With the rise of online office suites such as Zoho and GoogleDocs, and even online operating systems such as eyeOS, it’s no surprise that more and more users are depending on the internet for most of their computing needs. This, of course, is cloud computing.

While many internet users are already using at least a minimum amount of online apps, others have pushed it to the limit, depending almost exclusively on web-based applications for both personal and business computing tasks. Those who mostly depend on cloud computing have good reasons to do so, mainly the following:

More accessible entry level equipment. With Asus ushering in the popularity of netbooks via their EEE Pc, and competing big brands offering their own models, we’re seeing the popularity of very inexpensive and lightweight laptops in the market. The specs of these netbooks (low RAM and low hard disk space) aren’t meant for large jobs such as 3D animation rendering, but they’re often enough for regular users who are comfortable with cloud computing.

Not dependent on the machine. Since the programs and files you need aren’t native to a particular computer or drive, you can access all your necessary information via any computer with an internet connection. Location independence has become a must-have for some users, especially for those who telecommute - which is why it’s no surprise that telecommuters and web workers were the first who adapted cloud computing into their working lives.

Despite these advantages, you shouldn’t jump on the cloud computing bandwagon completely. It has its own disadvantages which must be considered if they are going to affect your work.

Users are subject to terms and conditions. Online office suites and apps are great, but did you read the fine print on the terms and conditions when you signed up? Mike Gunderloy from WebWorkerDaily wrote an article about the different policies of GoogleDocs, Zoho, and Acrobat.com. In the article, he mentions some interesting points such as the lack of a backup guarantee and the fact that they can terminate your account whenever they see fit.

Dependent on internet connection. Internet connectivity isn’t completely stable and reliable - even in the US. For cloud computing to be completely accessible anywhere, we’ll probably need to wait a few more years for the internet service providers to step up to the plate. However, online app developers are aware that users can’t be online all the time, which is why some of them have developed ways to make their programs usable even offline (such as GoogleGears ). This is a good workaround, but not all online apps have this feature.

As a teleworker, I find myself depending on cloud computing more and more, but I’m trying to be as cautious as I can with it. But as long as I keep backups of my documents and make sure that non-sensitive data stays offline, I don’t worry so much about the disadvantages.

Is cloud computing something that you tend to do? If so, how has it changed your working style? If you’re not into cloud computing, what keeps you from doing it?