The End of Desktops (and all your applications)

May 7, 2009 Cloud Computing

I have to agree with Google’s Eric Schmidt about the importance of cloud services on the future of everyday computing. Desktop style applications that run entirely on your own computer don’t have much life left because 1) people will have too many different devices, so keeping them all synced with local storage is a pain, 2) it’s easier for application developers to maintain a single online version of an app instead of dealing with pushing out updates and bug fixes to users, 3) forcing users to go online to get an app prevents piracy, 4) applications can get as much or as little computation and storage power as they need from the cloud, 5) etc.  Sadly, I think it might be #3 that is the real motivation in the end for many companies.

Cloud based services are also better for the environment.  If the average everyday computer can be reduced down to a basic thin client for accessing remote cloud services, that reduces the cost and energy usage of home devices.  The applications running in the cloud can in turn exploit massive degrees of multiplexing to reduce their own energy costs.  As it stands today, most peple’s computers are far more powerful than they really need to be, and they spend a lot of time sitting around idle.  You might as well give consumers devices that are as simple as possible.  Make them so simple that they don’t crash all the time.   Make it so they don’t require technically adept family members to service them a few times a year. Then people will spend less time being frustrated by their computers, and more time able to use the applications running on them.