aNewDomain.net — For several years, I have been using Cometdocs to convert documents from one format to another. Cometdocs is a handy web service that allows you make more than 50 different conversions online for free.
Document Management
Cometdocs has always provided excellent file conversions but it recently upgraded its services. Most notably, it has morphed into a free online document management service. The Cometdocs interface is clean and, thankfully, easy to use.
To start, all you have to do is upload the file you want to work with and drag it to one of the four tabs. Each tab has a unique function:
- Convert – Converts the document to another format with the choices listed
- Transfer – Emails the document to someone else
- Store – Keep it online for longer than 24 hours (registered users only)
- Host — Get an anonymous 24-hour valid public link
All of this is free. You simply fill in your email address and Cometdocs will either send you the converted document, send you a public link, or store the document for you.
Conversions
Cometdocs was able to handle all the conversions I threw at it, including complex PDF documents. These included PDF to Word, Excel and PowerPoint. It also can go the other way — converting these and other formats to PDF. It can also handle XPS documents and will often identify and convert a document even if the extension is missing and you don’t know what type of document you are dealing with. A full list of available conversions can be found here.
You will have to look elsewhere for audio, video and ringtone conversions, but if it’s document conversions you need this is an excellent site. Remember, Cometdocs does an especially good job with your hard-to-convert PDF documents.
Document Storage
You can perform a variety of conversions and other functions without registering on the site. But if you decide to register, you’ll get added functionality, including 1 GB of online storage, a file size limit of 100 MB, 15 conversions per week and further options for controlling the visibility and privacy of the documents that are uploaded. The link to a converted file is only good for 24 hours if you have not registered, but if you have registered it can be part of your online storage to be kept longer.
Premium and Pro Services
Simple conversions and storage are free. Additional services are available for a fee. The Premium service is $9.99 a month and the Pro service is $19.99 a month. These fees give you access to more storage, a larger file size limit, unlimited conversions and the ability to work with multiple documents. It also lets you transfer files to more than one person at once and has the ability to perform useful OCR conversion. More details about paid services can be found on the Comentdocs website.
Summary
As a document management and storage system Cometdocs has a lot of competition from companies like Google, Microsoft and Evernote. Unless you do a lot of document conversions, there is little reason to choose Cometdocs over the others. However, Cometdocs excels at file conversions and provides a great free service in that area.
Based in Pinehurst, North Carolina, Sandy Berger is a veteran tech journalist and senior editor at aNewDomain.net covering tech tips and tricks, apps, gadgets, and consumer electronics. Email her at Sandy@aNewDomain.net. Follow her on Twitter @sandyberger, +SandyBerger on Google+, and on Facebook.
