4 Reasons for Cloud Computing - and why we don’t need it yet
As of late, I’ve been doing some researching and experimenting with Cloud computing. There’s a lot of neat concepts, interfaces and functioning websites that are currently freely available. The only problem is that everyone is well entrenched in services that provide very similar solutions. There’s also some sacrifices you’ll have to make, i.e. not every program is Cloud compliant. I’m basing most of my observations on AirSet, since I feel it is headed in the best direction and includes features not seen in any other solution. And away we go…
1. Access to Social media and bookmarks
One of the main purposes of CC ( Cloud Computing) is the ability to access your favorites, blogs, friends and other web sites from the easy of having your own customized browser. While I’m not currently aware of a specific cloud computing product that offers a browser as such, there is still a need for this. This is where add-ons and plugins like Foxmarks and customized versions of Firefox come into play. Foxmarks will sync your bookmarks across any computer you log into (with Firefox installed). Now, Foxmarks also has the ability to keep your stored passwords in sync as well making it a mandatory tool for anyone using a computer in more than 1 location. Granted this tool requires the local machine to have Firefox and the Foxmarks add-on installed, this should become a standard for public PCs to have installed as well as getting everyone you know up and running with this combination. It even has a built in profile manager, just in case the computers are shared with multiple accounts.
2. Bandwidth and Speed/Loading issues
One thing you’ll notice, right of the bat, is that CC takes a little longer to navigate. Everything is web based and falls victim to the limits of bandwidth. If you’re browsing your online documents using a CC photo tool, you’ll need each picture to download and load as opposed to your hard drive spinning and your OS displaying the pictures. This also goes the same for music. Many people are investing in $3,000 MacBP and suped up Alienware gaming machines. They do not want anything to go slower than light speed. My experiences with AirSet and its CC solution are very hopeful, but you cannot get away from loading times. The most useful part is to connect to the cloud while away, using WiFi, or using Broadband. Maybe when we get to 10G connection speeds, the latency won’t be an issue.
3. File/Document synchronization
One great solution that CC brings is the ability to get access to your documents from any computer connected to the internet. What if you are remote, in a tropical island with limited cell phone service, and your iPhone buzzes. Your servers crash, your shipments are delayed, your VP of Marketing needs a campaign started ASAP!! You’re pretty much stuck without the ability to even get access to your documents, let alone the CC document editor required to modify the files. Luckily, there’s services like Dropbox. You can have your files synchronize between multiple computers, multiple users and get access to them directly from your desktop or through a web portal. As long as your laptop was connected to the internet before you left, your documents are already synchronzied. You even have the ability of putting your documents online with Google.
4. Document Editing
One of the better features of CC is the ability to have your documents and editing tools all right on your cloud. Most of us already have this solution….It’s called Google Docs. CC does not offer any additional benefits of signing up for a CC solution, when all you have to do is log into your Google account. For photo editing, check out Aviary. In my opinion, their solution is the most well rounded and easiest to use. Sorry web-based Photoshop. I have a serious problem with Adobe©. Please don’t sue me for using your name.
Well, as you can see, we already have the features we need that Cloud Computing offers. Google takes care of email, documents, most editing and iGoogle gives us a landing page, all under just 1 account. Dropbox and Foxmarks keep us synced with our bookmarks and documents and Aviary helps us out with photo editing. What we really need is for a company to take these solutions and bundle them in a Cloud Computing environment that we are already using. Why not integrate Foxmarks and let us access our bookmarks in 1 click. Give us the ability to open a virtual folder that shows us all of our Dropbox documents and give us the ability to click, download and open them right inside the CC environment. Give us the ability to have a stand-alone solution that can download our exact CC environment to our local computers, similar to typical ‘Off-Line’ tools for Google and others. Do not try and force us to change when humans are, by nature, sticky in their ways. Instead, trick us into change by making us feel secure and unmoved.
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Thanks! Nice post.
Love the advice. Thank you.