The Easiest Way to Share Large Files Online

December 21, 2009 in technology,web tool with 5 Comments

If you’re like me, there are times in which you need to share a large file with people on your team. Small files are easy. You email them. With large files, though, there are other applications that must be used.

If you need to send a file under 100mb, it’s pretty easy to use it YouSendIt.com. You upload the file to yousendit, and it sends your recipient an email with a link where they can download the file from. To send a file up to 250mb, you can use Send6.com for free. It works in the same way as YouSendIt and works well.

However, I had been on a search for how I can send a really large file. Sometimes I have a file of 400mb or more that I needed to send, and I’m too lazy to burn a cd and mail it to someone.

So here’s what I found: Dropbox.com

With DropBox you can send files up to 2Gigs for free. That’s really nice. And it works really, really well. Let me walk you through it. (make sure to watch the video on the main page for an overview as well)

Drop box is an application you can install on you pc or mac that helps you to automatically sync and backup your files across many platforms. So, for example, I installed the app on my mac laptop. There’s also a free app for the iPhone. (It’s similar to the AirShare app on the iPhone, but Dropbox works much better.) So I can open my Dropbox folder on my mac, throw in whatever file I want, and then it syncs it to all my platforms. I can walk away with my iPhone and have the file with me. Or I can go to another computer somewhere, log-on to the website, and download the file there. It has many, many uses.

I really like it’s ability to share files quickly with friends, though. Here’s how you do it.

There you see a screenshot of my web DropBox. I opened the DropBox folder on my mac, threw in the “Discipleship” file, and then it synced it to the web. From there I can go to the specific file and share it. To share a file you hover your mouse over the file, at which point a small triangle appears at the end of it, as you can see. There’s an option called “Copy Public Link.” When you click there it gives you a specific web address that you can email so that people can download that specific file. You can also share entire folders if you like.

From the iPhone app, you can also select the file, click the “mail” icon, and it will email a link to whatever file you like.

I’ve really been enjoying it and suggest you take a look. To open your own free account you can click here. (Full Disclosure: I’ll get an extra 250mb added to my account if you use that referral link. Whether you use that link or sign up from the main site I suggest you check it out.)

What about you? What are you using to share files online?

[image from DropBox]

No related posts.

Was this post helpful to you? Consider joining the conversation!

Check out all our options for subscribing.

All Posts by Rodlie Ortiz | Personal Blog

5 Responses to “The Easiest Way to Share Large Files Online”

Chris Bullock December 22, 2009 at 4:08 am #

Dude, thanks so much! I've been looking to find a solution to this problem. I just forwarded this to one of my tech's and she'll probably also become a subscriber to your blog…. thanks for keeping us in "the know" when it comes to technology and uses for ministry! I love your blog!

Reply
rodlie December 22, 2009 at 3:06 pm #

Sweet! So glad it was a help

Reply
Seth March 2, 2011 at 9:17 am #

Hey man Dropbox sounds good, but why not just use mobileme? It seems to do the same thing.

Reply
- Rodlie Ortiz March 2, 2011 at 4:33 pm #
  
  MobileMe is good, of course, but it’s not free. That’s the main reason I use Dropbox for this.
  
  Reply
  - Seth March 2, 2011 at 9:17 pm #
    
    Thats true. Is there a way to sync your iCal or Address book with multiple computers and/or phones other than MobileMe?
    
    Reply