What actually is cloud computing?

Ive heard about this term a lot lately, , , i have searched google but the info available in it sounds quite technical. . .can someone please xplain to me in what do we mean by cloud computing? ? ?



PS: by refering to info as technical info i mean TOO MUCH TECHNICAL, i am a student of freshman year computer science so i can understand some technical terms ;)What actually is cloud computing?
Well, to put it simply, its the idea of not having stuff on your hard drive. It makes it where your files are stored on servers somewhere out there in the net (or "cloud") and your programs are also stored on the internet, all that is on your computer is a portal to access the programs and files. you install a small bit of info as a program, but when you open it everything (including the actual program files its self) are being run from a server on the cloud. Its kind of like using outlook connected to an exchange server, you have outlook or a "portal" to access all your info. its a small piece of software on your computer but everything (emails, files, calender, tasks) are all on the server (now, yes there is a file on your computer but thats for cache mode). Thats a very basic way to explain it, but it puts it into prespective. To be honest, as an IT person, i dont like it. No internet, no files or software unless its backed up on your computer...then it kind makes it not worth while; but then again im a person that hates people using LIVE for email instead of exchange server.
Cloud computing providers deliver applications via the internet, which are accessed from web browsers and desktop and mobile apps, while the business software and data are stored on servers at a remote location. In some cases, legacy applications (line of business applications that until now have been prevalent in thin client Windows computing) are delivered via a screen-sharing technology, while the computing resources are consolidated at a remote data center location; in other cases, entire business applications have been coded using web-based technologies such as AJAX.



i.e browsing maps on google



(you)--%26gt;-internet--%26gt;%26lt;-{google cloud/application/maps/mail/chating etc}



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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_compu鈥?/a>What actually is cloud computing?
Let us simplify this with a simple example: Gmail is a cloud service. Having said that, this doesn't mean that any service hosted on the web is a cloud service. Cloud Computing Services "must have" following 5 attributes:



---available everywhere i.e. uses Internet technologies, hassle-free, in most cases no installations/downloads etc.

---available on demand i.e. metered like your electric bills.

---can be accessed on any device i.e. device independent.

---Resource Sharing i.e Multi-Tenant (ability of the software to be offered to multiple users),

---Scalable %26amp; Elastic i.e. capacity can be sized up or sized down with in minutes, based on demand. Your business is growing you spin up more servers %26amp; pay only for whatever you use. Come recession %26amp; if your business is shrinking use less number of servers %26amp; pay less. This is as simple %26amp; quick as a simple configuration/settings. (No need to buy infrastructure which may lie idle/unproductive once your business doesn't require them)



A common user will use Cloud SaaS (Gmail, Dropbox etc). Developers %26amp; techies use Cloud IaaS (hosting infrastructure) %26amp; PaaS (development environment).
I think the easiest way to describe it is to compare it to streaming videos versus having to use a DVD and a player . Your programs and storage would be accessed online. I don't think that you would even need a hard drive. You could use any computer to work as if it were your computer.

It would allow for some very light and thin laptops, because they wouldn't need the normal amount of components. Also, I would think it would allow for longer warranties, because of the lack of moving parts.What actually is cloud computing?
I believe Cloud is used to refer to Internet based servers where data is stored and programs are run. The concept allows you to log in from almost any Internet connected PC with the appropriate software installed - this is sometimes just an Internet browser. You do not store your data locally (unless you want to keep a local copy). For me, the big problem is that when your PC cannot reach the Cloud, you cannot access your stuff.
The Cloud (a collection of Server Farms) means that - eventually - we will not need a hard drive to store programs, applications and personal files and information. Computers will become cheap as chips.

The downside is the ghouls who own the Cloud - will own you.

Creepy...
Isn't it just another rewamped word for server?

From the features I have seen, it is nothing but a server like any other, just with a fancy name that works well with your phone.
The cloud is like a big online data base that can store your movies,music and ect.