Am I working, resting or playing? Working from a remote location on the internet isn't new, but recent innovations are making it possible to work more efficiently than ever - and even appear to be at work when you're really 'out of office'.
Used by 45 million PC and Mac users, and on Android, iPhone and BlackBerry smart phones, Dropbox allows users to upload - and share - up to 2GB of files per month. It rises to 100GB for US$19.99 per month.
For those heading off on a secret holiday, it's a virtual office that can be instantly accessed almost anywhere at any time. Dropbox also gets rid of that most hated, clumsy and time-consuming invention of the online age: the e-mail attachment.
A Dropbox folder is like any other on a desktop or laptop computer, but synchronises with a remote server when a web connection is established. Folders are then instantly accessible by anyone you invite to share them with.
Even better, Dropbox churns away in the background, so it works even if there's a weak web connection. For those who need to dip in and out of work while on holiday, it's ideal.
The key advantage of online storage, syncing and sharing is less e-mail; you never have to download or upload attachments, request documents, or ask for updates from people you regularly work with. You can see exactly what they're doing. With Google's raft of free online software, it's even possible to see a colleague's cursor move across a shared spreadsheet.
