![\"user-pic\"](\"/css/images/default.gif\")
If I want to share something with other people, or access it remotely, then I'm willing to use this \"cloud\" crap for simplicity.
In pretty much all other cases, I'd rather use a desktop app. They generally offer a better user experience.
If I want to share something with other people, or access it remotely, then I'm willing to use this \"cloud\" crap for simplicity.
In pretty much all other cases, I'd rather use a desktop app. They generally offer a better user experience.
When the FBI finally starts pounding on my door, I'll barely have time to trash my desktop computer, much less delete all my stuff online.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-111512-100x100.png\")
That's the problem with thermite - always so hard to get lit.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1314487-100x100.png\")
This should be in the poll
If I can still back up everything to a local location, then the cloud seems fine to me. Considering what Google's OS is, though, I don't think that's what they have in mind.
Cloud computing seems like a solution in search of a problem.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1226904-100x100.png\")
Well, Gmail solved a lot of problems using the cloud, so if everyone else in the cloud is looking for problems, hurray for them.
What was the problem there? Email worked just fine before Gmail.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-363287-100x100.png\")
Ever support a bunch of people using Outlook, then move them to gmail? That's what sold me.
True, it has certain cloudy things that scare people at first, and there are some disadvantages, but once you start it's tough to see going back. Like lots of recent tech it wins because it's good enough in some ways and incredibly better in others.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-2287-100x100.png\")
When asked an either-or question, yes is often the best answer.
Some data and good deal of crunching will be done in the cloud.
A lot of data and computing will also be done on locally controlled device.
for storage and backup, redundancy is always best.
The security of that storage is another matter altogether.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-471804-100x100.png\")
When my internet connection goes down, or my company blocks the latest \"web-based storage\" site, I'd still like access to my data.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1523237-100x100.png\")
Or if the horrible ACTA goes through and someone gets 3-striked from the internet, and lose all their online family photos and such?
Indeed!
This...
Cant pirate a cloud.
Can't decide if I need a bucket or a net...
Really? We're moving backwards people. They call it the cloud now, 15 years ago they called it a mainframe and dumb terminals. Also, who do you think owns the cloud? Not you. I know I own this PC because it's in my possession. I can disconnect it from the network and use it issue free for years. The cloud, on the other hand, isn't yours. They can delete programs, music, movies, etc anytime they want. Nope, I'm good. I'll keep my little bit of 'freedom' while I can.
The other reason companies love this idea is because they can make more money off you. At home I use Office 2000. I use Quicken 2004. Why don't I have the latest versions? I don't need them.
If you are in the cloud you are also at the whim of subscription fees to even use the apps. I don't want to spend x dollars a year to use a product when I could buy it on my desktop once and use it for 10 years. If they want me to upgrade they need to give me a compelling reason to, not just because they say I should.
Yes, because by all means, one should never take adequate precautions.
What's this either/or nonsense? They're all tools. Email, spreadsheets, online or local. Whatever best does the job for current needs. Outlook yesterday, cloud today, maybe back to Pine tomorrow. But no matter what, back it up at least once. Put your trust in any single repository and sooner or later you'll regret it.
...and this.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-510613-100x100.png\")
I'm into gaming. No thanks. I'll keep my desktop.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1224199-100x100.png\")
This, as well as the data security/storage concerns.
My thoughts exactly. I certainly cannot play my World of Warcraft without my trusty PC.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1528476-100x100.png\")
I don't trust it. Privacy of personal data is not to be guaranteed over the internet. Uploading data through the public internet is a void of your privacy. With privacy scaling downwards as more and more data is put onto the internet, this only makes me worry.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1525304-100x100.png\")
I am not always connected to the internet, such as when I travel, so what would I do if everything is online? I guess I couldn't do anything. Right now I have been using the google cloud software to act as a back-up of the files I am working on. I also have used that when at other people's computers and wanted to show them something. I would be surprised if our IT department at work would allow us to keep confidential material online instead of on our servers. After all, we don't have wi-fi at work because of security reasons.
but in the future, 24/7 wifi access will be available to all, and as freely available as unicorn poop.
Oh, and we'll have jetpacks, too.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1530273-100x100.png\")
Storage capacity is cheap. Memory is cheap. Processors are cheap.
I have a RAID 5 server for storage for the home network. I have a RAID 5 server to back up the main RAID 5 server. Both are small, and currently set up with 4x1tB drives for 3tB of storage.
Pro Tools, Photoshop and Final Cut via cloud? Not feasible. Not unless we all get a lot more speed and bandwidth in our connections and unlimited data access.
