Netbooks………helping raise the Cloud.

Seems like the last few weeks, I have been seeing more and more netbooks in general use.  I have seen them everywhere-Starbucks, book stores, the library, business meetings, etc.  Many stores I have visited have them on display.  The Mobile Phone carriers have been developing plans to subsidize them like they do hand sets.  Yet another device that takes advantage of 3G connectivity. (someone I know called them BIG Clunky Smartphones that can’t make calls easily)

Wikipedia defines a Netbook as a small portable laptop computer designed for wireless communication and access to the Internet primarily designed for web browsing and e-mailing, netbooks rely heavily on the Internet for remote access to web-based applications.

Most Netbooks now ship with Windows XP though there are models with customized versions of Linux and soon arriving Android.

To me, these cheaper, low power laptops are perfectly suited to take advantage of Cloud Computing.  They do not need lots of computing power, or storage because they access web based apps/storage.  As you see more and more of these devices, they will drive acceptance and reliance on Cloud Computing relying on cheap , fast access to the Internet/Cloud Services.

I guess I will have to keep my eyes out for a steal of a deal……..

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The “Perfect Storm”, seeding the Clouds……

Recently, I made reference to SUN Microsystem’s old tag line-“The network is the computer”. John Gage, one of Sun’s early employees, coined that phrase in effect predicting Cloud Computing. (see PC World’s article, “SUN’s History in Pictures” for more information here)

While the “network” (the internet) is indeed the computer as Gage predicted, there are some other important parts that have come together, in this “perfect digital storm” to enable this phenomenon. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

1) Ubiquitous broadband-broadband internet access is almost everywhere, fairly inexpensive, and accessible to many people.

2) Cheap, powerful, hardware– Moore’s law is living up to it’s promise-hardware is getting much more powerful, memory and other components are very inexpensive and PCs are more capable than ever.

3) Virtualization technology-server and application virtualization are exploding all over the world. Cheap, powerful hardware coupled with the ability to create virtual servers and applications are being deployed.

4) Security-even though there are new challenges, security is getting better which enables new applications and services.

5) Web 2.0-The growth in capability and popularity of the Web 2.0/internet-web services and web 2.0 technology have exploded in recent years making on line experiences rich and effective. Look at the rise of social network tools as an example.

6) New Business models-Saas (software as a Service) is being adopted and developed as a real business service, setting up adoption of Cloud capabilities.

7) Open source tools and platforms, in my opinion, this helps foster collaboration and standardization much faster making moire capabilities available.

I leave you with this quote which I think encapsulates this Perfect Storm eloquently:  “The rise of the cloud is more than just another platform shift that gets geeks excited. It will undoubtedly transform the IT industry, but it will also profoundly change the way people work and companies operate.” —The Economist, “Let it Rise,” 10/23/08

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