Back up and share your data on the Web<\/p>\n
By Vishnu K. Mahmud<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Sometimes I take my work home with me. Since
\nit's still in digital form (computer files), I cannot stuff it in
\nmy briefcase and go home. I distrust floppy disks since they have
\nproven to be unreliable in the past (especially in my case) so I
\ntend to e-mail my work home. However, there are times when I have
\ndocuments that are in excess of 4 megabytes. If I e-mailed it,
\nthe office systems administrator will come down on me like a bolt
\nof lightning. So I use virtual drives.<\/p>\n
Virtual drives are basically hard drives on the Internet that
\neveryone can use. You can access your data from anywhere in the
\nworld so you don't really need your laptop. With many Internet
\ncafes sprouting up in all corners of the globe, all you would
\nneed to do is download, work on the file, then upload it back to
\nyour virtual drive after you have made a printed copy. No more
\nlugging laptops, floppies or stacks of paper. And if your laptop
\ncrashes, you at least have a backup online that you can grab
\nafter you finish reinstalling the system.<\/p>\n
Some of the more popular virtual drives are xdrive, idrive,
\nmyspace and freedrive.com.<\/p>\n
Using these sites is relatively easy. All you have to do is
\nsign up for one (they're free) and you will get about 20 to 300
\nmegabytes of free space for your files. You can upload your Word
\ndocuments, business presentation files, digital photographs and
\nMP3 music files.<\/p>\n
Some sites allow you to share your files with friends.
\nIdrive.com, for example, has public folders where other people
\ncan access your files while keeping your private folder off
\nlimits. Thus, you can show off your pictures of your holiday to
\nthe boss without him or her seeing your updated resume on file.<\/p>\n
With idrive you can also \"Clip\" and \"Sideload\" files. Clipping
\nallows you to save an entire web page (text, graphics and all)
\ninto your idrive so you can view them later. You could always
\nbookmark the page, but news sites frequently alter their pages.
\nIn other words, a feature about Leonardo DiCaprio could replace
\nan article about the latest computer chip that you really wanted
\nto read.<\/p>\n
Sideloading allows you to transfer files from a website into
\nyour idrive account for future downloading. For example, you can
\nsideload a batch of program files from various sites in the
\nInternet and then download them en mass from your idrive. So you
\ncan select them from your office but download them at home. So
\nfar, clipping and sideloading can only be done with idrive's
\npartner sites.<\/p>\n
Freedrive.com is one site that allows its user to access the
\nsite as if it is a hard drive on the user's machine. Using the
\nFreedrive Desktop software, the user can copy and delete files as
\neasy as opening a folder on his hard drive. The software also
\nallows the user to schedule file synchronizations and backups.<\/p>\n
At the moment, backing up your hard drive online may not be
\ncost effective (especially if you have a slow dial up connection)
\nbut you can at least save your most valuable files (such as your
\nCV, family pictures, bookmark files, address book). In the event
\nof a total computer meltdown, you would at least have the basic
\nfiles necessary to rebuild. You could, of course, back files up
\nwith a removable hard disk (like a ZIP Drive), a second hard
\ndrive, or floppy disks.<\/p>\n
One of my favorite storage sites is Yahoo! Using the aptly
\nnamed \"my yahoo\", I have a small virtual office where I can keep
\nall my data files and e-mail in one place. Using their Briefcase
\napplication, I can upload up to 25 megabytes of files for my own
\npersonal folder, or photo folder that can be opened to the
\npublic. So no matter where I am (or whose computer I use), I
\nhave access to my basic files (especially useful for writing, job
\nhunting or researching!). Although Yahoo does not offer more
\nthen 25 megabytes, it should be enough for the traveling
\nprofessional.<\/p>\n
Security is probably the primary concern when using these
\ndrives. How safe are they really? Can the system administrator
\nsee my files? Can a hacker go in and steal my data? Most virtual
\ndrives have privacy policies that spell out what their
\nresponsibilities are. Security wise, these sites are like any
\nother e-commerce web site since anyone out to steal your data
\nwould need to find your user ID and password first. So as long as
\nyou keep your passwords a secret, it should be OK. It's like
\nkeeping your ATM PIN number secret; even if they have your card,
\nthere is little they can do to withdraw money. Most sites will
\nblock multiple incorrect login attempts.<\/p>\n
But all in all, virtual drives are an asset when used
\neffectively. It makes it easier for people to share, collaborate
\nor even backup files over the Internet. A formerly complicated
\nprocedure is now easy enough to be used by the masses.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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