Comments on: There is so much more to “the cloud” than people get!?! http://www.derrekcooper.com/2010/03/there-is-so-much-more-to-the-cloud-than-people-get/ Life Experiences in the Virtual Engineering World Sat, 10 Jul 2010 13:46:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Kenneth http://www.derrekcooper.com/2010/03/there-is-so-much-more-to-the-cloud-than-people-get/comment-page-1/#comment-231 Kenneth Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:21:13 +0000 http://www.derrekcooper.com/?p=650#comment-231 Some of the most volatile reactions against the cloud-computing model previewed at SolidWorks World 2010 are just premature, in my view. "Cloud computing" is too broad a term, encompassing everything from simple Web mails (which most of us have been using without any qualms) to global networks managed by the likes of IBM and Cisco. I frankly don't see how one can condemn a cloud application without knowing the specifics. The notion that SolidWorks will "force" its users to either use SolidWorks from a browser or don't use it at all is rather extreme--in fact, too extreme and impractical as an official policy for SolidWorks--or any CAD vendor, for that matter--to adopt. At the present, I'm not even sure even SolidWorks R&D is clear about how its cloud-computing product will look like. So all the hysteria about how SolidWorks on cloud will be rejected by its loyal users and how it will doom the company is rather like shouting at shadows and (dare I say it?) clouds. Some of the most volatile reactions against the cloud-computing model previewed at SolidWorks World 2010 are just premature, in my view. “Cloud computing” is too broad a term, encompassing everything from simple Web mails (which most of us have been using without any qualms) to global networks managed by the likes of IBM and Cisco. I frankly don’t see how one can condemn a cloud application without knowing the specifics.

The notion that SolidWorks will “force” its users to either use SolidWorks from a browser or don’t use it at all is rather extreme–in fact, too extreme and impractical as an official policy for SolidWorks–or any CAD vendor, for that matter–to adopt. At the present, I’m not even sure even SolidWorks R&D is clear about how its cloud-computing product will look like.

So all the hysteria about how SolidWorks on cloud will be rejected by its loyal users and how it will doom the company is rather like shouting at shadows and (dare I say it?) clouds.

]]> By: Mark Burhop http://www.derrekcooper.com/2010/03/there-is-so-much-more-to-the-cloud-than-people-get/comment-page-1/#comment-223 Mark Burhop Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:55:48 +0000 http://www.derrekcooper.com/?p=650#comment-223 Derrek, Jeff, The "engineers are late adopters" isn't quite accurate from data I've seen. Engineers are actually very middle of the road and inline with the general population. Still, like jeff said, this is a bit surprising. As a group, engineers are smart and good with technology so this is not a barrier like it would be for many people. If I was to guess, I'd say engineeers (as a group) simply want more information before advancing. Derrek, Jeff,

The “engineers are late adopters” isn’t quite accurate from data I’ve seen. Engineers are actually very middle of the road and inline with the general population.

Still, like jeff said, this is a bit surprising. As a group, engineers are smart and good with technology so this is not a barrier like it would be for many people. If I was to guess, I’d say engineeers (as a group) simply want more information before advancing.

]]> By: Jeff Waters http://www.derrekcooper.com/2010/03/there-is-so-much-more-to-the-cloud-than-people-get/comment-page-1/#comment-222 Jeff Waters Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:06:31 +0000 http://www.derrekcooper.com/?p=650#comment-222 Right on brother. I was a little surprised at the 'engineers are late adopters" and "the cloud is an evil plot to fleece the customer" arguments. While the 1st might be true, the cloud ain't all that new or novel in other parts of our lives, so why should it be so shocking at work? The 2nd argument is just bunk. Truth is, any company can price their product any way they want, regardless of delivery mechanism. If you keep all customer data in SalesForce.com, is it a pain in the ass to transition to Netsuite or ZohoCRM? Sure. Is it doable? Sure. In terms of companies trying to artificially lock you into their products by locking down your data either with proprietary formats or file permissions... uhh, you have to question if a company like that will even be around in 5 years in the great big "open, collaborative" business world we live in today. Right on brother. I was a little surprised at the ‘engineers are late adopters” and “the cloud is an evil plot to fleece the customer” arguments.

While the 1st might be true, the cloud ain’t all that new or novel in other parts of our lives, so why should it be so shocking at work?

The 2nd argument is just bunk. Truth is, any company can price their product any way they want, regardless of delivery mechanism. If you keep all customer data in SalesForce.com, is it a pain in the ass to transition to Netsuite or ZohoCRM? Sure. Is it doable? Sure. In terms of companies trying to artificially lock you into their products by locking down your data either with proprietary formats or file permissions… uhh, you have to question if a company like that will even be around in 5 years in the great big “open, collaborative” business world we live in today.

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