What Would You Send into the Cloud?

what kinds of computing functions are you willing to send into the cloud?

None, until they can get that cloud into a good Farady cage and secure from nukes.

Speaking of buzz words, it would be helpful to clarify or quantify what is meant by "cloud computing". Most applications I've seen recently proported are cloud storage where either a backup or the primary storage for files are not resident to the computer that is altering or reading the file. Frankly this seems more like a regression back to the days of main frame computing to me than a new hot concept. Cloud computing implies to me the distributed analysis work like the SETI screensaver program that started at Berkely.

All of my e-mail is done in the cloud- has been for years, long before anybody thought to call it the cloud. No reason not to use the cloud for casual communications, no reason to call it the cloud.

I have produced a few documents that I like to share with no restrictions (sort of Open Open Source) that are too big to send as e-mail attachments. I have tried a number of different options (Miccrosoft SkyDrive, ADrive, Dropbox, Ubuntu1, etc) all of which have the same basic shortcomings and utility. Not something I would use for mission-critical work. Better to send hard copy via DHL/UPS/FedEx.

I would never, ever put anything that I did not want to share with others (i.e., business or personal financial data, control systems, proprietary writing or design work, etc.) anywhere other than a computer isolated from the Internet.

Many, many years ago, when PC's were very limited in computational power, I would send FEA work off to a super computer to do the actual calculations. I was estatic when I finally got a PC that could handle the work locally. I don't see any advantage to sending such work off to the cloud these days. Of course, I'm not designing air planes or automobiles- but, then, again, were I designing such complicated systems, I would most likely prefer to keep the work in house. Not likely to use the cloud for any of my calculations...

I would use the cloud to store backups and redundant storage, but not as a primary storage.

save all my spam email there where it should be

You save that junk?

will never use it might as well be somewhere

Let me introduce you then to a new concept in information management called "delete". I'm sure you can look it up.

But then hackers of this Cloud might be disappointed when they hack my Cloud Account since I am retired there is little more I have to store there.

I joined G-mail on the first day it was offered, and e-mail all my documents to myself and my wire based ISP address. Since I work from 4 locations this beats dragging storage around. Every month I make a backup of the ISP contents, and I never erase any e-mails. I have a secure 10 digit pass word, and a couple of throw away addresses for forums and bloggery. In effect, that is my 'cloud'

An ex wife, her attorney and a judge.

I am into Cloud Technology and use it for Pics, Files, Music, eBooks, Backup of files, etc. I stream music quite a bit. I recently had a problem with my Kindle Fire and had to do a Factory Reset and lost everything. The Amazon Kindle Cloud restored my entire device! I use Flicker for Free with 1TB storage of pictures. The next step is to setup a Personal Cloud at home for using NAS Technology which is a Personal Cloud and also network RAID 1 Backup of all my computers.