In class on Wednesday, our Network Administration class came up on an interesting subject. The teacher highlighted an interesting point: Google, Microsoft, and a few other companies are starting a cloud business service. As a typical IT person, we generally troubleshoot technical issues for our employers. But what will happen to us when they go to the cloud? Will we be stuck controling the cloud panel (space limitations, bandwidth, and such like), or will they can us altogether?

Although perhaps a few years away, we ultimately could end up with our computers being effectively nothing more than terminals connecting to programs stored on servers in the Cloud. Files saved in the Cloud as well. Even so, the 'terminals' will need looking after and connection issues will always need resolving. All in all, I think there will still be a place for IT staff.

Adobe Photoshop is one big company now offering a Cloud service at a monthly rate. This could be good in a way because the program is always kept up to date. Also no problems with the program to sort out at the computer end. However, it does mean that you never own anything. I believe many Photoshop users aren't very happy about the trend but it does seem that all major software suppliers could increasingly use the Cloud to provide software and services.

Photoshop owners aren't happy with the trend for several reasons. Firstly, it will no longer be the users' choice whether to upgrade or not - and some upgrades aren't needed by some people. Secondly, you don't own the software and as soon as you stop paying the monthly fee, the software is no longer available at all - at least with the old method you were left with a version of the software you could go on using for as long as it worked. And thirdly, as usual Photoshop is charging non-American customers an arm and a leg - pound for dollar in the UK, and the equivalent in other countries. Over here it means we pay 50% more than American users... for downloads. No one has ever explained to me how it costs 50% more for me to download something but they go on charging more anyway.

I know Photoshop is the industry standard and as such, some people have to use it to get their work done but there are some pretty good alternatives for the home user that can do most things required. I suppose using different software (if possible) is the only answer if a company takes a disliked direction. Perhaps they would take notice if enough people were to do it.

Being a non-business user, I could never justify the paying the price for Photoshop and wouldn't need to subscribe to the Cloud service. I've no idea what I'm missing by not using the program. However, I have got on quite well with some less expensive alternatives. These are are still provided on disks that I can see and touch ..thankfully.

I know what you mean about Pounds for Dollars.

The computer terminal concept, to my knowledge, is employed by the Google Chromebook. As far as the Photoshop cost goes, that is simply unfair. Many blindness software costs a rediculous amount of money also. My copy of JAWS cost about a grand, with the upgrade costing about half as much.