Why You Should Store Information in the Cloud When Using a Netbook

Netbooks have become really popular for a lot of reasons. They're small, light weight, and super easy to toss in your purse or briefcase - plus they tend to have a really long battery life compared to full size laptops and notebook computers. The minimal operating systems and quick-launch internet features on most netbooks make it easy to get online fast and get things done when you need to.
However, to create the light-weight computer we sacrifice the internal memory that we're used to with desktops and laptops. Generally you'll find a netbook has only one or two GB of self storage. If you are saving photos and documents on the machine it can slow down performance significantly.
No one wants a slow machine when they're on the go and trying to be productive on the fly or when they sit down at night to try to get some writing done. Using cloud storage can solve all of these problems pretty effectively - you won't suck up the internal memory, your netbook computer will stay running fast and efficient, and as an added bonus you can usually access your data and files from other machines as well.
If you're new to remote data storage you might be asking, "What does in the cloud mean and why do I want to use it?" Cloud storage simply means storing your files at a third party storage site instead of on your computer. A lot of these services are pay-to-use, but they're inexpensive and worth every penny you might spend on them.
The main benefit of using cloud storage is that you're not using your netbook's internal memory, so you're keeping memory space free for optimal performance of the machine. There's no hardware involved and the cloud is very user friendly, even if you're new to using it.
Another benefit is that many cloud storage services offer automated backup of your data, so that's one less thing to worry about. Sometimes this is an add-on service and if your provider offers it it's definitely worth purchasing in addition to your storage space. This is something you want to check out when choosing a cloud storage provider, you want to make sure your data isn't going to be lost.
There are lots of options out there for storing your data in the cloud, and new third party providers are cropping up all the time. A few reputable services include Dropbox, SkyDrive, Amazon S3, Box.net, and even Google has a cloud service these days.
If you're just starting out I recommend going to Dropbox, they offer the first 2GB free with the option to upgrade to 50GB for $9.99 per month. Plus if you refer friends they'll give you and your friends additional storage space for free just for spreading the word about their service. They're very reliable and they make cloud computing easy, they even allow you to share folders with friends and you can access your account from any computer at any time.
Another thing that is fantastic about Dropbox is the plugins and apps available. You can get Dropbox app on your smartphone and have all your data and files in your pocket wherever you go. That can be a lifesaver at times when you need a document fast. If you manage a website that uses WordPress there's even a plugin that will backup your website straight to your Dropbox, automatically on a schedule that you set.
If you're worried about saving space on your netbook or if you just want to move files to improve the speed and performance of your computer, take a look at some of these cloud storage options. Compare features, and only get the amount of space you really need. No sense in paying for something that you won't use. Many providers only charge per GB of space used, so it should be easy to find a flexible fit for your needs without breaking your total budget.