I use Google Docs and Calendar for some stuff I share with my wife, and Yahoo Mail makes life easy. But for heavy lifting with big Office documents, give me Microsoft, warts and all.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1020806-100x100.png\")
This.
While my work is internet-based, the idea of NOT working on a desktop to do my work ( photoshop, quickbooks et al.) is simply unfathomable to me.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-91201-100x100.png\")
No. I like control and customization.
I think this is one of those things that corps will unanimously force down people's throats (cause its all good for them) until we have to accept it.
I'm detecting bias in the phrasing of the poll questions. Bad statistical methodology, guys...
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-335454-100x100.png\")
** This poll sponsored by Google, Microsoft and/or Apple. Mmmm, lap up that cloudy goodness.
Considering how many 'secure' servers have been hacked, I guess I was alone in detecting the irony in that particular answer?
Nope, you weren't alone :)
Bad? Yes. Typical? Indeed.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-404607-100x100.png\")
Nah. You are relying on someone elses servers to store your data and software. I want to at least have it all local
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-321187-100x100.png\")
You forgot \"Have you stopped beating your wife?\" which would be the least biased question in the poll.
Wow. What a BS poll! Skew questions much? How about this:
No way, I don't trust strangers at a large corporation to keep my data safe and private. I'd much rather use the RAID array on my home server, with periodic backups to a second medium.
Scott McNealy (former CEO of Sun Microsystems) was making the same claim 15+ years ago when he said, \"The network is the computer.\" This has partially come to pass, but not on the level he envisioned. Here's another famous quote that I find more true: If you want something done right, you've got to do it yourself. Those who are serious about keeping their data safe make the effort to handle their own backups and furnish their own storage.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-8966-100x100.png\")
Good point. Who's to say a company offering cloud services won't go bankrupt? What happens then to your information? Remember when Wal-Mart decided to get out of the market of selling music online and went to close down their computers that handled the DRM? A whole bunch of honest customers were S.O.L.
The cloud is a good place for backup. Gmail is great for that if your backup needs are lite. But it's not the place for 24/7, hard core business.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-13251-100x100.png\")
Virtual/cloud is just the new buzz. We use a virtual environment here and it sucks. Crashes all the time, apps freeze up (more so than on a 'real' computer) AND as a bonus if one of the encrypted virtual files breaks you lose all of your data and it can't be recovered.
New technology ideas: Making it harder for you to do your work.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-187864-100x100.png\")
And while it's down everyone is stuck with paper variations, which will have to be entered once the system is back up, thus making more work after a period of slow (if any) work.
I'll use the cloud if they can solve these three problems:
1) Having local access to my data (reverse Mozy?).
2) Security- it needs to be heavily encrypted and only I have the key.
3) Persistance- There needs to be more reliable access. Cable/DSL companies are too unreliable and too provincal. I don't want them blocking an app because they don't like it, or it competes with one of their offerings. Net Neutrality would help this.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1531305-100x100.png\")
It's probably ok for the \"average user\", but not for business use. There is too much customization and program integration that happens in a business environment.
I'd work in a cloud: My own. Until I have my own server rack, I'm not going there. I'm certainly not going to use Google's cloud.
Pretending that the cloud will be everything to everyone is just as asinine as pretending that it's no good for anything to anyone.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-6798-100x100.png\")
I look at clouds from both sides now.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-161466-100x100.png\")
Why is this framed as an either/or proposition?
I use my desktop PC for *everything*. I use my smart phone for checking status or for directions.
As for using desktop applications on a thin client, I spend most of my time on my computer editing photos and videos, or playing games (mainly ones that demand enthusiast hardware). So...I guess I'm not Google's customer.
Right now, if a company goofs up and loses my data their response is \"sorry but there is nothing we can do and we are not responsible in any way\". This is the story even if their system crashed because of years of irresponsible system management and purchasing the cheapest gear and hiring the lowest paid employees. We see case after case of companies deciding to take the cheap route and burning customers and then treating the customers like it was their fault. With this, why would we ever trust companies to take care of our data?
That is not even considering all kinds of data gathering/snooping these companies and their employees will be able to do. Imagine the record companies striking deals with Google to search thru the \"cloud\" to find what they deem to be illegally downloaded songs. Imagine law enforcement wanting to snoop with the idea of discovering if someone is committing a crime but ignoring the rights of the people. Imagine all of the marketing people out there drooling at the thought of a super database full of trends for them to analyze and fill their spam lists. Imagine the hackers whose life goal will become piercing the \"cloud\".
