Cloud Computing - is this a silver lining!
0 Comments Published by ITSGUI Man on Thursday, March 06, 2008 at 4:35 PM.
There's a lot of web and IT chat at the moment about Cloud Computing, which is billing itself as a new concept, that means you leave your expensive software on the shelf and carry-out all your tasks online.
Definition: A Cloud is basically a publicly accessed network, namely the internet.
If you've had a look at or currently use Google Docs then you have already seen the light or should I say 'silver lining'. You can perform tasks similar to Word and Excel without having to download anything to your PC. Along with Google Docs there are additional applications like Calendar, Photos and Reader.
The main advantages are the saving on buying expensive software plus the freedom to work anywhere you want, knowing that your files are easily accessible. No corrupted software installations to worry about. Let's face it most of us only use 20% of software, 80% of the time!
The 'flip-side' is that if you are stuck without Internet access you're stuffed! If the Internet connection is poor then work will be slow and frustrating plus there is undoubtedly going to be a compatibility issue between the myriad of document versions. In addition you will have to pay for some storage once your free allowance is used up.
Like all these concepts I can see it working for some people and companies but not others. I currently fall into the 'others' camp as the offline use out ways the online. As technology improves and connection speeds get faster, I could be persuaded in time!
Definition: A Cloud is basically a publicly accessed network, namely the internet.
If you've had a look at or currently use Google Docs then you have already seen the light or should I say 'silver lining'. You can perform tasks similar to Word and Excel without having to download anything to your PC. Along with Google Docs there are additional applications like Calendar, Photos and Reader.
The main advantages are the saving on buying expensive software plus the freedom to work anywhere you want, knowing that your files are easily accessible. No corrupted software installations to worry about. Let's face it most of us only use 20% of software, 80% of the time!
The 'flip-side' is that if you are stuck without Internet access you're stuffed! If the Internet connection is poor then work will be slow and frustrating plus there is undoubtedly going to be a compatibility issue between the myriad of document versions. In addition you will have to pay for some storage once your free allowance is used up.
Like all these concepts I can see it working for some people and companies but not others. I currently fall into the 'others' camp as the offline use out ways the online. As technology improves and connection speeds get faster, I could be persuaded in time!
