Richard Stallman

Web-based programs like Google's Gmail will force people to buy into locked, proprietary systems that will cost more and more over time, according to the free software campaigner

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/sep/29/cloud.computing.richard.stallman

I have great respect for Stallman and he's absolutely right. In spite of that, I think cloud computing is a great idea...as long as it is your own cloud, OR as long as you only use somebody else's (free?) cloud service as an encrypted online flash drive you can share with only the people (who can be anywhere the internet is) you want to share with.

Services like "Dropbox" can be great for this, especially when you encrypt all your Dropbox files before dumping them in.

I think you missed the point of his statements.

He's talking about your data not only being at the mercy of the people who are now turning our info over to gov't, but that once they start monetizing it, they can hold your data hostage under usary fees that they will control....

effectively doing to the internet what has been done to TV and the media..... total commercialization and control with little rewarding benefit to the public.

Clintons "Internet 2.0"...another gov't regulated monopoly