Networking with Large Files

Networkers have bigger computing needs that the average users. We generally share the mentality that “more is better” or “bigger is better”. Here are some examples:

• Bigger hard drives to handle more and larger files, especially those big contact lists that we love so much.
• More memory to handle more applications so we can search these larger lists. It isn’t unusual for power networkers to have a dozen browser windows open at one time either.
• Faster processors that can keep up with us (or most often can’t).
• Higher speed Internet connections.
• More USB ports so we can plug in more “stuff”.
• Larger displays so we can see all this or smaller ones so we can be more portable.

Networkers also have bigger files and share them more frequently. This is a compounded problem as they eat disk space, suck up bandwidth and most often don’t ever seem to get there.

• We have larger lists – lists with thousands and even tens of thousands of records.
• We have audio files and they can be enormous. A single song on a CD for example is 40-60Gb (in its native WAV format). Turning it into an MP3 helps a lot as they are about 10% the size. Now take 10 or 20 of those and you have these issues all over again.
• PowerPoints with pictures can get to 10Gb or 20Gb in no time. Add a little music or commentary and look out.
• The average number of megapixels of a digital camera have doubled in 2 years and the file sizes have done more than that!

So, how do we share these files with others?

• E-Mail – sounds great, but it will probably not get there and for a number of reasons (which you may never figure out). E-Mail systems and ISP’s don’t cooperate much with meeting these needs.
• Sneakernet – only if we are both local (def. – sneakernet is a slang term for putting it on a disk or a memory stock and physically delivering it or “couriering it”.)
• Pigeon…… Well you get the idea. It’s hard.

Fortunately, there are some decent solutions. While I won’t endorse any one of them, there are some really great services out there that you might want to try and they generally work for all types of files.

Take a peek at these solutions when you need to get that elephant from one coast to the other in just a little time.

1. SendThisFile.com
2. SendBigFiles.com
3. BigUpload.com
4. SendSpace.com
5. Big-Upload.com
6. YouSendIt.com

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About the Author

Mike O’Neil is a technology strategist and an entrepreneur. He founded Integrated Alliances, a business-to-business networking organization with over 8,000 associates involved, 4 years ago. IA holds monthly networking events and teaches LinkedIn Workshops and Webinars and is now expanding its operations worldwide. IA has a LinkedIn Group that you can join just by visiting www.joinia.com. Mike can be reached at moneil@thenationalnetworker.com.

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