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Only the cloud can scale

The future is shared infrastructure. The future is the cloud. Not because it is trendy but because only the cloud can scale.

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So for you, the only future

So for you, the only future for us is to strike 40 years back in the mainframe world where only happy few HAVE computers and the rest of us are slaved to beg for computing resources?

So Skype success in a (quasi) center less design is just a dying cygnus singing the end of a person's owned computers?

Thanks for this post, I'll return back my lonely cavern self lamenting about this fantastic linguistic acrobacy.

For me, "clouds" are in the sky. In the internet/interweb are just computers big or small but always ONE's, be it Google's, Microsoft's, Amazon's, yours or mine.

Centralizers did not succeed with "the network is the computer" motto but seemed to be more successfull with the weather metaphor.

Let's see when/if it'll rain.
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"However, it is becoming

"However, it is becoming apparent that in order for a modern web application to go mainstream, massive infrastructure is needed."

Perhaps that's the difference. We may need some mainstream apps, but diversity means that our real gems are still hacked together in the corner by a group of like minded individuals.
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Anonymous, Yes indeed. Real

Anonymous,
Yes indeed. Real gems do indeed get hacked together in corners and I don't see that changing.

What I do see changing is that high traffic, mainstream nodes on the net will need serious infrastructure and it will be more economical to rent it as a managed service, rather than run it yourself.

regards,
Sean
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I agree with you, Sean.

I agree with you, Sean. Furthermore, I would go on to say that managing traffic to web sites is hardly the only driver. The cloud also provides the ability for individuals and small orgs to leverage enormous amounts of computing space and power for the purpose processing massive amounts of data in a cost-effective way. (See also, Chris Anderson's article in Wired 16.07) But, I'm not sure drawing comparisons with aviation are constructive. We in the United States certainly do not want to create a future that resembles our present state of aviation! :^)
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Julien, You are right about

Julien,

You are right about Skype and other P2P networks. I missed that one. Thanks.

I am thinking primarily of the classic multi-tiered web app with front ends, mid-tiers and back-ends.

I should have been more explicit in my use of the term "scale". When I use it I am referring to not just the technical/theoretical aspects but also the economic aspects.

The way I see it, a classic web app that becomes a serious traffic node on the Web needs a lot of OS instances, a scalable repository, geographic replication etc. etc. Sure you could put all that in place yourself and manage it all yourself but would your business model stack up? That is the nub of it for me.

The cloud is a rental, pay-as-you go model.With so many of the business models on the web being based around eye-balls and advertising I have difficulty seeing how new enterprises will be able to make a profit if they own and operate all their own infrastructure rather than rent a managed service.

regards,
Sean
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Sean, A small typo

Sean,

A small typo correction for you:
The Australian Air carrier is..
Quantas -- QANTAS

Queensland
And
Northern
Territory
Aerial
Services

Qantas

Cheers from down under,

Matt.
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All set. Thanks for the

All set. Thanks for the head's up!
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