The dangers of keeping everything in the cloud

In 1993, a program called Ecco Pro was launched. It became a leading piece of software in the Personal Information Management (PIM) space, giving users a place to stash random notes, contact lists, tasks and many intelligent ways to sort all that information.

Many people crammed their entire lives into this piece of software.

Fast-forward to 1997, the software was discontinued.

However, despite having been killed off more than a decade ago, Ecco Pro still enjoys a cult-like following among devoted users.

As an installed piece of desktop software, Ecco Pro can be used unless future versions of Windows become incompatible with it.

This is the exact opposite of so-called “cloud computer,” where data and these days, even the software is stored on somebody else’s server.

The dangers of storing everything in the cloud were made obvious last week when Microsoft lost all the data for users of T-Mobile’s Sidekick phones.

Had the data been stored in the phone itself, like most, there’d be less of an issue with losing remote server data.

But trusting someone else to keep your data safe and do regular back-ups is only one part of the problem.

When it comes to using web-based applications, if a company shuts down, the app is gone forever.

This was true with Stikkit, a really nifty online note-taking and calendar application that went away forever when the creator was hired by Twitter.

Sticking to applications made by large, reputable companies isn’t a safe bet either. Anyone who used Google Notebook (myself included) learned that lesson the hard way.

So, while cloud storage and web applications certainly have their advantages (I can reform my computer without worrying about backing too much stuff up, cross-platform compatibility with web apps and access anywhere,) I’m really reluctant to invest my workflow into something that could disappear forever tomorrow.