The future is now

This past year, there has been a lot of talk about cloud computing and how it is going to change the entire world of personal computers. There has been speculation that Apple and Google are going to join forces to create a cloud network, and Windows and IBM have both announced plans to move into the cloud industry. Even the internet retail giant, Amazon, has been rumored to be planning to utilize its vast database warehouses to set up a cloud network.  Advocates of the idea claim that cloud computing will revolutionize the industry, eliminating viruses and computer crashes as well as the need for bulky hard drives and optical drives. They also tout the new cloud computers as being green since they use less power than a typical computer and last twice as long since they lack moving parts and their software is continuously upgraded.

What is the cloud?

The idea of cloud computing focuses around keeping all applications and data storage online in massive warehouses and making the computer merely a tool in which to access this information cloud via the broadband Internet. the cloud computer is essentially just a processor along with a screen,  keyboard and  mouse that is connected to a high speed Internet connection. Applications that you want to utilize are downloaded from a central database and data that you want to save is stored online in your personal storage space.

The advantages

One of the main advantages of cloud computing is that it the applications that you use are continuously updated, allowing you to get the latest version every time you use it. Having the operating system that works behind a powerful supercomputer with a ton of redundancy also ensures that the system is safe from viruses and software crashes. Since your computer is essentially just a processor and a Internet connections, there is really no worrying about corrupted registry problems, fragmented hard drives, or busted optical drives. Cloud computing will also allow the freedom of data access wherever there happens to be a high speed Internet connection. A cloud computer will be small and easy to take with you, and access to your personal cloud network will be as simple as typing in your user name and password.

The problems

While it would be nice to have a computer that always boots up in twenty seconds, never gets viruses and uses less power than a light bulb; it may be a hard sell for many people to let all of their personal computer data to be stored in some massive database somewhere.  If something does happen to the host server, all of this data could be lost or compromised and businesses who deal in sensitive information would be hard pressed to let anything go out past their firewalls. Also, even though the little cloud computers might be able to run on a watch battery, the mega super computers that actually run the show are the size of football fields and have cooling towers that are four story buildings.

Another problem are the applications. While these documents may be free to download, there has to be some way that you are paying for them and that way is through advertising. While embedded text might be less intrusive, do not be surprised if in the future, you are forced to watch a car commercial before you are allowed to access your term paper that you stored online. Another problem is the need for broadband access. If you do not have it, getting your cloud computer up and running will be an impossible task.

Not for everyone

While these new Net computers might find a niche in this newly wired world of ours, I have my doubts that everyone will take a shine to them.  Perhaps the younger generations will be attracted to them and their low cost (around 200 bucks)  might make them appealing in this economy of ours, but I think many people are going to have issues with trusting all their data in the hands of a few.