Microsoft to Offer Free Online Storage

athloi writes "Microsoft Corp. is giving computer users up to 500 megabytes of online storage for their documents, music, photos and video. They're offering it to a select 5,000 test users for now, but will make it widely available later this summer. This move is the latest in a series by the previous large corporation we all loved to hate to compete with the newest large corporation we might hate and fear, Google."

Too little...

[A Nun Must Cow Herd]

... too late, and too Microsoft.

"We"? Speak for yourself.

[Anonymous Coward]

I still hate Microsoft, and still love Google. You hear that Google? I love you, and this submitter doesn't. When you take over the world, you know who had your back.

Oh puhlease

[Anonymous Coward]

That's not even enough space for a regular linux ISO. Come on Microsoft, you can do better than 500MB - it's about time you helped getting decent software out to the masses. /me ducks

Love for...

[ajenteks]

They're offering it to a select 5,000 test users for now

... each and every one of the Zune adopters?

No problem, I one for one welcome...

[605dave]

I wonder if that enough disk space for all my most sensitive documents.

Because if there is one company I trust not to abuse their power...

One question

[edwardpickman]

Are viruses included in that 500 meg total? They could really cut into that 500 meg number.

Re:Too little...

[L. VeGas]

Too little...too late, and too Microsoft.

No kidding. I've seen MySpace pages bigger than that.

Re:Too little...

[Thwomp]

//TODO: Insert obligatory '500MB should be enough for anyone' comment here.

I've got it covered

[Statecraftsman]

I'm perfectly capable of losing my files and documents all by myself. Thanks anyway.

Re:Hate what?

[russotto]

Lately, some Slashdotters have been posting about how they fear Google is going to know everything and abuse this knowledge.

Yeah. The difference is that while it's fear and caution with Google, it's the next best thing to certain knowledge with Microsoft. Entrusting your data to Microsoft is like entrusting your hand to the garbage disposal.

Re:Google already done it... indirectly

[cperciva]

[Gdrive] is apparently no longer a rumor.

I think you mean "Gdrive has been rumoured for the past year to no longer be just a rumour". There's no announcement or even confirmation from Google.

Format of the storage...

[Vexler]

...will be a .PST file.

First 500 MB are free? That is, until it hits that 2 GB limit. Then everything goes down the toilet.

Re:Love for...

[whiteranger99x]

Sure, but where do the other 4995 test users come from?

Re:Too little...

[Opportunist]

Wow. Usually when AOL offers something, it's a sure sign that the fad around it is over.

Re:You've Got To Be Kidding...

[njhunter]

The size of their thumb drive array must be enormous.

Re:Too little...

[loganrapp]

It's a trick. Get an axe.