16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
16 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Bill gates Running Scared Because of Cloud Computing?

by Intrepreneur
12 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
    • |
An intersting read on the Motely Fool newsletter about Cloud Computing has got me thinking about the whole issue.

One line got me...

An IT consulting company calculated that for every dollar companies spend on Microsoft equipment it costs them $8 and all companies have thrown away trillions since computer networks have played a key role in thier infastructure. (huge selling point for cloud computing)

The Motley Fool now reckon Bill Gates is running scared. I know he'll be running towards investing in what lies ahead if it is to take off like they think it will while suffering the blow to his Microsoft business.

Has anyone else read the report?

Here's a snippet:

Yet, companies have had no choice but to run these obscenely expensive and highly inefficient networks.
But that's all about to change...
And that's precisely why the two words "cloud computing" scare the hell out of Bill Gates.
You see, he realizes that thanks to the thousands of miles of fiber-optic cable laid during the late 1990s, the speed of computer networks has finally caught up to the speed of computer processors.
As IT expert Nicholas Carr explains, "What the fiber-optic Internet does for computing is exactly what the alternating-current network did for electricity."
Suddenly, computers that were once incompatible and isolated are now linked in a giant network, or "cloud."
As a result, computing is fast becoming a utility in much the same way that electricity did...
"The next sea change is upon us." -- Bill Gates

Think back a few years -- any time you wanted to type a letter, create a spreadsheet, edit a photo, or play a game, you had to go to the store, buy the software, and install it on your computer.
But nowadays, if you want to look at pictures on Facebook... find directions on MapQuest... watch a video on YouTube... or sell furniture on Craigslist... all you really need is an Internet connection.
Because although these activities require you to use your PC, none of the content you are accessing or the applications you are running are actually stored on your computer -- instead they're stored at a giant data center somewhere in the "cloud."
And you don't give any of it a second thought... just like you don't think twice about where the electricity is coming from when you plug an appliance into the wall.
But cloud computing isn't going to be just a modern convenience -- it's going to be an enormous industry.
You see, everyone from individuals to multinational corporations can now simply tap into the "cloud" to get all the things they used to have to supply and maintain themselves. This will save some companies millions and make others billions.
More Here: http://www.techiezine.com/cloud-comp...unning-scared/
  • Profile picture of the author Lawrh
    If I only had 53 billion dollars I'd be scared too.
    Signature

    “Strategy without action is a day-dream; action without strategy is a nightmare.” – Old Japanese proverb -

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073615].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Do a google search for cloud computing,
      and check out the first sponsor link.
      Yep it's for Microsoft Cloud Services.

      Old Bill is real scared alright:rolleyes:
      Signature

      Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
      Getting old ain't for sissy's
      As you are I was, as I am you will be
      You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073633].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Intrepreneur
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        Do a google search for cloud computing,
        and check out the first sponsor link.
        Yep it's for Microsoft Cloud Services.

        Old Bill is real scared alright:rolleyes:
        Yes but he won't be the only Cloud Service provider unlike his Microsoft Corporation being the only provider of Microsoft Goods.
        Signature
        SEO, copywriting and backlinks service UK
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073728].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author myob
          The coming new MS Office 2010 Suite with its web apps is already on it.
          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073761].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author ThomM
          Originally Posted by Intrepreneur View Post

          Yes but he won't be the only Cloud Service provider unlike his Microsoft Corporation being the only provider of Microsoft Goods.
          Of course Microsoft provides Microsoft goods and they're the only provider.
          Just like Nokia is the only provider of Nokia goods and Yamaha is the only providers of Yamaha goods.

          And just like there are other companies that already compete against Microsoft with every product they have. Microsoft has always had competition. so this is really nothing for them to be concerned about at all.
          Signature

          Life: Nature's way of keeping meat fresh
          Getting old ain't for sissy's
          As you are I was, as I am you will be
          You can't fix stupid, but you can always out smart it.

          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073860].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Ken Strong
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        Do a google search for cloud computing,
        and check out the first sponsor link.
        Yep it's for Microsoft Cloud Services.

        Old Bill is real scared alright:rolleyes:
        Exactly... MS's whole fortune has been built on adapting and building on other people's ideas...

        Like DOS was built from an early version purchased from IBM, and Windows was [*ahem*] adapted from the early Mac... IE borrowed from Netscape and took over that niche for a while...etc etc.
        Signature
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073850].message }}
        • Profile picture of the author MikeAmbrosio
          Originally Posted by KenStrong View Post

          Exactly... MS's whole fortune has been built on adapting and building on other people's ideas...

          Like DOS was built from an early version purchased from IBM, and Windows was [*ahem*] adapted from the early Mac... IE borrowed from Netscape and took over that niche for a while...etc etc.
          As I recall, GUI interface was actually being further developed by (go figure) Xerox Corp. Steve Jobs was visiting their research center and liked what he saw so they GAVE it to him

          But actually, even Xerox didn't INVENT it. It goes back further:

          A History of the GUI

          MS isn't the only ones who borrow
          Signature

          Are you protecting your on line business? If you have a website, blog, ecommerce store you NEED to back it up regularly. Your webhost will only protect you so much. Check out Quirkel. Protect yourself.

