Quote:
Originally Posted by CyGuy
When you say “cloud computing”, do you really mean “cloud storage”? Are you referring to keeping files on a server somewhere and accessing that content remotely? I must say that the very idea of this to me is a huge step backwards. You will likely have to pay for the privilege, and pay per GB. You will likely have to pay for the bandwidth, uploading and downloading. You can’t be sure the content will be available when you need it. You can’t be certain that your content is secure and safe. You will have a delay in accessing the content while it downloads. This truly makes no sense to me at all.
SDHC cards are getting cheaper by the day. SDXC cards promise to hold lots and lots of data, although the price is still an issue for SDXC. USB thumb drives are dirt cheap, fast, and reliable. There is just no valid reason for “cloud storage” that I can think of...
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Cloud storage is one aspect of cloud computing. Another is using applications (such as word processors, spread sheet programs, etc.) that are located online instead of on your own ccomputer. I feel the latter to be too unreliable right now, mostly due to a lack of complete broadband coverage. It also limits the choice of apps one can use. Mayhap sometime in the future but the technology just isn't there for reliable use yet.
Cloud storage, on the other hand, is very viable now, depending on the service one chooses. Fee storage is limited in size and, based on past history, not reliable. People have lost data when free services tanked with little or no warning. Most paid services, especially the one dedicated to automated backups, on the other hand, have been very reliable. While high speed business plans are expensive per GB, home plans are much more reasonable. The trade off is transfer rates are slower. Carbonite is $55/year for unlimited storage. Mozy is running $60/year, also for unlimited storage.
I'm using Carbonite and have been very happy with it. It backs up data only so it isn't for complete system back ups. The advantage to using a system like Carbonite is the back ups are completely automated and run in the background. Actual data transfers occur only when the computer is idle (unless you tell it to do an immediate backup) so there is no throttling of your system. Data is kept encrypted and is password protected but can be accessed from any computer anywhere that has a broadband connection. Cloud backup (not exactly storage because if you delete the info from your computer, it will also be eventually deleted online) has the advantage that if your computer and local back up are damaged, destroyed, or stolen, you can still retrieve your data from online.
USB sticks are fine as long as you have a very limited amount of data to store but are still subject to damage, destruction or theft. You also have to remember to put the data on the stick. I have 145 GB backed up on Carbonite right now. That's a lot of USB sticks. Cards are better; they take up less room and can be write protected. I also have a 160 GB external drive I use but it's just about filled up now. The drive in my computer is 1TB so I have the potential for one heckuvalot more to back up in the future.