Your opinion on cloud computing

[beGi]

So I'm doing little research on cloud computing (CC), and I would like to know your opinion on this...

Do you think it will be the "next" bussines or personal computing environment? If so (or not) why?

Do you think netbook (and nettop, smartphone etc.) "explosion" will be beneficial for CC, or will it remain on niche level?

Are mobility and potential cost reduction main arguments?

Any feedback is appreciated...

[Temetka]

Yes it will be the next big thing.

Most people will have an iWidget they carry around with them. They plug it in at work and BAM! there's your stuff. They head over to their buddies house, slap it in and BAM! there's your stuff.

I'm talking OS, Docs, pics and vids, contacts, and so on.

You lug it into some sort of dock and it appears on the big living room plasma or the LCD in your home office, or the projector in the conference room. This device will also double as your phone, bank card, gov't ID and medical documentation.

Convergence and a pinch of Big Brother to come together in your life soon!

As far as worrying about it getting lost, stolen, it'd have some form of biometric security as well as say a 10-key pad on it so your info is secure. If it is lost or stolen, then you call the provider, they back it up and remotely wipe it, send you a new unit and BAM! there's your stuff.

[craigmontHunter]

I know that it will never be as usefull to me, because I spend decent amounts of time in an area without cell phone reception, unless you are willing to climb a small mountain. That fact alone removes the practicality of it, and I have my laptop that I use for everything, and I trust that more with my school work, where I know I have it, and there will not be any problems. (blackberry e-mail problems).

[qviri]

So I'm doing little research on cloud computing (CC), and I would like to know your opinion on this...

Do you think it will be the "next" bussines or personal computing environment? If so (or not) why?

Do you think netbook (and nettop, smartphone etc.) "explosion" will be beneficial for CC, or will it remain on niche level?

Are mobility and potential cost reduction main arguments?

Any feedback is appreciated...

For personal, who knows. Consumer trends are incredibly flukey. That being said, the features mentioned by Temetka do look pretty good, so probably. Ordinary people are also less likely to have privacy concerns at overriding priority...

For business, I do think so, but with a few adaptations.

In my mind, the two big advantages of cloud-like systems are centralized processing and centralized storage.

Between the two, centralized processing matters less, except in cases where number crunching is actually important (physics, low-level chemistry, perhaps some financial). One advantage is the ease of updating and enforcing licensing, but again those apply more to the consumer market. At some point, I think lower cost of thin clients was an argument; these days computing power is so cheap that I don't really see it being that large of a factor.

Centralized storage is pretty large. There is convenience due to lack of syncing, integrity since everyone's working on the latest version, all sorts of mobility abilities, easily controllable back-up situation, auditing, etc. Security is huge -- it's much easier and safer to only provide access to remote data to authorized people or devices (and revoke if necessary) than it is to track down a lost or stolen device and wipe the data, if the device even has the capability.

That being said, from business point of view the currently prevalent model of "cloud computing" has a large problem and that is the fact that although centralized, the storage is still external to the company. One thing I see happening are little clouds for company use. The current model of email delivery to mobile devices via company-hosted Exchange will essentially scale out onto other applications, like hosted Google Apps.

A buzzphrase here is "enterprise content management". Microsoft's been trying to get on that train with Sharepoint, but like many Microsoft products Sharepoint suffers from entirely too many features crammed in not very well. Open Text works in this area too, but I've never worked with their stuff and don't really know how it measures up. I'm sure there's more, but I don't know them.

[ThinkRob]

Yes it will be the next big thing.

Just like SaaS was five years ago, and thin clients were five-ten before that...


.


.


Or not. "Cloud computing" is just a buzz word that the tech. media's whipped themselves into a lather about. The negatives, however, outweigh the positives -- it's just that most of the "jump first, think later" tech. "journalists" don't seem to have thought it out yet:

1) You store all your data server-side and keep all your apps server-side. Great. What happens when you don't have a network connection? Much as folks'd like to think, internet access is not universal.

