iCloud finally

[Antony]

Contrary to certain members' misconception about me on rushing for upgrading. I don't. In fact I just converted my MobileMe account to iCloud. That's less than one week before the sunset date of MobileMe.



Apple has been encouraging MobileMe members to convert their MobileMe service to iCloud service since mid 2011, I've been holding on with MobileMe for as long as I can.

In comparison, I don't rush to upgrade; unlike some certain member who not just rush for the latest Windows operating system, but also rush for early test/beta builds.

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[DJGM]

Congratulations on the upgrade, and not rushing to get it! I do have a few "cloud" accounts myself, that I have
signed up to over time during the last few years. but these days I rarely use them, if at all. I don't particularly
need them anymore, when I have access to a physical fileserver/webserver containing a 1TB hard drive here
in this very room, plus portable storage across some USB pen drives, a USB card reader, and a 2TB USB
hard drive. To me at least, the so-called "cloud" is little more than glorified FTP to datacentres, with fancy
web based front ends, and/or proprietary file uploading clients.

With this current ongoing craze, you'd think the "cloud" was something new, or something that'd only just
been introduced within the last 5 years or so, when the entire concept of uploading your files to a remote
data centre for later retrieval from any computer, has really been around for much longer than that.

For those that use the "cloud" on a regular basis, and I know most users don't have access to a physical
local fileserver/webserver, fair play to them, despite the limitations. Perhaps the one plus side to "cloud"
storage is the data centres having strict policies on backups and against hardware failures.

As for rushing to get the latest version of Windows or pre-release builds, the server I have access to still
runs on Windows Server 2003 R2. I see no reason for it to be upgraded to Windows Server 2008, or the
upcoming Windows Server 2012 when it's released later this year. Windows Server 2003 R2 still works
really well, and still has security update support from Microsoft for another 3 years. My main PC is a
multi-boot system with Windows XP, 7 and 8 RP. I'm posting this from Windows XP. I'd put Linux on
this PC as well if I felt like it, but I can't be arsed when it already works fine on my old laptop!

For general computer users, I do agree there isn't really any need to rush to get the very latest Windows,
but when you're not just a general computer user, and you're offering tech support to others, whether it's
on a free forum, or as part of your vocation, it's important to know what the next major release version
of the most widely used OS in the world has to offer well before its public retail availability.

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[Antony]

Speaking about operating system, I did not rush for OS X Lion 10.7 either. Apart from the MacBook Air (2011 model) which came with Lion, my main computer stayed with Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.8. As a matter of fact, it took me more than four months after the release of Lion 10.7 (related post)

And my main computer I referred to is the Mid-2010 low-end Mac Pro, which means it is now a 2-year-old technology (read: outdated). And I am still using it daily as my main machine. Just to further clarify, I have no intention on upgrade this Mid-2010 machine anytime soon.

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[Antony]

Cloud service/storage is a lot more than just a remote storage with beautiful and easy-to-use interface as some want to paint it so. There are many services that are truly convenient and considered essential to many people.

For example, the ability of uploading photos straight from users digital camera (e.g. with Eye-Fi memory card) or smart phone right after taking photo is truly amazing and extremely convenient for many users.

This convenience saves a number of steps:
1. transferring photos out of the memory card or smart phone to computer
2. logging in to the remote storage
3. uploading photos from computer
Plus if taking photos on location, it means there's no need to carry a laptop (and laptop bag). Not carrying a laptop is a huge bonus, especially if it is a laptop designed for easy hacking that comes with an eye watering price tag and usually ridiculously heavy.

Also, having contacts and schedules nicely pushed from user's computer to user's smart phone or tablet, or vice versa is truly convenient. This was previously available on .Mac and later MobileMe service, and I was very happy to subscribe for such essential features. Now, iCloud makes it free to everybody.

Cloud service is more about “service” rather than just remote “storage,” further, not everybody can afford terabyte of storage and reliable network connection from one's very own home.

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