For a short while, maybe...
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| Author | Content |
|---|---|
| r_a_trip Mar 19, 2010 5:03 AM EDT |
By the time we get there, perhaps the entire idea of what a Desktop is will have been re-defined, thanks to “The Cloud”. Yes, right now the promise of the couch potato computer is gaining traction. Many will flock to it, but I can't see it last. The problem with "the cloud" is simply control. You sign over the deed to your own information to the Bastard Operator from Hell at the other end. It may look like rainbows and ponies at first, but sooner or later money concerns of the "cloud" provider will rear its ugly head. Since the conscience of a public company is formed by money hungry shareholders, this is bound to happen. I don't know about others, but I'd rather have most of my life stored on my own drives. Correspondence with the government, with insurance companies. Family photo's. Home movies. Etc. Do we really feel secure with all that private stuff on somebody elses computer? That is the problem with the cloud in general, I think. Ordinary people view the cloud as this opaque, detached thing that keeps track of their stuff. If I were to make an offer like this: "Hey, I've got my computer over here and if you want, you can put all of your personal, sensitive, even embarrasing and one of a kind data on there. I "promise" to keep it safe and "trust" me, I won't ever look at what you put on there. If you need it, you can always get on my computer and use it.", I don't think many will opt to do that. Now I make the same offer, but I phrase it like this: "Hey, I've got a neat "cloud" thingy over here, that can keep all your data safe and you can access it anytime you want." If it looks easy and convenient, suddenly a lot of people start using it. However it is phrased, it is an accident waiting to happen. Data loss, breach of trust, breach of security, datamining, law enforcement. All stuff that is easier to do on a remote computer not under your control. Hey, it is not the data of the provider.The barrier to put your life on public display is lower, be it for money or because some government agency said so (without a warrant). Well, when the scandals of datamining with sale of personal information and unwarranted goverment snooping break, Linux will still be there to harbor the "cloud" victims with a robust, offline Desktop OS. |
| jimbauwens Mar 19, 2010 6:05 AM EDT |
I agree I think there must be a huge change in the whole internet system first before the cloud can take over, because otherwise it wil be the hackers heaven. They will just have to guess some passwords, find some breaches and the date is theirs. I will never trust my data to the cloud, and will never run web-based applications (ugh, just think on the performance). But I guess most people don't care, so long they can go on facebook, be 'social' and run their programs they are happy. And I think, when the time of the cloud has come, the Linux Desktop will be a place for many smart people, for developers, for people who don't trust the cloud, for smart people. The Linux desktop will not go away. |
| gus3 Mar 19, 2010 10:42 AM EDT |
There was a bad incident with "the cloud" that's still early in the clean-up stage: http://gus3.typepad.com/i_am_therefore_i_think/2010/03/singl... |
| helios Mar 20, 2010 2:28 PM EDT |
Never underestimate the ability of Enterprise to market to the ignorant. Mom and Dad will run to the cloud in an attempt to voluntarily further their dependence on someone else managing their computer and data. Look at all the online backup solutions advertised lately..."encrypted for your security". Who holds the encryption keys? I am having a hard time finding any sympathy for ignorance...even less for stupidity. You are only a victim until you know the alternatives... The Tripster has it right here... h |
| techiem2 Mar 20, 2010 2:32 PM EDT |
Quoting:Mom and Dad will run to the cloud in an attempt to voluntarily further their dependence on someone else managing their computer and data. And then they'd come crying to us when said cloud provider crashes and loses all their email/documents/pictures, at which point we'd sigh and say "I told you that would happen." |
| gus3 Mar 20, 2010 3:28 PM EDT |
Quoting:Mom and Dad will run to the cloud in an attempt to voluntarily further their dependence on someone else managing their computer and data.Not my Mom and Dad. Mom knows too much about data security, and Dad doesn't trust The Man on general principles. And the circles Mom moves in are all too willing to listen to her, because they know her son is an infosec geek. "The ignorant" in this case demonstrate that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing." It was true for the Content Scrambling System, it's true for the troglodytes at the IIPA, and it's true for anyone who mis-places their trust in The Cloud(tm). |
| jdixon Mar 20, 2010 7:16 PM EDT |
> Look at all the online backup solutions advertised lately... AFAIK, all of which only work with Windows or (in a few cases) Macs. |
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