5 Reasons why YOU should be moving to the cloud
Over the past two or there years, I have written many articles about Web 2.0 or cloud computing. Cloud computing means that you work with programs and/or data that are not installed or saved on your computer. Instead, the programs and/or data live on an Internet connected computer (server) somewhere else in the world. These computers provide security via the password and user name that you choose. Five reason come immediately to mind on why you should start moving your data and computing power to the cloud.
1. Although more powerful than ever before, computers have become more unreliable than ever.
In particular, Windows computers require more expertise to keep them safe, updated, and problem free than at any time in the short history of home computers. Macintosh and Linux operating systems certainly require less technical expertise from the security standpoint, but still rely on desktop applications to create, save and edit data. Web based (cloud) applications provide plenty of power and flexibility for the vast majority of computer users while also presenting a simpler interface.
2. You already spend 90% of your time in the cloud already.
Non-business computer users spend the majority of their computer time emailing, surfing and researching the web and playing online games. Transitioning to web based mail and web based word processing, spreadsheets and more is easy and free with products like Zoho Office, Google Docs and ThinkFree.
3. Digital photography is easier in the cloud...and cheaper.
Too many computer users do not know how to properly resize and attach photos to email or gauge how many photos to attach to email. You spend way too much money and time on ink cartridges and paper trying to print good quality pictures. All these problems are solved in the cloud by helping you organize your photos better, share them easier, and print them in higher quality in more formats professionally. Flickr, Picasa Albums, and albums and services from Shutterfly, Snapfish, Winkflash, and others help you do all these things much easier than any desktop application. For those who like to edit their photos, these services offer some limited editing, but Pixlr, Picnik, Fotoflexer, Snipshot, Photoshop Online, and many others provide more than enough power for almost any digital photographer.
4. You either don't know how or are too lazy to backup your important data.
I admit that I'm putting a lot of faith in Web 2.0 companies, but I know they will do a better and more regular job of backing up your data than you currently do. These companies have their reputations and big bank rolls on the line to take backing up your data lightly. If your data is truly important to you, learn to back it up. In the interim, your data will be much safer online than it is right now on your unprotected computer with no backup plan at all. If I've stirred you a little to think about backing up your current data, read my tips about online backup services that truly do make backing up your data easier and safer than learning to burn DVD's, setup and configure backup programs and then maintain them.
5. Using cloud computing strategies sets you free from any computer.
Since your data and applications live on the web and are accessed through a web browser, you no longer are tied to any one computer or operating system. As long as you have an Internet connection (high speed only) and a browser, you can work and play from any computer!
I keep urging you to learn about and use these services because they are coming down the pike and becoming more mainstream every day. Microsoft, Apple, Adobe and other stalwarts of the desktop continue to make their own plans to finally come on board and offer more and more cloud computing options.
What do you think? Leave me a comment below to tell me about your cloud computing experiences and questions.
Photo by ewen and donabel
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Be Careful
I suggest you read this article from the Sunday New York Times. Using the cloud for sending notes to your grandma is fine. Using it for banking and other sensitive areas is asking to join the list of victims. If you think Apple and Ubuntu, etc don't have attackable weaknesses, you are misinformed.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/06/technology/internet/06security.html?_r=1&ref=business&pagewanted=all
Cloud
Is there a "Cloud" program which could replace Quicken?
Quicken.com
Yes, and it's made by Quicken at Quicken.com. Also, many quicken users have migrated to other services like wesabe.com and mint.com as well.
Makes more sense every day
Couple of practical examples using Google Docs:
1. Sharing. With older family memebers in one state and siblings in three different states, a list of contacts, doctors, helpers, lawyers, real estate agents, relatives and friend online lets any of us add to the list when something new comes up, we all share, and I can access it anywhere -- home, work, Starbucks, whatever. In emergencies especially, it really helps.
2 Note taking. I will sometimes have a review of a book I am reading, or I am preparing a presentation. Keeping my notes in the cloud instead of locally means wherever I am, I can open up and add to my notes. Especially helpful if I think of something at work.
3. Butt saving. Last time I had to do a presentation at my user group, my laptop would not connect to the projector. Used another computer and just used my notes online. (That same meeting, 2 other presenters were using Google docs.)
Way better than synching or using thumb drives. And I am almost never using a computer where I don't have a connection.
Personal experience
Thanks for sharing your personal experience with Google Docs. Sounds like the cloud indeed helped you out!
the argument against
1. If you lose your internet connection, you can't get to your data to work on it.
2. Would you back up the online data to protect against the possibility of something going wrong in their shop, and your data being lost? It may be less likely (even a lot less) than losing the data on your personal computer, but it's not impossible.
3. If they go out of business, will you have an opportunity to recover your online data?
Good points
Good points, and I addressed them all in the article. As to losing an Internet connection...not very likely in today's connected world, and I pointed out that cloud computing is more for home users than business users with critical applications. And for backing up, yes, if you do have critical information it should always be backed up no matter where the data lives.
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