Thoughts on cloud computing?

[chrishdman87]

This is sort of a debate type of thingy..

Basically vote what you think is best, or what you would rather have and why.

For me I think Cloud computing is a very awful idea. I hate the thought of having all my personal files on another server. I like knowing this drive right next to me has everything I want - All in one place. I dont have to worry about others getting a hold of it (not for the most part - but im not going to get into that that much). I really dont give a shit what OS a cloud service uses, or what their TOS is, or any terms and special circumstances that people try to put the pressure on me to switch - You make it your responsibility to keep your files and digital items safe.


After the patriot act, I can only imagine what they could do with regards to viewing personal files. I believe that in some ways for national security that it could potentially keep people safe, depending on what types of files get stored and who owns the cloud service. But honestly there are plenty of online services where you can keep copies of your files, even your own webserver. I think it is totally unnecessary to have everything located on a separate server, and not having that piece of mind that you have it in your own home.

I'm making this topic because I firmly believe that many major corporations are going to put a lean on this, and try to shove us in that direction for reasons such as piracy, (Microsoft Windows 8 is going to have their cloud service implemented - look it up.). Google seems really fucking sketchy as they like to take every fucking piece of data out of you as they can for whatever reasons they have (such as trying to make money off of us with their ad network).

If Microsoft fucks this up, I'm going to permanently switch over to linux - As I believe certain 'companies' will offer a cloud service but not beat you with a bat until you switch over.

Thoughts?

EDIT: and dont take my word for some of the things I have said, I only have a general understanding of how it works.

 

[chrishdman87]

Privacy

The Cloud model has been criticized by privacy advocates for the greater ease in which the companies hosting the Cloud services control, and thus, can monitor at will, lawfully or unlawfully, the communication and data stored between the user and the host company. Instances such as the secret NSA program, working with AT&T, and Verizon, which recorded over 10 million phone calls between American citizens, causes uncertainty among privacy advocates, and the greater powers it gives to telecommunication companies to monitor user activity.[72] While there have been efforts (such as US-EU Safe Harbor) to "harmonize" the legal environment, providers such as Amazon still cater to major markets (typically the United States and the European Union) by deploying local infrastructure and allowing customers to select "availability zones."[73]

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing

 

[akthechamp]

this won't be there for PC :P some don't have a internet connection also

 

[Mr Happy]

Well it totally depends on what your refering to them having. I'm presuming by your comments having it on your home PC we're on about personal documents and not on about buisness or hosting websites.

From a personal point of use I think it's great. For example my University work. I do often email myself documents. If your switching constantly between a home PC say in your parents house at weekends, a personal laptop and then shared computers in uni. It's a disaster as I'm switching between emails wondering which is the most current and usb keys as well as copies saved on my laptop and can get confusing. In such a case I think an easily organised online place where files are stored and easily accessed could work well but as a student I wouldn't pay for it.

From a business point of view I'm not sure. I work in an office too and we can remote login to my computer at home and access all my files and emails. For a smaller office which doesn't have such a system it could prove useful but I'm not sure. I don't know how well multiple people working on the same file etc would work and all having different levels of permissions for altering and creating files and folders etc. Sounds messy to try and set up but I don't really know.

 

[iZINER]

I can see the up sides and down sides to it yeah it would be great as Mr Happy said for college work, it is completley murder workeing between computers ona a daily basis.

On the other hand as chrishdman87 says i don't like the diea of having my whole computers hardrive accessible on a server for anyone to corrupt or even steal. I mean some people keep text files with all there passswords and sensitive information. Also if the server your files and data are on goes down what will happen ? will your files be accessible on another server or will it just be down and we'll have to wait ?

I myself will be sticking with my thousands of HDD's i like knowing that all my files and data are right there infront of me to access at any time and destory at any time. Who's to say the groverment won't go snooping throught everyones stuff, it's not like they stick to there "We can't do that policy" haha !

 

[chrishdman87]

Mr happy - You're talking about business use
I'm talking about your own personal files, and shit we all enjoy pirating

Why would somebody want all the pictures they have taken be stored on remote servers, like pics of your naked gf, that kinda stuff

EDIT: I like the way you think iZINER

 

[shadeslader]

I don't plan on using it for personal use, im with the others i want my data right in front of me so i can destroy/hide it and have that extra bit of privacy.

I wouldn't use it for school either really i'd rather carry a usb around which is what i do at work as well some days im logged into 15 different computers depending on what i need to do that day and on which floors the computers are on.

Iv'e used network storage before and its worked a few times but there is always problems like the pc wont recognize the network mapped drive, or the pc im working can't/isn't connected to the network and other various problems

you also run into the privacy thing if its on the server anyone can have access to it even if its your assigned space, unlike a usb

 

[uLtRaTRim]

I won't upload all my files or a company's files to another company. I don't trust that. If it has to be a cloud typed thing, it would be on my own server, and only accessible for me.

 

[CuraHack]

I run a cloud at home, I don't thrust anyone else!

 

[Mr Happy]

Come on guys I'm sure most of ye have already far more info on the net that ye think ye already do.

@ chrishdman87:
I wasn't looking form an all Buisness point of view. My main example was College where it's incredibly useful. Who gives a shit if Microsoft have an essay you wrote as you'll be probably publishing it anyway in a thesis if it's any good.

As for the personal "pirated" stuff I don't see this as a problem. As internet speeds increase and everything becomes cheaper nobody will download as much as they do. We'll watch, listen and play way more via streaming. Anyway what sorta hosing do you think it going to store a few hundred gigs of Bluray movies and music anyway. They'll try and charge you if you go uploading that much. How long would that take to upload? Cloud hosting is more geared at small documents you want quick fast access to. I don't see any point in the first place uploading hundreds of gigs of copyrighted material to a personal account that could get you in trouble when it's already uploaded hundreds of times and it's just a matter of downloading it from a warez site.
Think of cloud hosting for stuff like college work, photos, scripts, etc.
Here's another example that's not college related:
imagine quickly throwing a movie of you and your mates at a party up onto it from your iPhone to free up some space while your on holidays that you don't want to put on youtube. Its there later for you to redownload when your at home and do what you want with it.

If you consider more what it can be use for and it's ease and benefits you'll see you will end up using it even if you say you won't. It's basically just an advanced form of email anyway.

Anyone saying they won't upload something small and insignificant to a company because of privacy but has a Facebook account where they have huge friends lists, photos and personal details is being hypocritical.

 

[Webmaster1]

Cloud computing is the future. A game changer. Ultimately replacing software and hardware. In the future we wont need hard drives, all our storage will be online and more secure. If anything your pc/mac hard drive will be your back up. All software will be used as web apps. This is beginning now. And it's why microsoft is scared of google. Even GDrive is happening covertly. Look at recent advancements with gdocs. And see picasa for google deals on buying more storage. Put all the pieces together. It's not an option. It's happening right now.