thanks for the replies, but just to clarify, I don't have any problems connecting to my pc to share files , in fact i do what the second poster suggesed, i.e. setting up a direct wireless connection. so i think i explained my problem pretty badly. apologies.

what i'm looking for is a general way of easily sharing files when i'm "on the go". it's going to be easy to say to someone "connect to the 'mobileHotSpot' network and we can share files", not so easy to say 'let me hack at your ip settings for a while until i can get these talking'

i've asked the same question in the mobile hotspot thread, but wondered if there was any other easy solution.