Good guess, but I don’t think you’re ready for 1vs.100. Cloud computing is what angels use to keep track of raindrops.

No, seriously, cloud computing is just a new twist on an old idea known as “distributed computing”. The main idea is that the computer processes you invoke occur on a remote computer or group of computers, rather than on your desktop PC. The “cloud” is an old networking concept that refers to a public area outside the boundaries and control of the regular network, like the Internet.

Why a cloud? Because, like a cloud, it could be anything. You might see a ducky, or a horsie, or “the profile of Thomas Eakins, the famous painter and sculptor.”

In this new paradigm, the cloud is a network of computers that dish up data or fairly hefty processes, like an operating system. A Swedish Company called Xcerion (to be a really cool tech company, you have to have an X in your name) is doing just that, with their OS in a browser application, named XIOS (there’s that X again). You can read more about it at xcerion.com

Other companies, like Xicrosoft and Xoogle, uh, I mean Microsoft and Google, are working on providing cloud data storage. Rather than keeping all your documents on your hard drive, you can store them in the cloud. That way, every time you access that spreadsheet, you can be bombarded with ads.

You can preview a beta of the Microsoft data storage cloud at http://skydrive.live.com. Your cloud is limited to 1GB, but it’s free (for now). Google provides 2.8GB of free storage with GMail accounts, with an option to purchase more at $20 per 6GB (www.google.com/accounts). Apple’s iDisk (www.apple.com/dotmac/idisk.html) gives you 10GB, and costs ($99/year).

Will it catch on? Will the crowd love the cloud? Some proponents think that cloud computing is the Next Big Thing. It will solve all our problems and teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. It will buy the world a Coke and… oh, sorry, I was having a 70’s flashback.

I think the cloud concept for processes has a better chance with business than with home computer users. Running everything from a central location has definite advantages. In fact, it’s such a great idea that it has already been done. They called them “mainframes” back then. As for cloud data storage, it’s a wonderful idea for backing up those critical files you can’t afford to lose in a hard disk crash. But can they make it absolutely hackersafe?

Until we’re sure the process is secure, Thomas Eakins and I are going to keep our programs and data right here on Earth.