2) What happens when the company involved decides that they want to raise prices (or, if they were previously-free, start charging)? Looks like you gotta pony up, or risk losing access to the application. Fees too high? Too bad. Pay 'em or do without. Unlike with real software, you'll wind up paying monthly/annually for the software -- the more you use it, the more expensive it gets.

3) What happens when the company involved decides that they're no longer interested in providing this service (or, worse, when they go belly up?) There goes your app. If you're really lucky there was a way to get data "out of the cloud", but most likely your data goes with it.

Just my 0.02c...

[LegendaryKA8]

I can see it taking off for both personal and business use, at least to an extent. I think Qviri's speculation that businesses witll have their own 'private cloud' models holds quite a bit of water... I sincerely doubt any CIO would be very willing to host all their corporation's data out there on the public Internet.

For personal use I could see some benefits with cloud computing, but I myself will be a very late adopter to the point of being almost refusant to use it until it becomes absolutely necessary. Just like corporations, I don't like my personal files out there on the public Internet... I trust myself with my own information security more than I do some unnamed, unseen network engineer at Google and the ilk.

[Norway Pad]

It seems as share pretty much the same feelings for this as other people here when it comes to CC for personal use.

- I use Google Email and Google Docs, that are free services. That means that we are depending on a provider's "goodwill" to have our email and docs stored there. So what obligations does the provider have? What happens if Google suddenly shuts off their services? I haven't paid anything for it, so what kind of security can I expect?

- If I should store personal files as some kind of backup online, what security can I expect for my files? Very few of us would store our pictures on our neighbour's computer, even though we knew that our neighbour would never sell our pictures to anyone or publish them without our knowledge. Do we know who has access to them when they are stored online? And what happens the day our free service no longer exist? What can I expect from something I didn't pay anything for?

I am maybe old fashioned, but I have not made my self 100% dependent on any online service. Contents on my local drives: applications that I have paid for and pictures and files that are not accessible for anyone else, is what gives me 100% comfort and security. Not files and applications spread across something way out there that is beyond my control.

[NorrisCell]

Like many others here, I can see it taking off. I don't see the personal benefits of it though. While on-demand access sounds tempting, I have no need to remote host any files. If a file is important, keep a spare copy on CD or a flash drive. A lot of my work is done where I either don't have a connection or it's a slow connection. Having to re-download files for use would be cumbersome.

There is a sort of buzzword appeal to it, as with many "new" old innovations. Marketing works. Marketing does not make it apply to everyone though.

[mgo]

So I'm doing little research on cloud computing (CC), and I would like to know your opinion on this...

Do you think it will be the "next" bussines or personal computing environment? If so (or not) why?

Do you think netbook (and nettop, smartphone etc.) "explosion" will be beneficial for CC, or will it remain on niche level?

Are mobility and potential cost reduction main arguments?

Any feedback is appreciated...

Since -real- clouds can so easily and quickly revert to their vapor state, we need to think of the computing cloud as having that potential too. (poof, data goes bye-bye! ala T-Mobile) The cloud is fine, so long as we have backups down here on Terra Firma.

Computing's three commandments: backup, backup, backup.

[bill bolton]

Here's the summary description from a new piece of research by Forrester Research...

• EAs Are Seeing The Beginning Of Cloud's Impact On IT
  by Gene Leganza - December 29, 2009
  
  Cloud-based IT deployments are accelerating what Forrester refers to as the IT-to-BT transition: Business leaders have an increased interest in technology to enhance business capabilities, but they are not necessarily relying on internal IT to provide that technology. When the enterprise architects in the Forrester Leadership Boards program met to discuss cloud computing's impact on IT and examine early-stage trends, we learned that enterprises are beginning to enjoy the benefits of the cloud but — as expected — are not necessarily engaging internal architects to provide guidance for when cloud deployments are appropriate.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[beGi]

Thank you all for your input...

