This document compares Google Drive and Skydrive for accessing and sharing documents through cloud storage. Both platforms offer around 5-7 GB of storage and allow users to create, upload, and access recent files. However, Skydrive is based on Microsoft products while Google Drive is based on Google products. Skydrive also allows sharing of entire folders and easy syncing between desktop and cloud storage by dragging documents to the Skydrive icon on the taskbar.

1. ACCESSING DOCUMENTS
THROUGH THE “CLOUD”
Comparing Google Drive and Skydrive

2. Skydrive User Google Drive User
Microsoft based Google based
Windows Google or Apple
Internet Explorer Chrome
Hotmail Gmail
Skydrive Google Drive

3. Skydrive Options Google Drive Options
7 Gb Storage 5 Gb Storage
Word Documents
Excel Spreadsheets
PowerPoint Presentations
OneNote Forms
Excel (Form) Drawing
Uploads Directly Uploads Directly

4. CREATING ACCOUNTS
Skydrive Google Drive
 Accounts can be  Must create a Google
created using any ID account or use a
email, even the Gmail address
Marshall Public
Schools account.
 Perfect for student
emails using Office 365

5. Skydrive Options Google Drive
Both platforms offer a
•Create
•Upload
•Recent Files
•Shared
•Ability to download to your computer for easy access

6. GOOGLE DRIVE APPEARANCE

7. GOOGLE SPREADSHEETS
GOOGLE PRESENTATIONS

8. SKYDRIVE WORD DOCUMENT

9. EXCEL SPREADSHEET
EXCEL POWERPOINT

10. ORIGINAL DOCUMENT FROM COMPUTER DESKTOP

11. SAME DOCUMENT IN SKYDRIVE WORD
In Skydrive, Word documents will look and
behave essentially the same.

12. UPLOADING DOCUMENTS
Google Drive is capable of opening Word
Document, however, the format of the document
will change.

13. SHARING DOCUMENT IN GOOGLE
Click the Share button

14. Share as a link to the
document
Share with specified
individuals.
As names are added
they will appear here
Determine the
recipients’ access to the
document.
Once share and saved is clicked, the
document is sent.

15. The recipient receives a link in their e-mail from which they
can access the document.
When the user is in the
document, this area
indicates if other users
are also viewing or
editing the document.

16. DIFFERENT PROCESS FOR SKYDRIVE
Click the File button
Click the Share button

17. Various options for
sharing
Checking the second box is
a security measure against
your document being
shared with others who you
do not know.

18. RECIPIENT RECEIVES LINK TO DOCUMENT IN
EMAIL
Not sure if users can work simultaneously
or how that would be indicated within the
Skydrive work area.

19. EXAMPLES OF USING SHARE DOCUMENTS
WITHIN THE SCHOOL SETTING
 Teacher Observation Sign-up
 Sub Plans

20. SKYDRIVE ALSO ALLOWS USERS TO SHARE
COMPLETE FOLDERS OF INFORMATION
Click the
checkbox for the
intended folder
Click Sharing in
the extended
menu Follow the same
procedure as
sharing a document

21. SKYDRIVE OFFERS EASY SYNCING OF
DOCUENTS
Drag the little Cloud
icon from the hidden
icons menu to the task
bar tray.
The cloud icon is easy access to opening up your
SkyDrive document folder on the Cloud. Once the
folder is opened, documents can be dragged into the
Skydrive storage area.

22. DOWNLOADING THE SKYDRIVE APP
 Downloading the SkyDrive App allows the user to
quickly and easily share documents from their laptop
to the Cloud.
 Download App here:
https://apps.live.com/skydrive/app/9a65e47d-606a-
4816-a246-90f54bf7a3ea
 After creating a document on your desktop, simply
select “Save As” and the Skydrive option will appear
as one of your choices for storage.

23. Once the
EASILY SAVE DOCUMENTS TO THE SKYDRIVE STORAGE
Skydrive app
has been
downloaded
and installed
to your
desktop
computer,
simply select
the Skydrive
option when
saving a
document.

24. ADVANTAGES OF USING SKYDRIVE OVER
GOOGLE DRIVE
 7 Gb storage rather than 5 Gb
 Looks and feels like Microsoft Applications
 Can use any email address to create an account or
link with an existing hotmail account
 Shares entire folders
 Immediately move from Desktop to Cloud by
clicking the Skydrive icon
 When away from the school, Skydrive allows the
user to open documents in Web Apps or in the
actual Microsoft Office application
 Doesn’t use as must bandwidth as Dropbox