I’ve heard so many people talk about “the cloud” and SkyDrive, that honestly – I was really intimated about what it might be and if I was smart enough to use it correctly.  This past week, the folks at Microsoft gave me a tutorial on all things SkyDrive and I’m not scared. I’m loving “the cloud” and SkyDrive!

What is Windows Live SkyDrive?

The Windows Live SkyDrive is a free online file storage system.  With 5GB of online storage – you can access files easily from any computer that has internet access. All you need to get started is a Windows Live ID and password (it’s free!). When files are uploaded to the SkyDrive, they are “stored in the cloud”.

I’m most interested in using the SkyDrive for sharing photos with friends and family.  During my SkyDrive tutorial, I learned that sharing images is easy, accessible from anywhere and private.

Easy to Use

With just a few clicks of the mouse, I can upload photos to the SkyDrive.  It’s really just as simple as uploading images to any other site – the hardest part is deciding what to name your folders!  For Windows Phone users, images are automatically saved to the SkyDrive from your phone!  No need to keep going back and forth, just grab them off the cloud!  (I don’t have a Windows Phone – but have seen a demo, looks very easy!) Check out this great post from Ben the PC Guy for the scoop!

It’s Accessible from Anywhere

There have been so many times where I’m away from my PC and I say, “Oh I’ve got a great picture you need to see on my computer at home.”  With the flexibility of the SkyDrive, all I need is my Windows Live login information and I can pull up my images from any computer.  I was amazed to see how many images you can access with the SkyDrive’s 5GB of space.  No need to pick and choose which images to upload – the personal cloud is huge!

A Private Way to Share Photos

There are times when I don’t want the world to see my cute baby pictures. (Shame on me, I know!)  The Windows Live SkyDrive makes it easy to share photos with others, regardless of whether they have a Windows Live ID.  Plus, I have many friends and family members that aren’t on Facebook and are not tech savvy, so they usually miss seeing my fun pictures.

The SkyDrive offers access to image folders with just one link!  Just open the folder you’d like to share, click on the “Share” button, enter the recipient’s email address or copy/paste the link into a separate email and that’s it! Only those with the specified link have access. And the really cool part?  No matter how many times you update the folder, the link stays the same! The recipient always has access to the individual folder.

I’m excited to continue using the Windows Live SkyDrive. After learning how simple it is to navigate, it’s kind of embarrassing to think that I was once intimated by “the cloud” at all.

Do you use Windows Live SkyDrive?    What do you use it for the most – sharing images, documents?  Tell me your experiences.

**I am a member of the Windows Champions blogger program. As part of this arrangement, I have been loaned a Windows 7 PC for the course of year and have the opportunity to learn about Windows and Microsoft products. I’m also excited to share information with you.**