As you know, Google has recently launched their online storage (cloud storage) Google Drive. Everyone is very excited about Google Drive and it is the latest buzz in technology circle. Blogs are flooded with comparison among various other cloud storage (Skydrive, dropbox, box.net, etc) with Google Drive.
Yesterday I got a chance to install Google Drive on my windows 7 machine. The process of installation and sync files between your local machine and online Google drive is pretty simple and straight forward. If you haven’t started yet, I will highly recommend to go though it and give it a try.
Install Google Drive
To download Google Drive software, go to https://drive.google.com. If your account has still no access to google drive, you can see this message:-
Nothing to worry about. Just Click “Notify me” button and Google will send you an email once your Google Drive is available.
If you are lucky enough to be in few users who have already Google Drive enabled (I was in the list 
), you will be able to see a download link. Click on it to download googledrivesync.exe executable file on your machine.
If you cannot see download link, go to https://tools.google.com/dlpage/drive/index.html?pli=1. Download Google Drive from here.
Once the file will be downloaded to your machine, double-click on it.
During installation, it will ask for login credentials. Provide it.
Once installed successfully it will create a folder, named ‘Google Drive’ in your user directory. If you are in windows 7, you can find this folder at C:\Users\{replace it with your user name}\Google Drive
That is it. Your Google Drive is installed. You can see now Google Drive icon on Windows System tray (bottom right corner of screen). Whatever file you put in Google Drive folder at your local machine, it will be synced to online storage immediately (based on your internet speed).
Desktop Client Comparison:- Google Drive, Skydrive & Dropbox
I cannot see any significant difference between desktop client installation and usage of these three online storage service:- Google Drive, Skydrive and Dropbox.
All three will create a folder on your local machine and whatever file (size limitations will be enforced) you put in local folder, will be synced automatically with online storage.
Update 1:-
Install Google Drive on Mac
I am not planning to write on how to install google drive on mac. There are two reasons:- (1) the process of installation of Google Drive on Mac is more or less similar to installation of Google Drive on Windows (2) I really don’t own a Mac. Hence I will have to borrow the article from someone else, which I don’t want to do.
Quick note:- If you are a Mac user, once you click on ‘Download Google Drive’ on Google Drive home page, installgoogledrive.dmg will be download to your machine. Double click on this file and follow instructions to install Google Drive on Mac.
Update 2:-
Install Google Drive on Windows 8
Google Drive desktop client is absolutely compatible with Windows 8 Consumer Preview. I have successfully installed Google Drive on Windows 8.
I applied for Google Drive & approved in a day. I have not downloaded Google Drive. I do all work in online
Hi Rashmi
I have been testing Google Drive too and find it very similar to Dropbox. Google might have an advantage when it comes to integration with other of their services, but otherwise I don’t think that it can do much that Dropbox can’t do. Anyway I think that it is great for us consumers that Google are joining the fight to get their share in the cloud marked. The fact that Google Drive comes with 5 GB free storage might put some pressure on Dropbox to increase their free storage limit
Thomas recently posted..Google Drive Vs DropBox
Hey Thomas. Agree. Features of almost all the cloud storage is more or less similar. It is integration of various google services, which will give them an advantage.
I have installed Google Drive in my Desktop and in my Android Mobile. Google Drive comes with 5 GB free storage but what is the limit of data transfer per day in Google Drive is a question.
of course, there is no such limit.
Google drive is so nice tool i have never heard about this in future now i know that its so useful. Now i think it will be the best than skydrive.
Google has not mentioned the data transfer limit, or may be I’m not aware of it yet. However, Google does have restricted file size. It is 10GB. I haven’t tried on my Windows 8 Consumer Preview yet. Let me try that out as well.
Ricky Shah recently posted..Google Drive Alternatives: List That You’ve Been Craving For
I have it on my computer to sync my work files.. Its very convenient to have my files updated on all my remote computer.
Thanks.