My concerns are more or less confirmed...

Fell free to continue to discuss ...

Thanks again...

[bill bolton]

My concerns are more or less confirmed...

It's usually easy to read things in a way that confirms existing strongly held beliefs..... its much harder to remain open to following new concepts as they emerge and change.

Computing clouds are not going to go away. As the Forrester article above indicates, the business imperative to create computing clouds is very strong and they will be driven by business need, no matter what IT departments do.

This is the same basic adoption model that created the whole PC/laptop market as we know it today.

Its amusing to see many of the same arguments now being replayed to defend the status quo, as was the case in the transition from the mainframe/midrange dominated computing environment world into the PC dominated computing environment world.

• Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose - Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr (1808-1890)

Cheers,

Bill B.

[beGi]

It's usually easy to read things in a way that confirms existing strongly held beliefs...

True, but the main reason for opening this thread was to receive "negative" arguments, since they were more difficult to find in this case, and that is why I was "oriented" in that way...

[topmahof]

it just seems like an easier way for big brother to monitor us. just tap into your cloud.

[mediasponge]

If folks will remember, there was a previous push for what later became known as "cloud computing" ... in 1999-2000. Then the dot-com bubble burst, and it went away. Now it's back. The adoption of cloud computing will definitely be driven by business needs, as has been noted. If you've already outsourced the IT department, maybe that's the next logical step? One issue in the semiconductor industry I work in is that security is more than protecting a few credit cards and Social Security numbers. Most of the semiconductor companies I work with won't let ANY mission-critical data out the door, even to their business partners (like us). You think Apple is going to let somebody else host their latest product design data, right down to the chip layouts? Or Intel? I kind of doubt it, but who knows? They tell us the security is there, but all it would take is one major case of "Grand Theft, Data" (that is a legal term) to vaporize cloud computing like Death Valley sunshine on water vapor. Just my opinion, YMMV, Caveat Emptor, and E. Pluribus Unum.

[topmahof]

there's also a push for virtual desktops. a corp. buys a bunch of monitors and keyboards and all the data and applications are on a huge computer miles away. hundreds of big companies could have all their stuff on this one big computer. no maintenance, each desktop would probably cost about 150 bucks, no more itt departments. anything goes wrong a tech doesn't need to be sent anywhere. somebody goes into the big computer and plays with the app until it works again. that concept could very easily bleed over into our homes. having access to a super fast computer that will do anything for 150 bucks. i could see that appealing to some people. kinda makes cloud computing redundant, don't you think? either way, i think it's more a fad than anything else. how many of us use online storage now. i know i don't. i have a bunch of computers around here and they all have about the same thing on them. i like redundant storage that i can reach out and touch. i don't think i would like having my stuff floating around in a cloud. my stuff would be the stuff that gets hit by the lightning bolt shooting out of the cloud, "poof", sorry, we can't find your stuff.

[ThinkRob]

there's also a push for virtual desktops. a corp. buys a bunch of monitors and keyboards and all the data and applications are on a huge computer miles away. hundreds of big companies could have all their stuff on this one big computer. no maintenance, each desktop would probably cost about 150 bucks, no more itt departments. anything goes wrong a tech doesn't need to be sent anywhere. somebody goes into the big computer and plays with the app until it works again. that concept could very easily bleed over into our homes. having access to a super fast computer that will do anything for 150 bucks. i could see that appealing to some people. kinda makes cloud computing redundant, don't you think? either way, i think it's more a fad than anything else. how many of us use online storage now. i know i don't. i have a bunch of computers around here and they all have about the same thing on them. i like redundant storage that i can reach out and touch. i don't think i would like having my stuff floating around in a cloud. my stuff would be the stuff that gets hit by the lightning bolt shooting out of the cloud, "poof", sorry, we can't find your stuff.

Congratulations: you've invented mainframe-centric computing!