There are too many possible ways here for a consumer to be wronged.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1524268-100x100.png\")
That guy is a moron. Desktops will always be around. Laptops have weak performance and small screens (and cost 2x more than a desktop with no upgrade abilities). People aren't going to trust sensitive information in 'the cloud'. Just look at what happens when non-essential services like Twitter and Blackberries go down. Everyone freaks out for a day. Now imagine that, but with medical information, credit information, etc.
Hmmmm....storing my personal data on someone else's property....Let me count the issues:
#1 - My ISP goes down/cuts me off/makes a mistake.....can't access data
#2 - Need to work offline for any reason (traveling, no access, etc...)...can't access data
#3 - Massive amounts of my personal data is being transmitted electronically on a regular basis. There is an administration or programming oversight and oops! my data has been hacked!
#4 - Security hole in the storage company software...data hacked
#5 - Disgruntled/lazy/unethical employee at the storage company...data hacked
#6 - Somebody forgets to back up the data and there's a system outage. \"So sorry we lost your data, here's 1 free month of storage to make up for it\"
#7 - Data storage company outsources the server farm to someone else who \"promises\" that the data will be secure. Security breach or data loss results in finger-pointing, blame shifting and customer shafting.
#8 - Data storage company doesn't get my payment, doesn't tell me....data is purged
#9 - Data storage company makes a mistake on my account (e.g. thinks I'm someone else) purges data
You know what? No thanks. There are just too many variables and room for human error (and lots of humans involved). At least if I lose my data now, I have only myself to blame.
I agree with your concerns, but most can be addressed:
1) Data is encrypted before it hits cloud (which would require a semi-smart terminal- perhaps just netbook smart). Only I have the key.
2) The ability to download my data locally.
The one I'm still having trouble with is persistent access to applications and data. Telecoms are just still too unreliable.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-320606-100x100.png\")
To hell with that! I like having control over my applications, programs, and the information there in.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-27374-100x100.png\")
Considering PSN was inaccessible an entire day for many PS3 owners, and the solution was \"just wait until tomorrow\", I don't think storing all your information on a server that can be inaccessible at any time for any reason is such a great idea.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1512440-100x100.png\")
I understand that with hard drives it is not \"will it fail\" but \"WHEN will it fail,\" which is why I've employed multiple backups since 1991 on all my main drives.
I still trust my personal information to my personal drives, especially considering the tremendous difference in access speeds and security.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-317705-100x100.png\")
How is Comcast supposed to make money off of tiered bandwidth if you people refuse to backup your 100's of gigs of media to the cloud?
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1524310-100x100.png\")
I prefer to have control over my own data.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1163402-100x100.png\")
I love how you stacked the answers to get certain results and STILL 47% don't have much interest in switching.
Oh well, I know it's just a fun survey and FUN WAS HAD! :)
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1236928-100x100.png\")
Trust the cloud, I do not. Example: T-Mobile Sidekick debacle, October 2009.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-762676-100x100.png\")
Put this choice on there and then I'll vote:
\"I'm not stupid enough to fail to see through the cloud...nor am I moronic enough to mismanage my own data locally.\"
...if you really want to know, although it might hurt your head, a 1Tb hard drive costs $80 or so. Buy an extra one and put it in your PC and make it a RAID 1 array.
Fixed.
80 effing dollars people. And/or a backup device.
Yea. Like Google and the rest of them haven't had issues with losing your data or locking you out or having your account hacked.
About 3 years ago some guys lost their gmail and then their blogs when a hacker made a script that ran in Firefox. Seemed if you had your gmail tab open at the time and another tab viewed an advertisement with the malaware impeded, your account information was up for grabs. Firefox fixed the issue quickly, but still...I don't trust all of my life in a cloud.
With all kinds of people concerned about their (illusion of) \"privacy\", why would you put all your data in the \"cloud\".
Well let's see, we gave up owning music we listen to in favor of \"subscribing to it\". [itunes, pandora, slacker, etc]
We're giving up having copies of movies around in favor of...\"subscribing to it\" [netflix, blockbuster, hulu]
We're giving up having ownership of the printed word [kindles, nooks, blogs]
We've given up having money in our pockets [paypal, visa/mastercard, banking online]
So hey, why not just give up our own content and let someone else store it 'for free', until they want to index it and use it to market to us, and have that first big data breach where it's either deleted or stolen and exploited.
We're moving towards putting the whole of knowledge into the hands of a dozen or so business entities, none of which have shown they can be trusted, and in many cases have proven we'd be foolish to do so.
Someday there'll be a global power failure and civilization will vanish.
