Suggestions on Free Web Space?

[barlowc]

I posted about a month and a half ago...

For nearly 20 years I've used the same e-mail address, which was provided to me by the university that I attended. I recently received notice that they will no longer maintain accounts for alumni and that my account will be deactivated at the end of August.

At the time, I was asking for feedback on what free e-mail providers people like and why. I landed on GMX.com.

In addition to switching my e-mail to something else, I need to move my webspace somewhere. Any suggestions?

I'd like something that is free, provides me with simple FTP access to upload stuff, and doesn't impose super-small file size limits. My primary needs are: 1) Being able to upload a 10 MB .exe file which is the installer for a software program that I sell. 2) Uploading pictures so that I can point forum thread (e.g. BITOG threads) to them.

 

[AandPDan]

Does your ISP offer any web space?

 

[Quattro Pete]

For hosting/linking to pictures, I've been using Photobucket for the past 7 years and have been satisfied with it.

As for cloud storage (to have remote access to files other than photos), there are quite a few free alternatives out there these days. I've been using Dropbox which gives you 2 GB of free space. Microsoft and Google also offer something similar now and I think they offer even more storage.

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/cloud-storage-showdown-dropbox-google-drive-skydrive/

 

[uc50ic4more]

You didn't mention anything about hosting an actual web site. If you do not require a site, but instead just need to store files that you can link to, there are lots of options: Dropbox and Google Drive, among the myriad storage services that offer (at least) 2GB for free can provide you with public URL's for "hotlinking" to your files. I don't know about FTP access specifically, but they both (again, there are many others like the two examples I've given) have easy-to-use desktop clients for Windows, Mac and Linux (no native Google Drive yet on Linux) and web interfaces. If you'd need to craft a simple web site you could look at Google Sites.

I really don't know about anyone who'd provide web hosting and storage for free without encumbering you with displaying some sort of invasive content and/ or imposing prohibitive bandwidth restrictions.

 

[barlowc]

Originally Posted By: uc50ic4more
You didn't mention anything about hosting an actual web site.

Yeah, I don't really have that need anymore. So maybe another solution will service my needs.

I used to have a very simple web site where customers could get information about my software, click on a link to download a trial version, and click through to the service that I was using to handle orders. But these days, most of what I sell is on eBay and then I just give buyers an http link to download the software.

Maybe I'll check out Dropbox and/or the file storage capability of my new GMX.com account. But I'm going to need something that is very easy for my customers to access. I don't want them to have to set up a Dropbox account or jump through any hoops. Click and down; it has to be that simple.

 

[rjundi]

Google Drive does everything but FTP uploads. It includes public and link only access. Uploads are via a folder on your PC and/or web browser interface.

 

[CarbonSteel]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
Google Drive does everything but FTP uploads. It includes public and link only access. Uploads are via a folder on your PC and/or web browser interface.

+1 or alternately, Microsoft offers SkyDrive which does the same thing for free. I think it has 25GB of space and allows up to 50MB files to be uploaded. It only requires a Hotmail or Live account.

 

[rjundi]

Google actually allows for up to 10GB uploads with is quite impressive IMHO. I moved an entire music collection zipped up to it.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
I moved an entire music collection zipped up to it.

What was the point of zipping it up?

 

[SwampSurvivor]

One file instead of many, less visible as to what was being moved.

OP, have you thought about getting your own domain?

Edit - didn't see the free.

I got tired of using gmail (don't really mind gmail, but didn't make me stick out). I registered my own domain name with a (pretty [censored] but cheap) host. I only pay $100 a year or so and it works well enough.

No limits on email attachment size, I build a file uploader and I can upload / download files as needed.