What is cloud computing?

In this week's Real Deal podcast, Tom Merritt and I try to explain cloud computing in concrete terms. Starting with an utterly opaque description from Forrester Research, we get into the realities of using the "cloud" of Internet-connected resources for data storage and computing. Then we dive into personal clouds of data--like what Microsoft is trying to build with Live Mesh.

Reminder: We record the Real Deal each Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time, and we have a live video feed and chatroom running while we're doing so. You can tune in at www.watchbol.com. In our next episode, we'll be discussing the necessary tools for video editing and posting. A lot of those, of course, will be Web apps.

Real Deal 108: Cloud Computing
What can you do without local hardware?

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[The_Decider]

Just like Web 2.0, cloud computing is a meaningless buzzword to make something old seem new and better.

[StargateFan]

I agree, and I hope without end that cloud computing is just a catchy buzzword of the Web 2.0 season. It is anti-productive in the Personal Computing market/platform. A cloud platform just evokes a mainframe architecture, the only difference is that the actual mainframe is a collection of several hundred data centers. Connected by an internet protocol, supported by the Internet Backbone, the idea can be a nightmare to any true personal computer enthusiast.

I rather would not like a computer composed up a speedy NIC card a average processor, and video card. Which upon boot, negotiates and establishes a connection to a data center across the country where your OS and data is stored and maintained by system, operators you do not know. Who have the potential to disable access to your data by invoking a simple excuse like architectural upgrade.