It is just me, or is option 2 rather unbalanced. I mean \"crash-prone, guaranteed to die\" vs \"secure , redundant\". Any thoughts?
No. No thoughts were used in the construction of those poll options. Or by anyone who participated in that poll.
So when will the 'cloud' be offering me Premiere Pro, After Effects, Wavelab, and ProTools? And someone will need to get AutoCAD up and running for my wife - as an Interior Designer she would be rather lost with out it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1524553-100x100.png\")
Ka-Ching!! Another way to suck $ out of my bank account. Flash and HD storage is so cheap these days, and there are so many portable devices, why would I want to store all my data somewhere I can't access if my internet connection goes out? I live in the most earthquake-prone area of the country, and we also have several active volcanoes nearby, and killer winters with high winds and heavy snow. The last thing I need is to have the few communication links between Alaska and the rest of the world fail, leaving me with no access to any financial or work-related info. I've got a generator and also solar- and dynamo-powered device chargers, and I have copies of important stuff on several devices. Thanks anyway, cloud computing pushers -- I'm doing just fine without you!
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-43191-100x100.png\")
I would, but my internet connection at home isn't what you call, dependable. Its always going down at the most inopportune moments. We called the ISP, but they couldn't pinpoint the problem, and whenever it does go down, I can't seem to find a clear reason why.
Some data: like email, office documents, and pictures is OK to send them off to a cloud, but video and large amounts of music will see a problem unless everywhere has atleast 5mbps up and down.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-222420-100x100.png\")
Oh, you must be using xfinity/Comcast
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1528903-100x100.png\")
I do love how, despite the bias language, the \"Yes\" option is losing miserably. Go team.
With Google and Facebook's constant privacy issues, I'll be happy to diversify my data on other devices I actually own and control for a long time in the future, thanks. Besides, like others have said, I hate being SOL when the internet is slow or down in my area or I dare *gasp* TRAVEL somewhere with expensive a la carte internet.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1529988-100x100.png\")
When he says \"everyone will work on mobile devices,\" does he mean cell phones? I can't see those tiny screens, and I can't type on those itty bitty keys. We just got new computers at work with 27\" screens. Everyone loves them! I'm not giving up my PC.
25-30 years ago the head of Sun Computers said that the only reason we need computers is because Bill Gates says we do. He was trying to get people to store there info on his computers way back then.
Google is way too liberal for me, and they are already using people's information in ways I don't like. How many names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers do they sell to spammers and junk mailers? They make most of their money through advertising.
They don't like the military. They didn't decorate their name for Veteran's Day like they do the other holidays until the conservative blogs wrote about it. They also took pictures on a military base for Google Earth's Street View until they were caught and thrown off the base. Imagine our enemies being able to see the roads, buildings, windows, doors, and other things so they can plan an attack. After that incident I don't trust them.
I also like getting my info when I want it even if I can't connect to the Internet.
Not even getting into security/pricacy issues, I need better internet access than Comcast (ahem, Xfinity) gives me. I have problems streaming videos on hulu if my roommates are doing something similar at the same time. The idea of having everything online... maybe someday, but I won't be on board with things as they are. Apps can be useful, but so far I've seen no pressing need for any of it, let alone a desire to abandon everything else. I move to newer tech stuff based on need for different or better functionality. I rarely change over just cuz there's a newer option, I see that like buying a new car every year when a new model comes out. From a financial and over-all practical standpoint, it's absurd to do so. I'll wait and see where the future of consumer tech really goes. I know there's gotta be pack leaders, but I guess in this area, I'm just not one of them.
I have been hearing this idea since the mid 90's. It used to be called \"thin client\", now it's called the cloud. Billions have been spent on this concept and it has gone nowhere. It's the wet dream of all the software companies and it's not going to happen.
During Snowpocalypse 2010, our power was out. Luckily I had a few hours of battery life left. If all my shit were in the cloud, I woulda been SOL since my cable modem ironically requires power to function. I was, however, able to use all the data and programs on my hard drive to browse or work on in the meantime.
No thanks, cloud.
I use carbonite (not the freezing kind) to do a main backup on our macs, also I use Apples time machine on an external hard drive as well as a straight bit for bit clone of our hard drives on to a separate hard drive and lastly I make a separate DVD back up of our music, photos & important documents.
Paranoid? yes, yes I am and it serves me very well.
I use a combination of the cloud, home and sneaker net to backup my files because I don't trust any ONE solution!
The Idea is old and still sucks.
And seriously, That poll is biased to say the least.
i would like to see someone crunching numbers on an excel spreadsheet using their blackberry or iphone.
packet capturing time!!!!
