Within moments, my internet browser closed itself down. I tried to run a virus scan, but it was too late. Seconds later the virus scan shut down too and I was staring at a gazillion windows opening up on my desktop. I had encountered a very nasty bug.
Luckily, I'm married to an IT guy and he was at home when this all happened. Even though he was sick in bed (he'd come down with a nasty bug too), he agreed to take a look at my ailing computer. To make a long story short, my laptop had indeed fallen prey to a virus and it ended up taking the whole weekend to clean it up. I am happy to report my hubby was able to restore my laptop using a backup from last week. I am very glad that he insists on backing up our home computers on a regular basis. The only catch was that any files I had worked on within the last few days were now lost. But, as luck would have it, that was not an issue for me, because I store the majority of my files on the internet.
I first started keeping my data files on the internet a few years ago. Mostly, it was because I wanted a method to access my files from multiple locations. Since I own both a desktop and a laptop, I needed a way to transfer files back and forth without having to use USB stick (aka "jump drive" or "thumb drive). I know another way to move files is by emailing yourself a copy, however, I don't like to do that because I get confused about WHICH file is most current.
So, when my husband came home from work one day, raving about Dropbox, a web-based program that could do exactly what I wanted... I got excited. When he told me that it was free... I was ecstatic. I have been a regular user of Dropbox for years now and have been 100% satisfied.
I love using Dropbox for storing files I'm currently working with. What I especially like is Dropbox's ability to automatically sync these files for me. This means, if I create a document in Word on my deskop computer and save it, I can later open up that same file on my laptop and continue working on it. Also, unlike other web-based programs that require a constant Internet connection, Dropbox allows me to work even when I'm offline. Which means, that even when I'm away from home I can still use my laptop to work on a file. Once I get back home (or somewhere that has free Wifi), Dropbox knows to automatically sync the file for me.
One question I first had when I began using Dropbox was whether my files were going to safe on their servers. If I stored my files on the internet, wouldn't that mean that other people could access them too? Luckily, Dropbox has several layers of security. First, when you sign up for Dropbox you create a user name and password. Secondly, Dropbox uses SSL and file encryption to protect your files when they are being sent between your computer to their server.
Another Dropbox plus is that you have the ability to share your files with other people. However, I have to admit that I really haven't explored using this feature. Only because, I already have another program that I use regularly to share my files with others (see below for details on Box.net).
Dropbox was recently in the news for reaching the 5 million user marker. The article also leaked that back in 2009, Steve Jobs tried to buy Dropbox (for an undisclosed 9 figure number). Dropbox's founder, Drew Houston, turned down the offer, saying he didn't want to sell and instead was planning to build a big company himself. I guess you must have something good if Apple came knocking at your door? Who knows, maybe if that acquisition had gone through, Apple would have had the iCloud a few years earlier.
I am a big fan of the www.Box.net website. This web-based application allows you to store different types of files and share them with others. Last year I taught a Hebrew class for some teens and parents in my local homeschool group. I used the Box.nest website to set up a shared folder for our class. In the folder, I was able to include a calendar, notes, lessons, audio, etc. from our weekly classes. The files included: PDFs, MP3s, and JPGs. What was really good, is that my students could browse through the website at their leisure. They had the option of accessing the files on-demand with web-based applications (a PDF viewer, embedded MP3 player, etc.) on the web, or, they could download any of the files to their own computer. A year later, these files are still accessible to all the members of my class.
Just like Dropbox, you can register for a free Box.net account. This basic account comes with 5 to 50 GBs of disk storage space on the web, which seems to be more than enough for personal use. While file size limits range from 25 MG to 1 GB, I have found that is ample for even storing MP3 files.
To share your files you have two choices: you can create "file sharing links" which can then be copied into an email, or you can permanently share a folder with specific people you want to grant full access. Finally, the program also allows for access to such mobile devices as: iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry, etc.
So whether you use Dropbox, Boxnet, or some other file storage application, it's always good to have some sort of backup plan. You just never know when you're computer is going to come down with a virus. In the words of Ben Franklin, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".
Homeschool Tech MomDemo of Dropbox & Boxnet
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