• Cloud computing is becoming more popular? Maybe to techies, but as one who spends a good deal of time each month with clients in some very large companies, I can tell you directly, Cloud computing is not only confusing to decision makers, but Microsoft's marketing is only adding to the confusion.

    Just a couple weeks ago I was with a client who asked me about the commercial Microsoft is now running where some 'hip dude' on his laptop can't get something done, and then we hear; "To the cloud!!!". Then the voice-over says "You can share documents, [etc. etc.]..." This client said to me; "This is something we are already doing with what we have today!!! Why would I need to spend a fortune to do it a different way???"

    Fact is, they don't need to spend a fortune, and as well, the investment in the Cloud would not really get them anything new or 'better'. For this particular client there was also the caveat; "Hey, these guys gave us Vista which was supposed to be 'better' - and yet we simply bypassed it..." That's not a great deal of trust in Microsoft's marketing, let alone their development and technical capability.

    And that is what I am seeing a lot of in the field. High level decision makers see the cloud as another huge investment in something they already have, don't need, and only the techies are frothing at the mouth to get it - which to C-level decision makers generates some real suspicion.

    If Microsoft wants people to adopt Cloud computing, they need to step out of the techie arena and start developing compelling arguments for C-level decision makers. 'Hip dudes' announcing "To the Cloud!!!" is not going to cut it.

    There's no such thing as dumb questions, only poorly thought-out answers...