Cloud computing for the REST of us

By now, I am sure you have ALL heard the buzzword "Cloud computing," how it will revolutionize the way we work and play on the internet. I am also relatively safe in assuming that many of you have thrown the phrase into your presentations without complete knowledge of its full implications. Cloud computing really is the future.

So what is cloud computing? In a nutshell, it means that all the data that is currently on your work computer or personal laptop--is going to be migrated out to a server, so that you can access everything from any computer terminal. Some computer scientists speculate that sometime in the near future, the personal computer will be little more than a window into this cloud of pooled information.

Instead of idle banter around the water cooler about the companies' new Cloud integration plans--why not set yourself apart by actually demonstrating proficiency instead? If you would like to "get in" on Cloud computing--without parting with a goodly amount of cash, the EyeOS is a perfectly serviceable option.

EyeOS is an open source Linux distribution Cloud OS that resides in your browser. You log into it as if it were a computer. It possesses all the applications that one typically would expect to find in Linux. You can upload documents, download them, view, create and maintain documents. Also, the Eye has an internal messaging system, ftp options and an email client.

I personally use it as a semi secure place to store my resume, work history, files for my work, and other data. It was a life saver this past morning when my Alienware finally died... Stay tuned for the Alienware autopsy...

The EyeOS can be found at http://classic.my.eyeos.org/

I suggest you give a try--if anything, it will at least give you some hands on experience with real life Cloud computing... ;)