Comments on: CNN Explains the Cloud…Badly

By: Rincewind

Rincewind — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:41:59 +0000

It’s not so much that the concept is retarded – it’s that there’s no standard definition.

I’ve written my take on it here:
http://bobdoeshosting.blogspot.com/2009/11/what-does-cloud-mean.html

By: Cloud computing by CNN « IT fokus Sverige – Daniel Akenine

Cloud computing by CNN « IT fokus Sverige – Daniel Akenine — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:21:00 +0000

[...] november 9, 2009 · Kommentera Fick en länk skickad till mig där CNN “förklarar” vad cloud computing är. Lite sorgligt att se hur man totalt kan missförstå ämnet och dessutom sprida det till miljoner. Svårt att veta om man skall skratta eller gråta ? [...]

By: Murali

Murali — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:47:44 +0000

Actually CNN was right, unlike what so called pundits say on this blog. SaaS is the best form of Cloud computing that will touch lives of common people. It really doesn’t matter to the end user where that service is hosted, which itself could also be in the cloud (Infrastructure as a Service).

I love the way Oracle’s chief puts it. That is really the essence of cloud computing. Everything else is just a matter of sales talk.

By: Stacey Higginbotham

Stacey Higginbotham — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 23:25:48 +0000

Harriet that’s true. Both the mass interest in “the cloud” and the online video format, which Michael also alluded to in his comment.

By: Harriet Meth

Harriet Meth — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:08:46 +0000

What I find interesting is the fact that CNN saw the need to address the topic in the first place. Admittedly, it’s dumbed down and interpreted for the masses so it doesn’t pass the tech-cred test. Nonetheless, the fact that mainstream media sees the need to explain “the cloud” at all says a lot about both the increased general awareness (or confusion) about the cloud and CNN’s need to remain oh-so-relevant.

BTW, the boy and his dog video is a very untypical video treatment for broadcast. Looks like they’ve been watching a lot of online vids and tried to incorporate that approach for their story.

By: Jeremy Campbell

Jeremy Campbell — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:10:30 +0000

I would never think to relate a boy and his dog to explaining cloud computing. For someone who didn’t understand this concept before, they will be more confused than ever now. I like the format they used for the video, but that’s about it.

By: Greg Schulz

Greg Schulz — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:08:03 +0000

Clouds are like Electricity: Dont be Scared

IT clouds (compute, applications, storage, and services) are like electricity in that they can be scary or confusing to some while being enabling or a necessity s to others not to mention being a polarizing force depending on where you sit or view them.

As a polarizing force, if you are a cloud crowd cheerleader or evangelist, you might view someone who does not subscribe or share your excitement, views or interpretations as a cynic.

On the other hand, if you are a skeptic, or perhaps scared or even a cynic, you might view anyone who talks about cloud in general or not specific terms as a cheerleader.

Read more here:
http://storageioblog.com/?p=657

And here:
Clouds and Data Loss: Time for CDP (Commonsense Data Protection)?
http://storageio.com/blog/?p=704

Visit and caste your vote on poll about clouds here:
http://storageioblog.com/?p=665

Cheers gs
Greg Schulz – Author “The Green and Virtual Data Center” (CRC) and founder Server and StorageIO

By: J

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:28:01 +0000

Industry pundits love to pontificate on that which they believe is cutting edge. Cloud computing is, in large part, an example.

The use of thin client over a wide area link to a central resource is not new. It used to be called dumb terminals and mainframes. Add in the bill-per-use nuance and you have something that used to be called timesharing. Sure, the delivery means (IP) is very different, and the “mainframe” has now become server farm(s) implementing various levels of virtual resources. But at the end of the day, not a great deal of difference, is there?

So, let’s not get too hung up on how smart we are in defining distinction without a difference.

By: Michael Sheehan

Michael Sheehan — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:44:12 +0000

Stacey,

I’m glad that you brought this to my attention and I agree with you about its validity and lack of a solid definition. In fact, I posted a “rebuttal” of sorts on the GoGrid blog, especially because the video is “very” similar in many ways to one that we did over a year ago.

Here is my post: http://blog.gogrid.com/2009/11/05/cnn-copies-gogrids-cloud-computing-explained-video/

Thanks,
Michael

By: Vicki

Vicki — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:44:41 +0000

Larry Ellison used a similar description of cloud computing when he said Google was cloud computing in this rant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UYa6gQC14o&NR=1&feature=fvwp

By: Dynamo Hom

Dynamo Hom — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:38:25 +0000

Many pieces of language are bastardized (or should I say, mutated) by transferring from a small sect to the masses.

By: RD Williams

RD Williams — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:52:51 +0000

I’m still waiting for a “broadband” Internet connection in my house.

By: JoshMiller

JoshMiller — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:31:04 +0000

Maybe we could differentiate ‘Cloud Computing” and “Cloud Storage” and join tem under something like “Cloud Solutions”.

By: Stacey Higginbotham

Stacey Higginbotham — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:13:00 +0000

It’s “a crummy meaningless buzzword” because we have let it mean too many things. Which is why I’m trying to stand up for accurate definitions :)

By: Stacey Higginbotham

Stacey Higginbotham — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:12:00 +0000

There are two concepts here. We need to distinguish between the two, so normal people realize there are actually two concepts. One is storing and accessing stuff online (a trend consumers are taking large part in) and the other is buying compute and storage infrastructure on demand, which is a business and IT trend. Unclear language leads to “cloudy” thinking.

By: JoshMiller

JoshMiller — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:26:49 +0000

Meh, I would say that Flickr or Picasa are a really basic version of “Cloud Computing” even if, as others have said, it’s a crummy meaningless buzzword.

Cloud computing isn’t just Google app Engine and Amazon’s Servers.

You’re still “using the computi9ng power of the cloud” to store your photos and organize them and if you extend Flickr using something like Picnik you’re using Cloud computing.