It really isn't.

http://www.unitiv.com/it-solutions-b...-and-The-Cloud

This makes it sound like anyone who has a Citrix server (or any terminal server) is using "cloud"

Honestly, it is just a bullshit term.

Data or services stored and accessed online.

As far as I know it's an umbrella term and can have a lot of different definitions which mostly mean the same, a range different services which are available on the WAN known as the internet, they can be private, public , both and everything in between.

Amazon EC2 is a cloud service and so is Gmail.

Didn't really read the article did you. Stop calling BS on things that go over your head, it's getting boring.

In this instance I actually agree with EAG although it pains me to do so, it's kind of a bullshit catch all term.

All of the responses have merit which is why I officially hate the internet, on a side note I also hate 'apps'. It gives the impression that before 'apps' we just sat staring redundantly at our computers.

I'm pretty sure that's what I said?

I may have communicated it badly, but my point was that it's a term that covers various services. I was only arguing that it isn't just thin-client computing.

Ahh, it was probably me miss-reading your posts.

http://www.lolroflmao.com/wp-content...me-a-cloud.jpg

this ?

I'm with EaG on this one, this thread has proven it once again.

Semantics still, it's just non-local data storage/retrieval dressed up with lipstick.

That was never in doubt. Has anyone actually followed this thread?

The original point up for discussion was whether or not it is just thin-client computing. It isn't. It's mainly a combination of that and online offsite backup (and a few other things), as I have already mentioned a couple of pages ago. I, and others, have also acknowledged that it is just a new term for existing technologies.

I know this is going to come back on me, so I'll bullet point it:

person a) cloud computing is a new term for a single technology.
person b) no, it's a new term for several existing technologies.

Any service or data not stored or provided locally (i.e. on the client requesting the service/data).

Nah it won't, as amazingly enough I'm happy to accept other peoples point of view http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/wink1.gif

I'll pass on the bullet points though thanks...http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ies/laugh1.gif

The OP asked what it meant to you (the reader). Therefore, there is no right or wrong answer.

Whatever cloud is or means, there is only one cloud icon in the entire universe...

http://www.hanselman.com/blog/ThereI...eUniverse.aspx

that is pretty awesome