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Online Storage: Extend Your Hard Disk to the Web

If your hard drive is running low on free space, you can avoid a costly storage upgrade by stowing your files with one of these online storage services.

Erik Larkin

Friday, June 02, 2006, 11:00 AM PDT
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Rank Name PCW Rating
Online storage
1
GoDaddy Online File Folder
GoDaddy Online File Folder
• Free trial: No
• Browser-based access: Yes
• Mapped as network place (no drive letter)
• $5 per year for up to 50MB; $20 per year for 2GB
Vendor's Web site
The service has a great Web interface, but its maximum storage is 10GB.
Pending
2
Streamload Mediamax
Streamload Mediamax
• Free trial: n/a
• Browser-based access: Yes
• Map as network drive: No
• Free for up to 25GB (with limitations); $15 per month or $120 per year for 250GB
Vendor's Website
You get a huge amount of storage space and excellent media streaming, but downloads and sharing are limited with the free plan, as is maximum file size (paid plan limits are higher).
Pending
3
Box.net
Box.net
• Free trial: n/a
• Browser-based access: Yes
• Map as network drive: No
• Free for up to 1GB; $10 per month or $100 per year for 15GB
Vendor's Web site
Despite a nice interface, the service lacks such extra features as client software and network mapping. Also, the free service imposes file-size and other limits.
Pending
4
Simdesk
Simdesk
• Free trial: 30 days
• Browser-based access: Yes
• Map as network drive: Yes
• $3.50 per month for up to 1GB; $3 for each additional gigabyte to 10GB
Vendor's Web site
Printer sharing and mobile access are among this service's special features, but it uses a clunky Web interface and provides less storage space than competing services.
Pending
5
FlipDrive
FlipDrive
• Free trial: 30 days
• Browser-based access: Yes
• Map as network drive: No
• Free for up to 25MB; $10 per month or $100 per year for 15GB
Vendor's Web site
This service provides simple file downloads and lets you create photo albums, but it lacks other extras, and its Web interface is lackluster.
Pending
6
Online Storage Solutions
Online Storage Solutions
• Free trial: No
• Browser-based access: Yes, but limited
• Map as network drive: Yes
• $5 per month for up to 10GB; $35 per month for 100GB
Vendor's Web site
You get more storage for your money with this service than you do with most competing storage sites, but it uses a no-frills, kludgy Web interface.
Pending
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