The cloud and DHPOS
Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 11:27 am
I have received a few emails basically asking me when I am going to come out with a "Cloud" version of DHPOS. Fortunately I have a strong opinion about cloud computing in that it is a really terrible idea. But as unlikely as it may seem, I could be wrong, as folks will undoubtedly be pointing out to me in replies to this post. Or it may be another example of me just not getting the concept.
First we will skip the part about me not having the faintest idea of how to produce a cloud version of DHPOS. I imagine that if I had the tiniest desire to do it I would be able to find some way to accomplish the task, probably involving Jon. And of course it would generate some bucks for me since there would be expenses involved in leasing servers and other costs of creating a cloud environment and since money would be changing hands I would charge a small pittance extra for me. Blasphemy, I know, my fate is to remain poor so I can provide software to others for free.
Anyway, here are several reasons why the cloud is pointless.
1. You have to pay for it, monthly. Sure, I could continue to give away the software for free, but since I would have to lease space on a server farm I am positively not going to pay the farm out of my pocket so that you can use it for free. I do realize that some of you out there cannot figure out why I would not give you free server time that I pay for, you will just have to take my word on it. It would be a bad idea for me and unsustainable. Really, it would. Ask your mom to explain it to you using small words.
2. I raise my prices, you're screwed.
3. I die and the business closes up, you're screwed.
4. The server company folds, you're screwed.
5. Your internet connection goes down, you're screwed.
6. The server internet connection goes down, you're screwed.
7. The server goes down, you're screwed.
8. The server is hacked, you're screwed.
9. The server loses / corrupts your data, you're screwed.
10. You forget to pay your bill, check is lost in the mail, accounting error, etc. and your account is closed, you're screwed.
11. Slow internet connection, you're screwed.
12. Only God knows what happened, you're screwed.
How many different ways can this end badly for you?
Now comes the list of reasons why putting anything on the cloud is a fantastic idea.
1. If your computer blows up sending its hard drive into low earth orbit all you have to do is to connect another computer to the server and all your stuff is there. Or you could just make backups of your data and skip the cloud.
2. You can access your files on any computer from anywhere at any time. (This assumes that 2 - 12 listed above does not happen.) This may be a good idea if you want to listen to your latest Taylor Swift download, kind of pointless for a cash register where you sort of have to be near your merchandise to ring it up.
3. You get to pay for it every month generating an expense that can reduce your taxes at the end of the year.
Personally I like to pay for my software and use it for decades without paying any more. If for some reason, I retire, I lose my job, huge medical expense, etc., and I can no longer pay my cloud bill, all of my stuff will not simply evaporate into the cloud never to be seen again.
And I like to be in control of my data and not have to rely on some unknown entity to insure its access and safety. I have 3 data sticks and I make a backup on one of them every time I move from one place to another (work / home) so I always have a backup of my software and data in my pants. And I am rarely anywhere without my pants being nearby. Although I do have to admit that I do not have 20 gigabytes to backup.
But I may just be nuts. Below is your opportunity to prove me wrong.
Dale
First we will skip the part about me not having the faintest idea of how to produce a cloud version of DHPOS. I imagine that if I had the tiniest desire to do it I would be able to find some way to accomplish the task, probably involving Jon. And of course it would generate some bucks for me since there would be expenses involved in leasing servers and other costs of creating a cloud environment and since money would be changing hands I would charge a small pittance extra for me. Blasphemy, I know, my fate is to remain poor so I can provide software to others for free.
Anyway, here are several reasons why the cloud is pointless.
1. You have to pay for it, monthly. Sure, I could continue to give away the software for free, but since I would have to lease space on a server farm I am positively not going to pay the farm out of my pocket so that you can use it for free. I do realize that some of you out there cannot figure out why I would not give you free server time that I pay for, you will just have to take my word on it. It would be a bad idea for me and unsustainable. Really, it would. Ask your mom to explain it to you using small words.
2. I raise my prices, you're screwed.
3. I die and the business closes up, you're screwed.
4. The server company folds, you're screwed.
5. Your internet connection goes down, you're screwed.
6. The server internet connection goes down, you're screwed.
7. The server goes down, you're screwed.
8. The server is hacked, you're screwed.
9. The server loses / corrupts your data, you're screwed.
10. You forget to pay your bill, check is lost in the mail, accounting error, etc. and your account is closed, you're screwed.
11. Slow internet connection, you're screwed.
12. Only God knows what happened, you're screwed.
How many different ways can this end badly for you?
Now comes the list of reasons why putting anything on the cloud is a fantastic idea.
1. If your computer blows up sending its hard drive into low earth orbit all you have to do is to connect another computer to the server and all your stuff is there. Or you could just make backups of your data and skip the cloud.
2. You can access your files on any computer from anywhere at any time. (This assumes that 2 - 12 listed above does not happen.) This may be a good idea if you want to listen to your latest Taylor Swift download, kind of pointless for a cash register where you sort of have to be near your merchandise to ring it up.
3. You get to pay for it every month generating an expense that can reduce your taxes at the end of the year.
Personally I like to pay for my software and use it for decades without paying any more. If for some reason, I retire, I lose my job, huge medical expense, etc., and I can no longer pay my cloud bill, all of my stuff will not simply evaporate into the cloud never to be seen again.
And I like to be in control of my data and not have to rely on some unknown entity to insure its access and safety. I have 3 data sticks and I make a backup on one of them every time I move from one place to another (work / home) so I always have a backup of my software and data in my pants. And I am rarely anywhere without my pants being nearby. Although I do have to admit that I do not have 20 gigabytes to backup.
But I may just be nuts. Below is your opportunity to prove me wrong.
Dale