Comments on: The Cloud Makes Computers Truly Cheap and Truly Personal

By: Software Plus Services? No One Told Google | CloudAve

Software Plus Services? No One Told Google | CloudAve — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:06:51 +0000

[...] on GigaOm Stacey points out that releases like the new Gmail portend of what users can expect to experience on low level (read [...]

By: Matthew Hardy

Matthew Hardy — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:01:10 +0000

Oh… and just about the time when everyone’s data is stored in the “cloud” (read: other people’s computers), we can all welcome metered access from our ISPs. Won’t that be fun.

By: Matthew Hardy

Matthew Hardy — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:50:09 +0000

> far simpler for the average user

… and less in control and forever beholden to vendors who can use customer data for their own purposes. This going backwards.

Many people think of themselves only as a customer to the internet. This idea of all computing moving to the control of large providers to which monthly fees are endlessly paid was already tried in the CompuServe and Prodigy days. Trust me, you don’t want your only choice to be that of paying increasing and never-ending subscriber fees for everything you do on the internet. This vision is antithetical to humans use of large systems wherein they have a stake because people want to own their property. My prediction is that everyone will have a personal/business server – without any concerns for data portability or data interoperability. I don’t mean to say that cloud-computing and software-as-a-service won’t continue to grow, I’m saying that individuals will increasingly demand foundational systems that afford personal control and ownership while enjoying complimentary systems that extend and enhance. Others may argue that it’s the other way around – and it may be so at this time – but egalitarian instincts will dominate long-term.

By: HereAndNow

HereAndNow — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:20:50 +0000

There are a number of advantages to cloud computing:
1. You can (or will soon be able to) access the service from any device (smartphone, netbook, notebook, TV, car computer, ….).
2. Eventually, you will only need a “thin” OS on the computing device (lower cost, less maintenance, faster, …). This will lead to lower cost hardware, as well.
3. You are always running with the latest version of the application (when the cloud app is updated, you are updated).
4. You don’t need to back up your data (or it is less necessary), if it is stored in the cloud.
5. Cloud apps can be hosted on the internet or on a “private” cloud.
6. …

Re. subscriptions, perhaps the app provider uses advertising to support the service, so it can, in many cases, be free. Even with subscriptions, the TCO may be equivalent or lower, considering purchase price, maintenance, upgrades, support calls, lack of convenient access from all devices, etc.

Time will tell, but the cloud model is likely to make computing far simpler for the average user.

By: Matthew Hardy

Matthew Hardy — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:20:03 +0000

Apparently, many are missing the lunacy of yet another never-ending monthly payment. Computers are getting smaller and more powerful in order to run applications that you can buy for a one-time payment. The subscription model is best for the vendor, not the consumer. Perhaps you would advocate that hardware manufacturers should stop selling devices and only rent them.

By: Misha Nossik

Misha Nossik — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:08:39 +0000

Spot on! And I’m convinced the trend will go further – why not run the browser itself (along with all other apps, including the desktop) in the cloud, and use the client platform as a 0-client that only provides the user i/o capabilities? A service provider will provide broadband access, and with it the ability for really dumb clients to reach all kinds of services, including the “hosted browser service”. As long as it is secure and simple (simple == no need to configure the client, 0-maintenance on the client).

As far as Intel is concerned, they need not worry – when (and its *when*, not *if*) your vision materializes there will be so many more users of all things cloud (apps, browser, desktop, video, radio) that the number of x86 server chips will far exceed today’s shipments of x86 client chips.

By: The cloud in your hand | Alec Saunders SquawkBox

The cloud in your hand | Alec Saunders SquawkBox — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 10:47:06 +0000

[...] Stacey Higginbotham’s piece on Cloud Computing emphasis how Google is blurring the boundaries between the Cloud and local computing. The example given is GMail running on iPhone or Android, and how Google is using Webkit browsers to make the app behave as if it were running on the web. [...]

By: HereAndNow

HereAndNow — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 23:10:20 +0000

Browser vendors should accelerate support for HTML5, to enable web applications like Google’s new Gmail app. There is a YouTube video that demonstrates the app here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmjxmOtNZCk

OS vendors should also accelerate native support for BONDI (or PhoneGap). Although BONDI and PhoneGap are currently envisioned for smartphones, it is conceivable that in the near future MIDS, netbooks, notebooks, etc. will be equipped to support geo location, accelerometers, etc. and, with BONDI/PhoneGap support, web developers could write applications to access those services on those devices, as well.

There is a PhoneGap demo here:
http://phonegap.com

A link to the BONDI website is here:
http://bondi.omtp.org