[username135]

Can you elaborate on what you told your father?

When i use google drive, the interface appears to be folder/file structure. Whether it is or is made to look that way is irrelevant, i suppose, as long as it works that way. I can also increase storage by downloading/deleting things so Im a bit flummoxed.

[layman51]

In my opinion, Google Drive is basically the same as the traditional file structure. Where it gets very confusing for people is when it comes to collaboration. Before 2020 or so, there was confusion around copying the same Google Doc so it appears in multiple locations, and making shortcuts to it instead. Look up stuff around the “Shift + Z” keyboard shortcut if you want to learn more.

[MathMonkeyMan]

I don't remember if he was trying to save space on his Google Drive or on his phone. His question was, mostly, that if he deleted files in one place, where would the space savings appear? I immediately thought of Windows' OneDrive and how it's sort of an automated rsync setup. I didn't know enough about his phone, which apps he was using, or about Google Drive to give an answer better than "I don't know, and I detect that some of your assumptions are probably wrong."

[NavinF]

I grew up before cloud storage was mainstream, but I never thought the new model was confusing.

- Google Drive caches recent files and downloads other files on demand. Just like iCloud Drive, MS OneDrive, etc.

- Deleting files will free up space on your Google account.

- Clicking the "clear offline files" button will free up space on device.

All these offering are quite similar with just a few extra features here and there

[ffsm8]

Google drive uses the same storage quota for other services like Gmail and Photos, these aren't visible from the drive directory structure

[mr_toad]

> the interface appears to be folder/file structure

It might look that way, but it doesn’t have the same features.

https://aws.amazon.com/compare/the-difference-between-block-...