>>I needed to have some reference information outside of my home, so I create a Google Docs text document and copied & pasted the information. After closing the document, it didn't appear in the list of my documents, even after trying several tricks such as refreshing, and logging out and in again. I created a few sample documents - they all disappeard.
>>
>>Three hours later, the missing documents started appearing.
>
>dropbox is better.

I use DropBox too. However, they provide different services, and - assuming they work as they should - each has its specific uses.

Google Docs allows me to directly edit my documents online, without requiring any installed software, except for a compatible Web browser. My favorite browser, Opera, provides limited functionality (I can't edit the documents), but more popular browsers work.

DropBox, on the other hand, synchronizes entire folders between computers, and also allows you to access the version of your files on the server from anywhere - but as far as I know, you need the programs to access the individual files - like Excel for XLSX files, etc.

In this case I probably could have used DropBox, since the "target" computer did have Microsoft Office installed. But I am not yet quite used to using DropBox for this purpose...