They require lots of storage.  Gamers are constantly pushing the limits of desktop technology.  And while only a few people are starting to understand the consequences of allowing third parties to control their data, no serious enterprise administrator is going to allow his roadwarriors to store stuff in the cloud.

Yes, the cloud will be used by a huge number of people who don't really care and who aren't paying attention.  And it will be used for the applications for which it really does make sense (e.g., shopping).  But the Chrome OS gives people nothing more than slightly glorified web pages, and "the cloud" is nothing more than a glorified web.

But when the first storage disaster affecting hundreds of millions occurs (whether it's a theft or an outright loss), Chrome OS and "the cloud" will find that their limitations are exposed, observed, and considered.  Besides, HTTP can't last forever, and the possibilities after that, given more and more powerful technologies fitting into "wrist-top" and smaller packages (<sigh!>  I was so happy when I quit wearing a watch!), the demand for local storage and processing power will not abate.

I give it a few years at most.  I'm more worried that this is going to cost Google tons of money when it fails.

by EveningStarNM on 11/22/2009 11:34:45 AM EST