[Unknown_K]

Cloud computer will never catch on in the US for a number of reasons.

First off there is still a amjor chunk of the population that is still on dialup internet access, so for them it is a non starter moving anything into the clouds.

There are too many instances of hackers or insiders getting their hands on your stuff in "secure" places, do you want to upload your kinky video of the chick at work you banged to the cloud system only to find it got hacked and sent to the wife, office, or youtube?

You get the feeling anything you have in the system will get picked over by hundreds of companies with the cash to get a peak at your private stuff even when the people in charge say it is off limits. You know those new airport body scanners that are not supposed to be able to store your revealing pictures, well they CAN and DO. Imagine the targetted emails you will have flooding in because you screwed up and clicked on a link to the two girls and a cup video. I am sure the IRS will be interested in your online betting winnings you never mentioned last year in your tax return, etc.

Personally I see no need to log into the system to do my work or play or to store my stuff. The major creativity explosion in the 80's and 90's was because of personal computers freeing people to explore their ideas without having to wait in line or get time on the busy mainframes. If the cloud system is busy or doing maintenance and you need to do something now you are hosed. I prefer having my stuff locally so I can forget to back it up and lose it.

[bill bolton]

Cloud computer will never catch on in the US for a number of reasons.

Too late, its already caught on!

Cheers,

Bill B.

[AMATX]

quote="Unknown_K": Cloud computer will never catch on in the US for a number of reasons.
Too late, its already caught on!

Cheers,

Bill B.

Well, that's strange; I never got the memo...guess it got hung up in the 'cloud' somewhere...

[Unknown_K]

No matter how bad some new tech is, somebody will like it and use it. The question is will it be a small niche or will everybody use it (meaning it has taken over).

[killer]

I wonder how many people use Google Calendar and Picasa? Unless I am horribly mistaken they are cloud computing solutions. As far as I can see it saves having proprietary software loaded on your hard disk and provides a backup of one's files. So what's the problem?

[pianowizard]

I wonder how many people use Google Calendar and Picasa? Unless I am horribly mistaken they are cloud computing solutions.

Good point. And how about web-based email accounts like Hotmail?

[Unknown_K]

I use picassa, yahoo mail, and gmail but they are all throw away acounts. My main email comes to my computer and stays here and I store all my pics here (and dump a few on picassa to share).

Whn you see the majority of people owning nothing but dumb terminals and all their data and apps are on some cloud machine then you can say cloud computing won.

[bill bolton]

you can say cloud computing won.

There is no competition, so there is nothing to win.

Mainframes didn't disappear when PCs became pervasive.... PCs didn't disappear when laptops became pervasive etc, etc.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[robert213]

Congratulations: you've invented mainframe-centric computing!

Let's start a movement to bring back the IBM 3279...

http://terminalemulators.net/2010/04/th ... -terminal/

http://terminalemulators.net/wp-content ... 4/3279.jpg

[dsvochak]

An interesting article on some of the legal issues related to computing in the cloud:

http://www.law.com/jsp/lawtechnologynew ... 0&Safe_Sky#

[alofano]

Yes it will be the next big thing.

BUT, I do not like it and if possible I will try very hard not to use it ... why ... food for thought .. my PayPal account was closed unilateral without notice and warning. The only notice I got was that the account was closed due to lack of use since. Now where did my $ go ? And no way to reach they. It's a good thing that I only kept 1M$ USD

BUT, that's the future !

[bill bolton]

... food for thought .. my PayPal account was closed unilateral without notice and warning.

Since that has nothing whatsoever to do with computing cloud technologies, it's not food for thought in this thread topic.

Cheers,

Bill B.

[Unknown_K]

What you have to look out for is the cloud computer operation deciding to go bankrupt and just shutting down the cloud with all your data. Or deciding they don't like YOU for whatever reason and flushing your data down the drain. The government seems to like dictating what can and cannot be done with somebodies normal physical mail, emails and stuff is left to the ISP's.