Most computer users today are already using cloud computing. Do you use Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo email: congratulations you are in the cloud. If you are reading this you are in the cloud: the Internet is the cloud.
Way back in the day, your computer's hard drive was the repository for all your digital information. Emails, photos, documents were all stored inside your computer. Cloud computing changes the way you store your digital information: your emails are no longer stored on your computer, but exist only on Google's servers (think hard drive) if you use Gmail, or Microsoft's servers if you use Hotmail, etc.
The benefits of using the cloud to store your information should be obvious: you can check your email from your computer, your smart phone, any computer connected to the web, etc. With cloud computing your information is readily available on a wide range of devices as long as you have an Internet connection. If your computer crashes and can not be repaired you will not lose your emails: they were never stored on your computer. Cloud computing will mean never having to say your sorry worry about moving all your programs and data to a new computer (obscure movie reference deleted). Plug the new computer in, get online, and your data and programs are available.
The downside of using the cloud to store your information should also be obvious: lack of service. If your Internet connection goes down or the server housing your information crashes, you will have no access to your stuff until the problem is repaired. Do you risk loosing all your stuff forever if you use the cloud? If you are dealing with a reputable company with a solid background in cloud computing (Google, Amazon, etc.) temporary outages will occur, but data loss should not be a problem. Hackers have and will continue to attack the cloud: large databases with personal information are a rich target. Will your stuff be 100% safe in the cloud? No. Will you have an alternative if you want to live with all the conveniences the cloud offers: no. Think of the problem of cloud safety this way: would you stop driving a car because a certain number of people are killed in accidents every year?
Cloud computing will eventually offer every software program now available (accounting programs like QuickBooks, web publishing programs like DreamWeaver). Rumours are floating around that Windows 8 will be heavily based in the cloud, Apple is busy developing iCloud, and Google Chromebooks (web only laptops) have already been released.
For better or worse the cloud is already here.
Way back in the day, your computer's hard drive was the repository for all your digital information. Emails, photos, documents were all stored inside your computer. Cloud computing changes the way you store your digital information: your emails are no longer stored on your computer, but exist only on Google's servers (think hard drive) if you use Gmail, or Microsoft's servers if you use Hotmail, etc.
The benefits of using the cloud to store your information should be obvious: you can check your email from your computer, your smart phone, any computer connected to the web, etc. With cloud computing your information is readily available on a wide range of devices as long as you have an Internet connection. If your computer crashes and can not be repaired you will not lose your emails: they were never stored on your computer. Cloud computing will mean never having to say your sorry worry about moving all your programs and data to a new computer (obscure movie reference deleted). Plug the new computer in, get online, and your data and programs are available.
The downside of using the cloud to store your information should also be obvious: lack of service. If your Internet connection goes down or the server housing your information crashes, you will have no access to your stuff until the problem is repaired. Do you risk loosing all your stuff forever if you use the cloud? If you are dealing with a reputable company with a solid background in cloud computing (Google, Amazon, etc.) temporary outages will occur, but data loss should not be a problem. Hackers have and will continue to attack the cloud: large databases with personal information are a rich target. Will your stuff be 100% safe in the cloud? No. Will you have an alternative if you want to live with all the conveniences the cloud offers: no. Think of the problem of cloud safety this way: would you stop driving a car because a certain number of people are killed in accidents every year?
Cloud computing will eventually offer every software program now available (accounting programs like QuickBooks, web publishing programs like DreamWeaver). Rumours are floating around that Windows 8 will be heavily based in the cloud, Apple is busy developing iCloud, and Google Chromebooks (web only laptops) have already been released.
For better or worse the cloud is already here.
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