Cloud computing for the home user is a big mistake in my opinion and like with anything, if it seems too good to be true, it likely is. Google and other on-line services make mobile computing easy and safely store all your data remotely so you don't have to worry about it. Seems nice, but these guys are not in it because they care about your data. They are making money.

All of these services allow us to create documents, calenders, and even send personal messages to our family and colleagues. We can shop with ease, search web content, and even locate ourselves on maps via GPS, but what does this all mean? They have your life!

If you store music and video on their servers they could some day check the files for whatever anti-pirating crap they come up with next. Their employees can view your personal data, from mail to pictures. You become a cash cow for search and surfing habits collection and advertisement targeting – no need for cookies these days. Worst of all, they can hold your data hostage for monthly fees or lock you out of your account for just about any reason. You agreed to all of this. You remember that “I agree” check box don't you?

For me none of this is that interesting. I can do basically the same thing considering how cheap storage is these days. How would I do this? Buy a cheap computer with raided one terabyte drives, install

Linux, install Apache + SSL + PHP, and on on the web server install something like Eye OS or OpenGoo and generate my own SSL certificate. I could even get a business class connection from my internet provider, which isn't much more than the monthly fee for third party on-line storage, so I have a static IP.

Now you can simply open this up on the router, this is called port forwarding, and point to your assigned IP from your internet provider : https://nn.nn.nn.nn:443 and you now have cloud magic. The only problem is your house could burn down and you lose all your data, but there are fireproof safes and removable drive technology if you're that concerned about your Twitter posts and vacation pictures.

Now you have a shit load of on-line storage, you can share with family and friends, you have an interface that works anywhere even on your smart phone, you have web applications from word processor to a calender, you can stream audio and likely video with a little effort. The best part, you are in total control of everything.

I figure one day someone will make this an application that you just install and it will have iPhone and Android applications to access it, even I have thought about doing this, but with all the good stuff already floating around, all open source, why bother?