M$ is rolling out a FREE web-based Office 2010 today - r u sold on "cloud computing"?

security concerns!

Well, I like the whole "cloud computing" idea, any security issues mainly depend on what I'd intend to do with it.

"Cloud computing" and "Cloud storage" IS already a good way of doing it - Think of it like Hotmail, GMAIL, Yahoo mail and so on - it is here and it is here to stay and get better. I think the MS way of thinking of this is the future.

Cloud computing is total nonsense. I cannot fathom why someone would want to use an application over the internet instead of on their local hard drive. You give up speed, performance and security. Hard drive space is plentiful nowadays and we can all fit huge applications on our internal hard drives even on a laptop. Performance is always going to be much slower over the internet. I do have a few web based email accounts for game playing and casual use, but I need my email history and important documents to be stored on my own hard drive. I prefer the free Open Office suite over the MS Office suite for word processing and spreadsheets.

I'm not sure I still see the benefits of cloud computing like there was back when the whole idea of network computing came out. Back then computers and storage was expensive, but you can get a super fast computer for $500 these days that can handle any program except high end video editing.

The proponents of cloud computing back then liked to use the example of the phone system. They would say the phone system is a very complex network and you connect to it via a very simple device, your phone. That's exactly how computing should work, they claimed.

But the problem is, ever since then phones have become more and more sophisticated to the point where most are actually small computers. Within a few years you will be able to run pretty much any program on a phone. So I guess their phone analogy was flawed.

Now, if it's free as opposed to the $400 real version, I can see it getting very popular as long as there are no drawbacks. Privacy isn't an issue because people claim they care about privacy, yet everyone spills their whole lives out on Facebook and Twitter so privacy is a non issue with people if they can get something for free.

i agree, as far as it being free, i think this is just to get people used to the concept. they're not going to be giving it away long term unless it's subsidised by advertising and for a relatively expensive piece of software like ms office, i doubt it.

the only big advantage i can see for cloud computing, and it's an advantage for the software developers, is that it will have a big impact of piracy.

I think it has its place. For example if I traveled a decent amount and took a netbook with me on the road so I could check email and surf the web, an online office suite might be something I would use on occasion if I needed to write a letter or do some kind of word processing. That said I can't see it as something I would use on a regular basis.

With the popularity of those tiny laptop (netbook) things and their costs. Adding in web based programs would be a sure fire hit. I can not imagine many would need as much computing power on their laptop if it was not for the ability to use certain applications.

Plus they open up the field of applications for smart phones as well.

I could not agree more. Cloud computing makes no sense whatsoever.