What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is a significant step in the advancement of computer use and the internet. The idea goes back as far as 1960 when John McCarthy stated that there could come a time when computation would be provided similar to other public utilities like electricity. At the time he made this statement, there were very few who could relate to this kind of opinion. Today this prediction has come true and we have hosted services delivered over the internet.

Hi,

Cloud computing is a term used for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet. It is sold on typically by the minute or the hour. A cloud can be private or public. A public cloud sells services to anyone on the Internet. A private cloud is a proprietary network or a data center that supplies hosted services to a limited number of people. When a service provider uses public cloud resources to create their private cloud, the result is called a virtual private cloud. Private or public, the goal of cloud computing is to provide easy, scalable access to computing resources and IT services.

Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices on-demand. Computing in “the cloud” may refer to a company's own network, but it typically refers to the Internet and the use of Web browser-based or rich client applications. In these applications, the software comes from the Web Servers, and the data may be saved on the servers as well.

It's when you use the web browser (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera) instead of a locally installed computer program (Word, OpenOffice, GIMP) to get things done.

It's also when you store stuff on web servers (Picasa Web Albums, Dropbox) instead of keeping them only on your local computer.

basically a funny word for server computing on a new level

You can consider cloud computing as virtualization

For clear understanding you can watch this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_DKNwK_ms