did they not consider that some users would use all their space? Where were they during the initial stages of this

Bean counters are very good at bottom lines - even when those bottom lines are destructive to the goal.

I have no dog in this fight. I don't use any Microsoft cloud solution in my Windows machines, and only use "find my Mac/iPhone on my OSX machines.

And this is an example of why. My storage devices, under my control, do not resize themselves, or go away, or change the terms for allowing me to store my data and backups on them.

Not really backing down

[PwrSwitch]

They're staying the course, they're just giving the option to be grandfathered in. I doubt they'll make an effort to let people know this exists.

Re: more details

[Ol Olsoc]

Yea, because a thumb drive automatically syncs to your various PCs, tablets, and phones. And replicates itself to different geographical areas and keeps previous versions and backups. Yep, it's clearly the same as a DVD or a thumb drive.

First world problem, sir.

Sarcasm rant follows...

One time, I damn near died from the stress and exhaustion involved when I had to manually load in something from a thumb drive. Can you believe, it? First I had to put it into the USB slot, which is way too complicated - I even had to look for the USB slot. I cried a little by this point. Then a very confusing screen popped up, asking me what I wanted to do. Holy hell! How would I know? So after what seemed like forever, I chose to open it. I was sweating bullets by this time. Then there were these things on the screen! I had no idea what to do, so I went to my Facebook to find out. Did you know those damn computer geeks have these things they call files? Who knew? I clicked on it. Nothing happened. I clicked again. Still nothing happened. Finally I got really pissed at the utter unfairness, the ridiculous inconvenience, and in frustration clicked twice probably because I was shaking with anger.. Then it opened the file. What the hell? One click should always be enough That was .25 seconds of my life I won't get back. It should be criminal I tell you