Cloud computing is such a waste of time. Maybe it will serve some people well, but I will never let random companies who have proven to not be willing or able to keep my information safe have said information in their grubby little clutches.
Besides, what are you supposed to do when you don't have Internet?
It's not just a data issue, it's also a software issue. If you buy the software you will always have it available for use at no additional cost. If you use a service then the software exists at their whim, at whatever subscription price they want to charge.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-243547-100x100.png\")
Raid 5 NAS on the home network keeps things nice, safe and secure. And I love the web, and even cloud computing, but I'm not ready to give it all up. There are things that just don't work well over the web yet.
The cloud is an interesting euphemism for a server farm. Server farms have problems. There is still a single point of failure, not matter what anyone says: your ISP. Yes, all that has to happen is to lose your ISP and poof! No more access to your apps and data until they fix it. And if your ISP happens to be xfinity/Comcast.. give up. You’ll be offline a lot.
Yes, this reminds me of when we had timeshare terminals. Going backwards much? Our PDP-8 used to go down all the time, causing not just one terminal to go off-line, but the whole node! So the cloud is better because…?
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1527840-100x100.png\")
Back in 1994, I was some how convinced by my Father-in-law to join Amway. At one of their meetings/rallies they tried to convince me and several thousand others that in the very near future that shopping malls and department stores would be obsolete. Well, I'm pretty sure that prediction was about as likely as this one. This is just hopeful marketing.
I trust \"Microsoft, Google and Apple's redundant, secure servers\" about as much as I trust my \"crash-prone, guaranteed-to-die hard drive\". It's not the cloud I dont trust. I don't trust the companies who plan to run it.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-7550-100x100.png\")
Nope. I do use a mix of both, but until the convenience and availability of being online is persistent all the time, this can never replace a desktop. I'm here right now, online at home, but at work, Google services get blocked. Granted, some people can access it, so it might work for them, but not me.
Or mixed use, I can't access Google at work, my GF can, what's the point of sharing docs between us? It's easier to email it to me and open it in MS word.
Cloud computing will replace desktops, but it won't happen in the US. We can't even get the telcos to provide 100% coverage of high speed internet throughout the US, so you can't get me to believe we're going to go entirely digital and entirely online for all business.
I've worked with companies that barely have fax machines and functional dialup AOL accounts.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1524254-100x100.png\")
I fear this may go the way of cable company pricing. Will applications be grouped like they are on cable channels? will I have to pay for \"oxygen, disney, & the wart growing channel\" so I can watch Sci-fi and Discover?.
Will I still have a choice?
the bottom line with cloud computing, is that it takes control out of your hands, and puts it into the hands of cloud providers.
The biggest thing here I would say is, what can they provide, that I can't already provide myself?
spending 50 bucks on an extra hard drive sounds a lot better to me, than spending a monthly fee so that I can access the same data on someone elses drives, in case I were to lose my data.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-157999-100x100.png\")
What's with the choices in this poll? I can choose from:
Yes
No (and I'm an idiot)
Yes
No (and I'm stuck in the Stone Age)
No (and I'm an idiot)
Why isn't there a legitimate \"no\" answer?
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-455434-100x100.png\")
Where's the vote option that says \"combo?\" Some things work great in the cloud and some things just need to stay off the network and on the desktop.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1261301-100x100.png\")
Don't exactly trust it. I like having all my info backed up in my hand, either in a USB dongle or an external harddrive, than rely on a cloud. Remember what happened to those people who had phones that lost everything because the servers went down? No thanks.
I'm not totally against the idea of a Mediafire/Dropbox sort of online space to backup data, but it would have to be in conjunction with something else. I prefer to double or triple backup my data with some combo of local harddrive, external harddrive and dropbox.
The only thing I can see this being useful for is the same thing dropbox is useful for - backing up extensive music and video collections. I have a big digital music collection I keep on an external hard drive (no sense keeping it on my computer since it'd take up 99% of my storage capacity), but if that external goes kaput, my collection is toast (it's nearly happened once before). That's what I can see Cloud being useful for, as a backup to a media collection normally kept on an external harddrive. It'd also be awesome (awesomely illegal!) if you could backup your media collection to Cloud and then share the password with people - easy way to share music/movie collections.
That's my main thing. I'm all for technological progress but I'd like that progress to be more reliable before everything that came before it becomes obsolete. And that's before considering the security breaches that will inevitably occur.
Back up your hard drive data to the cloud. The best of both, the complete ownership of your data, plus the secure redundant servers.