As someone who has tried MobileMe, Windows Home Server and run an FTP server as means to share files over the network, I couldn't be more stoked about my little Pogoplug. Created by a set of developers in San Francisco, the Pogoplug is simply a tiny Linux box set up to optimize file sharing over the network. It's able to reside in a local network while serving up files and media to the outside world and supports all manner of USB-based hard drives. Best of all, it's open sourced. The developers have opened up the kernel so that you can add functionality to the little box.
I've attached three terrabytes of storage to this little fella and am in the process of moving media, DVD images and some of my document folders to the device. The software allows me to pick certain folders on my laptop and have them "actively mirrored" onto the Pogoplug. I can also choose specific files and share them with other people without having to have the "guests" register.
This officially ends my relationship with Apple's MobileMe: I'll be bringing the image library onto my new Pogoplug and doing synchronization of my Outlook calendar and contacts via iTunes rather than over-the-air. Not sure what I will end up doing with my Windows Home Server -- it might have been an experiment that has come to an end (even though WHS is much more powerful and customizable).
There's a Pogoplug community website called Pogoplugged. There are also iPhone and Android clients. All in all, pretty wonderful stuff: I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to set up shared storage over the public Internet (goodbye Dropbox!).
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