Chromebook

During their developers conference this past week, Google has introduced a new operating system called Chrome OS installed in ultra-portable laptops called Chromebooks. This operating system only uses the web and is constantly connected to the web. From movies and music to email and word processing, everything is done through the Chrome browser. The concept is great, as you can access all your information from the cloud. You wouldn't have to worry about forgetting your flash drive or forgetting to save your file. And security is great because anyone who steals your computer can't access your files as it is stored somewhere in Google's servers. However, with service providers limiting the amount of data bandwidth for each customer as I have mentioned in my previous post, it is not completely worry free. Customers would have to monitor their data usage. Also cloud computing is not always reliable and secure, as companies's servers sporadically shut down due to maintenance or are hacked by intruders. If you saved your homework in Google's servers and realized you couldn't access it the day it is due because of a bug in the server, then having cloud features would be useless. Cloud computing is becoming more and more popular. However, we should remember to always back up our files to physical locations where we have access to. It will be interesting how customers would use and adapt this new concept of Chrome OS as convenience does come at a price.

Video intro of Chromebook:

Cloud Versus Cap

As people are becoming more and more mobile, the direction of computing is going to the cloud.  Cloud computing is when resources and applications are stored at a remote location and could be accessed just about anywhere.  An example would be web email services such as Gmail and Yahoo mail.  Anyone with an account can access their email from any computer that has a web browser.  There is no need to use an installed email client on the computer.  Cloud computing allows people to access their information and applications without having to actually carry around their data and computers.  Many companies are starting to use the cloud and offer cloud services.  Companies like Amazon are now offering cloud drives where customers can store data onto their servers and access it from any web browser.  Netflix allows customers to stream movies from the company's cloud instead of having to download first in order to view them.

Although cloud computing is more convenient, it demands more bandwidth because data is streamed more often through networks.  Many wireless providers such as Verizon and AT&T implement data caps to their data plans due to the high usage of bandwidth.  Customers have a set limit in the amount of data they can upload or download and if they go over the limit, they would have to pay additional fees for more data usage.  Just recently, AT&T imposed a data cap on all of its DSL home Internet users.  They claim that it is to restrict the top five percent of users who use a disproportionate amount of bandwidth and would actually help customers.  However, customers are skeptical about the cap and are unhappy about it.  The direction Internet service providers are going is completely opposite of the direction cloud computing is going.  The data caps they impose hinder the progress of cloud computing.  Internet service providers should instead improve their services for their customers.  Cloud computing requires more bandwidth and the providers must widen the bandwidth, not restrict it by charging customers more.  Time and time again, we see these companies continually take customers' money without much improvement on services and in some cases, even a decrease in services.

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