November monthly poll

For the month of November we thought it would be interesting to see if you're using any type of cloud computing or service either at your home or at your business. Feel free to talk about what cloud computing services you've used if any, what you liked / didn't like about it, and any other comments. Although many users are likely to be unfamiliar with this term it's likely you've used some type of cloud computing while on the Internet.

* Thanks goes out to Patio for suggesting the topic of this months poll.

Definition of cloud computing from the Computer Hope dictionary:

A term used to describe services over a network by a collection of servers. These computers or cloud of computers enable the users visiting to have access to a much faster computers or servers, be able to access programs and services from anywhere with Internet access often without having to install other software, and get access to the services from any type of device capable of reaching the network or Internet.

Because the term cloud computing is so broad it's likely if you've spent any time on the Internet or use devices connected to the Internet that you've used some type of cloud computing.

Remainder of definition and examples of could computing

All past monthly polls and results can also be found on the Computer Hope poll page.

One of the companies that I used to work for used a system like this for calculations on wind tunnel data.

I saw a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_DKNwK_ms and it told me about it. I don't use it because it is to make it easier to add applications to businesses.

I guess I can vote yes since the definition http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/c/cloudcom.htm mentions Google Calendar and social networking sites such as facebook. 

I also voted Yes. The http://www.computerhope.com/jargon/c/cloudcom.htm page considers Google Docs & Calendar (as well as Facebook) part of cloud computing.

I use Facebook as well as the Google services mentioned above.

I'm not sure that accessing FaceBook and Google actually qualifies as using Cloud Computing.

Especially when Google's involved, I say no.

Internet speeds need to be FAST FAST FAST and at cheap cost to average income earners before cloud will ever fly.

Although what do you do if your internet goes down, how would you access the files than?

Cloud Computing = More Cracker Fun
FaceBook = Snakes
Google = BigBrother

Cloud computing is really more of a marketing term than anything else.  It doesn't really have a strict definition and can mean just about anything.

Soon after the internet started to go mainstream (even pre web) some marketing types  referred to the internet as the cloud to avoid any technical explanations.

In the broad definition, even Google is cloud computing.  Although, it's usually used anymore to use or sell services over the net.

cloud computing also includes the gmail documents right? if yes, i guess I'm using it before unconciously.

Cloud computing is really more of a marketing term than anything else.  It doesn't really have a strict definition and can mean just about anything.

Soon after the internet started to go mainstream (even pre web) some marketing types  referred to the internet as the cloud to avoid any technical explanations.

In the broad definition, even Google is cloud computing.  Although, it's usually used anymore to use or sell services over the net.

A marketing term? like buying something on amazon?
I guess that makes sence because the order is sent to many different computers, like the shipping company's.

I just set up a company to use "cloud computing" for one of their apps.  Takes the burden off of me to maintain and backup their data.

Alan <>< 

Yes, but now Cloud Computing refers to lets say a 10gb HardDrive to have the OS and everything else is stored on the Internet, not locally stored.

Your OS stored locally on a tiny HardDrive and your Programs and Files used over the internet.  As I said you need a Really Fast Internet to make this possible, the average income earner could never absorb that cost, right now at least.

[Moderator]

I just set up a company to use "cloud computing" for one of their apps.  Takes the burden off of me to maintain and backup their data.

Alan <>< 

Just did the same for a client...but they are handling their own backup chores so to speak...
The amount of cabbage they're spending is embarrasing to say the least.

Would this be Virtual machine (VM)?

Would this be Virtual machine (VM)?

No, Virtual Machine is different than Cloud Computing. 

To simplify it for you Cloud Computing is many computers working on the same thing, usually just different aspects of it, to accomplish a task.  A Virtual Machine is allowing a computer to run a different OS ontop of a different native OS.

Cloud Computing could however be done with many Virtual Machines, it would be slower than if done with computers running their native OS though.

This is a really simplified description, if you want more information on them let us know.