Elliott Whitlow (6/27/2011)
There are definitely some areas that the cloud makes sense for. Small companies that can't afford large hardware and software outlays can definitely benefit or companies that need a lot of bandwidth. It can be difficult to get sufficient bandwidth to your office. As companies grow it makes sense to bring those servers in house. But there are businesses that absolutely would not exist if not for the cloud.CEWII
I guess it depends on how you define cloud. Given it is new term, for new sales opportunities, to me it excludes things like hosting your servers somewhere where you still own the servers. A backup data center for example... There are companies today selling cloud as "you allow them to do everything", they own the servers, everything. There is a distinct difference between that and someone providing a web site for you.
As usual, marketing uses terms like cloud or web 2 whenever it serves them to make a sale.
I understand there may be companies that would not exist without what you term the "cloud". Quite possibly your definition is more correct than mine. If so, is it better to exist for a while than not to at all? Probably.
I just don't agree that your definition of cloud fits what marketing is selling. Cloud is about taking existing applications and services you use in house, and allowing someone else to manage them, data and all. At least that is what is being sold as cloud.
Again, it depends on how you define it.
And please don't read this as me being critical of you, not my intention, I am having some difficulty explaining what I am thinking. Probably because I need to stop working and go play some! COD anyone?
Dave