          {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073878].message }}
          • Profile picture of the author Intrepreneur
            Originally Posted by MikeAmbrosio View Post


            MS isn't the only ones who borrow
            Or in Apple's case... steal.

            Nokia Ups Ante in Patent Squabbles with Apple over iPad 3G | GottaBeMobile
            Signature
            SEO, copywriting and backlinks service UK
            {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073926].message }}
            • Profile picture of the author myob
              In this business "stealing", or more correctly "industrial espionage" is going on all the time at very high levels, and is a whole industry in itself. Apple's iPhone is almost entirely composed of other company's inventions: Palm, Danger, Nokia, Xerox, and even Microsoft. And most of Apple iPhone models use Nokia’s technology for wireless data, speech coding, security and encryption. Reverse engineering may be a euphemism but no one is an angel.
              {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2074109].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Steve Ranger
    Bill Gates doesn't even run Microsoft anymore

    But, I know what you're saying. Things are changing! Nowadays most of my business is run 'in the cloud', or is it 'on the cloud'. All I need is my browser (and I love it this way!).

    You can be sure that Microsoft will adapt to keep up though

    One last thing, the online art and video creation stuff is TERRIBLE!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2073618].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Yet, companies have had no choice but to run these obscenely expensive and highly inefficient networks.
    The cloud is a representation of a network! NO NETWORK, NO CLOUD, NO CLOUD COMPUTING!

    And that's precisely why the two words "cloud computing" scare the hell out of Bill Gates.
    You see, he realizes that thanks to the thousands of miles of fiber-optic cable laid during the late 1990s, the speed of computer networks has finally caught up to the speed of computer processors.
    You have that SIDEWAYS! It is REALLY that NOW that M/S software is doing so many crazy things, the speed of computers has slowed down to what it was in the 1990s. The FACT is that, likewise, networks transfer FAR more yet their capcity is FINITE and must be done PUBLICALLY! This means that networks will only get SLOWER before they are upgraded.

    As IT expert Nicholas Carr explains, "What the fiber-optic Internet does for computing is exactly what the alternating-current network did for electricity."
    A/C was introduced SOON after electricity, and made it viable. It changed from a novelty that probably couldn't catch on to something sellable. By the time fiber optic came out, it was NEEDED.


    Suddenly, computers that were once incompatible and isolated are now linked in a giant network, or "cloud."
    Wait a second, WHEN was that article written? I mean "ONCE" incompatible? So we aren't talking about all the linux/microsoft/apple computers that HAVE had methods to make parts compatible anyway?

    Think back a few years -- any time you wanted to type a letter, create a spreadsheet, edit a photo, or play a game, you had to go to the store, buy the software, and install it on your computer.
    But nowadays, if you want to look at pictures on Facebook... find directions on MapQuest... watch a video on YouTube... or sell furniture on Craigslist... all you really need is an Internet connection.
    Well, I don't use facebook, and MANY no longer trust it. Mapquest is a mapping program that I haven't purchased for my computer, and is good for a common database, like the internet. Craiglist? Now THAT is just silly! I mean WHO will call up BILLIONS of computers to advertise? Who would place an add for who knows how much? ESPECIALLY when you can put it on ONE internet site for free.

    And WHICH of those sites edits documents or shows spreadsheets? And what site *****ON THE ENTIRE INTERNET***** does those for free and priavtely, let alone faster?

    And WHERE do YOU buy your software? I am using the same editor I have used for YEARS. I only install it on each computer. AND, AGAIN, the document is BACKWARDS!!!!!!!! If you have an editor on your computer, you install it ONCE! If you have it on the internet, you may have to "install it" TRILLIONS of times! WHY!?!? If you have a document you saved from elsewhere, you must DOWNLOAD it. If you have graphics, you must DOWNLOAD them. If you want to print or save elsewhere, you must DOWNLOAD! And will we TRUST them? BTW browsers don't yet support vectors, so the downloads and drawing must be by PIXEL. Using ANY other method requires methods that may not be cross platform compatible.

    and what if you need special pupose stuff?

    Because although these activities require you to use your PC, none of the content you are accessing or the applications you are running are actually stored on your computer -- instead they're stored at a giant data center somewhere in the "cloud."
    And you don't give any of it a second thought... just like you don't think twice about where the electricity is coming from when you plug an appliance into the wall.
    But cloud computing isn't going to be just a modern convenience -- it's going to be an enormous industry.
    AGAIN, LESS SECURE, etc.... As for thinking about where electricity comes from, electricity is electricity. It is ENERGY! It describes it just about 100%. DATA is NOT DATA! DATA means INFORMATION! Data doesn't begin to describe it. If you steal an hours electricity from me, it is an hours electricity. No big deal. But an hours data? THAT could bankrupt a company, make a company rich, put people in jail, who knows?

    You see, everyone from individuals to multinational corporations can now simply tap into the "cloud" to get all the things they used to have to supply and maintain themselves. This will save some companies millions and make others billions.
    They could do the same 30+ years ago!

    A friend of mine actually asked me to setup a system to replace a "cloud" system I am using. WHY? He is afraid of the security, etc....

    Steve
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2074950].message }}

Trending Topics