Say you've created a 20 Meg Powerpoint presentation which you want to send ASAP to a colleague across the country. You could transmit this file by e-mail, although its large size would likely choke or crash the recipient's system. You could copy the file to an external zip disk, although you would still have to arrange for the physical pickup and delivery of the disk to your colleague using a pricey overnight courier service. The easiest and quickest option would be to upload the presentation file on to an online storage site, and give your colleague the log-in name and password to the service. In mere moments, the colleague could access and download the presentation, make changes, and upload the revised file for your review with no delays or courier charges.
Online storage is also an ideal backup tool, especially for road warriors.
Borrow or lease any web-connected computer, and access the online storage site. If you're smart, you would have made backup copies of all your critical files and uploaded them before your trip. Anytime and from anywhere, you can download the files, and be back in business in minutes. Uploading files from your personal computer to the online storage site can be painfully slow. If possible, use ADSL, cable or other high-speed connections when transferring data to online storage sites to save time.