Info to go - online storage sites - Brief Article

Black Enterprise, March, 2001 by Nicholas J. DeVito

Access and share files from anywhere--at any time

In the past, if you ran out of space on your hard drive, you had two options: upgrade your PC or purchase an external storage device. Both solutions are fine; but what if you travel frequently and don't want to drag along an external hard drive? These days you can park your information online at one of many Web storage sites, and access it from any PC with an Internet connection--all for free.

But before porting your information online, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, the main concern with online storage is access: In many cases, if the site is down for maintenance, or if your ISP is unavailable, you won't be able to retrieve your data.

Second is the issue of security. If you're concerned about placing sensitive information online, a Web-based storage solution might not be the best for you. But, keeping the caveats in mind, online storage is a good option if you want to store noncritical files or need to share general information, digital images, and music.

The services are easy to use and require nothing more than signing up. Although they all operate under the same premise, some sites offer different features. We've dug up a few to help you weigh your options.

DRIVEWAY (WWW.DRIVEWAY.COM)

One of the first to offer free online storage, Driveway gives you 25MB of space to store everything from spreadsheets to contracts. You can also save information while surfing simply by clicking on the Park It button; the item is sent directly to your "driveway."

While the site doesn't have the most attractive interface, Driveway is a solid tool for business users who simply want the basics: quick and easy file storage and sharing. You can also sign up to receive a free phone number to receive fax and voice mail messages in your e-mailbox.

Pros: Data backup; works on all platforms

Cons: Only 25 MB of storage

FREEDRIVE (WWW.FREEDRIVE.COM)

FreeDrive allows you to securely store, retrieve, and share data via your PC as well as wireless devices. And with new features such as FD Desktop and FD Sync, you can drag and drop files directly into FreeDrive and schedule frequent backups.

The site also lets you send files directly to FreeDrive while you're surfing the Web. And if you own a PDA, you're in luck: FreeDrive works with wireless devices, so you can take your information along in an even smaller package.

Pros: Lets you schedule backups and share files

Cons: Only 50MB of storage

I-DRIVE (WWW.IDRIVE.COM)

Geared more toward the consumer/college crowd, I-drive lets you store up to 50MB of information for free. Once you download the application, it's simply a matter of dragging and dropping files to and from your I-drive.

I-drive also features the Filo Web Clipping Tool, which lets you store an unlimited number of "clipped" Web pages, images, files, and links (such as e-commerce receipts, travel confirmation, and research). Additionally, you can share this information with others. The site is also compatible with PC and Mac platforms. Another crowd pleaser is I-drive's ability to collect and stream MP3s to share with friends.

Pros: Unlimited storage of Web content; works with PCs and Macs

Cons: More consumer-oriented

XDRIVE (WWW.XDRIVE.COM)

At Xdrive, you get up to 100 MB of storage space for everything from documents to photos to MP3s. Xdrive offers four ways to access information: via the Web, cell phone, PDA, and your desktop with the new Xdrive Desktop, which works similarly to a C: drive.

You can access and save files, as you would with your hard drive, and save files directly into Xdrive while still using an application. If you're working on a Word file, for example, you won't have to visit the site to upload information. With Xdrive Desktop, you save it directly without leaving the program. You will need to be connected to the Web, however.

Pros: Collaboration features; Xdrive Desktop

Cons: Xdrive Desktop doesn't support Macs

Depending on your needs, one of these sites will work for you. You can store whatever you want on the Web, freeing up valuable space on your PC. It's worth noting that while these sites are free, they do provide secure connection and storage, so your data won't be left floating somewhere in cyberspace.