Why Cloud Computing Scares Me

The 'big new thing' nowadays in the computing world is cloud computing. For those who are unfamiliar with the term, cloud computing is the idea of computers doing most of their 'work' in 'the cloud' (AKA, the internet) as opposed to doing it on their own memory and time.

The proponents of cloud computing say that it will improve the ability for computers to access info and centralize data storage in large servers which can be accessed anywhere, at any time. I don't disagree there, having accessible data is fine. I think that part's snazzy. But there are snags in the grand plan.

First, storage costs money.

True, the average gigabyte of storage has decreased from about $228 in 1998, to 10 cents today. Pretty big drop, really. But that's for internal drives. Server farms could house anywhere from a couple terabytes of data to a couple petabytes (a thousand terabytes, which are in turn a thousand gigabytes apiece), which is a bit of money.

But the other thing a cloud server needs is the cloud itself. And internet fees require bandwidth, and bandwidth is expensive. So in order for cloud computing to work, they need to generate some form of income. In other words, you are paying for storage.

Paying for storage that you could get locally for ridiculously less. I dislike subscription fees, and if those subscription fees are tied into my data, my personal data, then I see a problem. I'm all for internet storage, but cloud computing is all about making money, something that I have a problem with, partially because I am broke beyond fuck. And I don't want to spend my nonexistent money on a computer age con man.

I like my data, I like it on my computer. What's so wrong with internal data storage? I understand the idea of universal access to your information and files, but if there's a cost involved then I'm out. I'm not paying for a stupid and backwards new idea.

Okay, yeah, most cloud storage services have a free option. But most often this is more for enticing new customers and less for actual use. I'm totally fine with HDDs and SSDs over here, so I really don't care for them.

The whole idea seems somewhat... fishy.

Stupid Radio Commercials II

Books are great. I love books. I bought three today. They are great.

Radio is also enjoyable. I like radio, it entertains me. But they should not mix as they do.

I'm talking about radio commercials for books. I would have had a link there, but sadly Youtube does not seem to carry the star-studded commercials for I, ALEX CROSS BY JAMES PATTERSON series. I put that in caps because it's REALLY SERIOUS.

If my memory serves, the commercial goes something like this.

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"I, ALEX CROSS, VOW TO NOT LET YOU GET MY FAMILY"

"Alex Cross is back."

"I, ALEX CROSS, VOW TO HUNT YOU DOWN, UNTIL YOU ROT IN JAIL, OR THE GROUND"

"Alex Cross is very very angry."

"I, ALEX CROSS, AM VERY ANGRY"

"He is so angry."

"I, ALEX CROSS, WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN"

"Order the book now!"
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Now, one of the cool things about books is that when you read them, you can choose yourself how (not) annoying the characters are. But if you just give me an annoying commercial, my pre-excitement for I, ALEX CROSS, BY JAMES PATTERSON is somewhat dulled.

I'm sure the book is... good. Probably. Most books are. But these commercials are really annoying me. It's a book. It's not a crappy thriller movie. Can we draw a line there? Please?