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Are you running out of room on your hard disk? Well before you buy yet another bigger drive, before you invest in more Zip disks or other removable storage media, you might want to consider the Internet. Storing some of your files and data online could proven to be the next big thing. And although it won't replace your hard drive, storing things online offers many advantages.

MySpace.com is a new web site that offers free storage space to Windows, Macintosh and Linux operating systems. You initially start off with 300 megabytes of storage. And for every newcomer you get to sign on, MySpace.com will give you an extra five megabytes. As their business gets under way, they plan to offer additional space on a monthly service fee basis but as of this column, the rates have yet to be determined. And although online storage is a key feature, MySpace.com wants to emphasize their online information management features.

For example, you can keep numerous file folders that can be accessed by anyone on the Internet. With the proper passwords, you can authorize people to read the contents but not change anything or grant them full read and write access. This is ideal for any kind of group projects. According to MySpace.com, many school teachers are finding it ideal to disseminate class assignments in this fashion.

Being able to access data files using any computer with Internet access means you may not have to lug around a laptop computer anymore. Just use any conveniently located computer to log on to MySpace.com, enter your password and get immediate access to you files, even applications. MySpace.com's "Dragn'Drop lets you set up your computer so that your folders at MySpace.com's location appear as any other ordinary folder on your desktop. You can open, close, drag and perform most any operation from your computer's desktop or from Windows Explorer just as you would from any folder that resides on your computer's hard drive.

Another really valuable feature is MySpace.com's WebClipper. This feature lets you take any information you find on the web and instantly copy it to your MySpace.com folder without having to first download a copy to your hard drive. This can save you an enormous amount of time, especially if you don't have one of the faster broadband services and still access the Internet via a 56k modem. For example, say you find a photo or a sound file that's 20 megabytes in size that you want to use. With a 56k modem, downloading could take hours. With WebClipper, you just right click the mouse over the image or file and select "WebClip to MySpace.com" and the data is instantly sent directly from the site to your MySpace.com folder. Once copied, you can access the data from your desktop.

According to MySpace.com, a new feature to be introduces shortly will let you access data files directly from within any application. So for example, you could keep your Quicken data files at MySpace.com, run a copy of Quicken from anywhere on any computer and directly access your accounting information without having to first upload all of the Quicken files.

Security is another important issue and according to MySpace.com, only those with the proper passwords will be able to access your files. And if you were to accidentally delete a file at MySpace.com's location, everything is backed up to tape and with the proper authorization, you can request its resurrection. Another security aspect is the safety of your data if your computer is stolen or destroyed in a fire. In these cases, having your important data stored off site could be a blessing.

www.MySpace.com