Partly Cloudy.

Cloud computing offers certain advantages that can be very attractive to most users, from the casual user all the way to the alpha geek. Just as an example, I have been using Google calendar for the last 3-4 months together with Gmail as a replacement for Thunderbird. Just recently I was able to set up Gnome's the built in calendar(Evolution) to sync with my Google calendar so that I can simply click on the task bar clock and get a display of appointments and such. The advantages of this method, apart from convenience is that I can access my info from any location, without requiring a complicated setup. In addition, in the event that, in my (in)finite wisdom, I nuke my root partition, I still have a functional backup that I can access. So it's not the end of the world.

But what makes me nervous about the concept of cloud computing is instances where the box doesn't have so much as a basic word processor permanently installed. What this implicates to me is a situation where one might lose any and all connectivity at which point you have a rather costly paper weight. Now, for those of you who have read some of my past work know that I am an old school computer guy. I like command lines and I like to know how things work. I also like to have complete control over my computer and the apps I have installed(and some of my friends wonder what drew me to Open Source). The very idea of losing my Internet connectivity is a horrible thought as it is, but to not even be able to pass the time while I wait for it to return by writing poorly, or a game of Mahjongg is enough to drive someone over the edge.

So as a solution to this possible issue, I propose that systems that are designed to function primarily via the cloud should have some type of back up system. Like a set of small apps(for example, all of the apps included with DS Linux are less than 50MB, not counting the kernel) that would be available for use in such a situation, but would be unused the majority of the time. I could prevent a lot of really very angry customers. I still wouldn't buy one though, I'm just too old fashioned. ;)

Speaking of angry customer's, take a look at some of these stories of clueless Tech Support reps. These poor saps give the rest of us a bad name. And if you like these stories, check out the rest of the site, it's pretty good.