On Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 3:37 PM, Tony B <ton...@gmail.com> wrote: > > Word definitions change, but generally "the cloud" refers to a bunch > of computers connected via network where your data is kept. It also > implies that there's no way of finding a specific copy of your data on > one hard drive; you really don't know where it is. >
While I agree that definitions may change, I'm not entirely sure where you get this particular definition from or why it is particularly "cloudlike". My understanding of both the usage and origin of the term stems from old system diagrams (usually done on powerpoint) where one would see lines connecting local workstations, local servers, etc, and one line going out to this big cloud labeled "The Internet" (with capital letters). If you were making the point that there was a remote server, you'd put that server on the other side of "the Internet cloud". Originally this was radical and novel... now its commonplace enough that we omit the thought that theres something or something specific out there - we don't really care where or how its stored. It could be on a single server or not. The important part is that its "out there" and we don't care how or where. ************************************************************************* ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *************************************************************************
