File_Sharing

Before there was the World Wide Web, the internet was largely about file sharing. Originally it was no more complicated than using what was called "file transfer protocol," or "ftp," that simply copied a file from a user to a server and from a server to another user. In one sense, file sharing still is file sharing - yet Web 2.0 tools and services add some interesting collaborative aspects. File sharing Web 2.0 tools vary from basic storage to more elaborate quasi operating systems with applications features. You will need to create a basic free account at each stie to access and to assess these services. As before, try a couple of them, so you have some points of comparison, and write about the one you like best.

From my experience, I use Google Docs daily at my library job, and also use Dropbox in that work quite a bit - particularly for moving photos around. I used to use Box.net a lot - and still do for backups and to move large files in some classes that do quite a bit of multimedia.

4Shared - [] ( Available in China)

Box - [|http://box.net] - Cloud storage and backup, but with sharing features. (Available in China.)

Dropbox - http://www.dropbox.com - Heavily oriented toward sharing, although could be sharing between different computers for the same person, such as home and office. (Not available in China.)

Glide - [|http://www.glidedigital.com] - OS approach. (Available in China)

[|Google Docs] - Not available for free in China (?), but a mainstay for American students. Works from a Gmail account signup. Touts, and has, substantial compatibility with standard MS Office.

Mailbigfile - [|http://www.mailbigfile.com] - Not a storage system, but a sending option that accomplishes the sharing feature that the file storage services offer.

Pando - [|http://www.pando.com] - Distribution, rather than storing approach, apparently. May be useful when one needs to send files larger than the caps put on file-sharing sites.

SkyDrive - [|http://skydrive.live.com] Available in China