using email account to back up files?

pavlovs_dog

as a student, i often find i need access to my files in all sorts of different places, sometimes unexpectedly. i got into the habit of emailing completed work to myself so that i could access it from pretty much anywhere, so long as i had net access.

now i had thought this was quite a good idea, and struck upon the idea of creating a separate email account specifically for this purpose. however from reading the techie board i get the feeling that this is not such good idea somehow, yet im not quite sure why.

naturally it wouldnt be my only back up, as i am desperately trying to get into the habit of backing up to disk as well. i am now wondering whether the additional email back up is prudent, as part of a belt and braces approach (can you tell ie learnt about this the hard way? :rolleyes: )

any techie thoughts on this would be much appreciated

Tate65

People do use their email accounts for storage, particularly GMail as you get a lot of space.

I just had a quick look and here's a link that talks about it:

http://www.engadget.com/2005/03/01/how-to-use-your-gmail-account-as-a-personal-file-server/

I've not done it myself, so can't really comment, but I don't see why not. Just make sure you have other backups and that it's not sensitive stuff that you'd not want others to have access to.

You'd also be limited in the amount you could store, partly by the space they give you but also by your own connection to the Internet - it wouldn't be a problem if it's just a few text files and things, but I'd not want to store gigabytes of info as it'd be so slow to access and your ISP may not like it!

Tate65

By the way - that link to the GMail article was just an example of one I found when I did a quick Google - there may be better or more up to date articles if you look.

pavlovs_dog

cheers for that tate, made for very interesting reading

robt_2

Why not have a look at Google Apps

bob_a_builder

Google Docs is one of the best ways of doing this
Take the tour and see
LINK

And there is now offline support too

LINK

pavlovs_dog

i would, had google not decided it was going to go on strike. had this problem last night too. perhaps gmail is not the best choice after all...

pavlovs_dog

bob_a_builder wrote: »

Google Docs is one of the best ways of doing this
Take the tour and see
LINK

i really like the look of it, but its no good if gmail wont even load :9 woe is me :rolleyes:

Stompa

Try something like:

www.diino.co.uk

2GB for free.

superjaggybunnet

I have tried to signup to diino without any luck.

I have been emailed the link to activate my account but it doesn't work and I have been trying it all day.

I signed up for the freebie 2GB account. Has anyone got it working?

Stompa

superjaggybunnet wrote: »

I have tried to signup to diino without any luck.

I have been emailed the link to activate my account but it doesn't work and I have been trying it all day.

I signed up for the freebie 2GB account. Has anyone got it working?

Very strange, it's always worked just fine for me. When you say it doesn't work, what actually happens?