Cloud computing – where IT power is delivered over the internet as you need it, rather than drawn from a desktop computer – has gained currency in recent years.
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But Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation and creator of the computer operating system GNU, said that cloud computing was simply a trap aimed at forcing more people to buy into locked, proprietary systems that would cost them more and more over time.“It’s stupidity. It’s worse than stupidity: it’s a marketing hype campaign,” he told The Guardian.
“Somebody is saying this is inevitable – and whenever you hear somebody saying that, it’s very likely to be a set of businesses campaigning to make it true.” – Cloud computing is a trap, warns GNU founder Richard Stallman, The Guardian, September 29, 2008
I’ve written in the past of my opposition to cloud computing and skepticism about Software as a Service (SaaS).
I know people want backups over the net, and I know they want the ability to buy, download and reinstall software over the net, but the elephant in the room is DRM and persistence. Will I be able to get the same software again, or forced to upgrade? Will I be given only five chances to install, and then it becomes worthless?
As Stallman points out, the fact of the matter is that most of us want a physical product in our hands because we’re aware of how quickly business and infrastructure can shift strategy. Think about it: if you own Windows XP on a CD, you can install it any time you want, and have it work. If Windows has a DRM or registration policy, or you have to log in to download, it’s not so certain.
One thing Stallman attacks in this article is Gmail. How can that be? you think. Gmail is a nice service, and it’s a lot simpler and more consistent than most email clients. But if tomorrow Google stops allowing you to download your mail, you’re out of luck. I think this is what Stallman is talking about, and although his vision is a bit extreme, he’s logically correct and we should pay attention.