Cloud Computing: Web-Based Applications That Change the Way You Work and Collaborate Online

Description

With cloud computing, everything you do is now web-based instead of being desktop-based; you can access all your programs and documents from any computer that’s connected to the Internet. Whether you want to share photographs with your family, coordinate volunteers for a community organization, or manage a multi-faceted project in a large organization, cloud computing can help you do it more easily than ever before. Trust us. If you need to collaborate, cloud computing is the way to do it.

Computing as you know it has changed. No longer are you tied to using expensive programs stored on your computer. No longer will you be able to only access your data from one computer. No longer will you be tied to doing work only from your work computer or playing only from your personal computer.

Enter cloud computing-an exciting new way to work with programs and data, collaborate with friends and family, share ideas with coworkers and friends, and most of all, be more productive! The “cloud” consists of thousands of computers and servers, all linked and accessible to you via the Internet.

With cloud computing, everything you do is now web-based instead of being desktop-based; you can access all your programs and documents from any computer that’s connected to the Internet. Whether you want to share photographs with your family, coordinate volunteers for a community organization, or manage a multi-faceted project in a large organization, cloud computing can help you do it more easily than ever before. Trust us. If you need to collaborate, cloud computing is the way to do it.

Covers the most popular cloud-based applications, including the following:

• Adobe Photoshop Express
• Apple MobileMe
• Glide OS
• Google Docs
• Microsoft Office Live Workspace
• Zoho Office

Key Features

• Perfect for telecommuters, business travelers and even families – online collaboration is the new web frontier
• The days of bulky, expensive computer programs are fading fast
• The new paradigm is one in which people use Web-based applications to work, socialize and play without doling out big bucks for bloated software applications that cost more than they’re worth.
• Learn what cloud computing is, how it works, who should use it, and why it’s the wave of the future.
• Explore the practical benefits of cloud computing, from saving money on expensive programs to accessing your documents ANYWHERE.
• See just how easy it is to manage work and personal schedules, share documents with coworkers and friends, edit digital photos, and much more!
• Learn how to use web-based applications to collaborate on reports and presentations, share online calendars and to-do lists, manage large projects, and edit and store digital photographs.

Table of Contents

1. Part I: Understanding Cloud Computing
   1. Beyond the Desktop: An Introduction to Cloud Computing
   2. Are You Ready for Computing in the Cloud?
   3. Developing Cloud Services
2. Part II: Cloud Computing for Everyone
   1. Cloud Computing for the Family
   2. Cloud Computing for the Community
   3. Cloud Computing for the Corporation
3. Part III: Using Cloud Services
   1. Collaborating on Calendars, Schedules, and Task Management
   2. Collaborating on Event Management
   3. Collaborating on Contact Management
   4. Collaborating on Project Management
   5. Collaborating on Word Processing
   6. Collaborating on Spreadsheets
   7. Collaborating on Databases
   8. Collaborating on Presentations
   9. Storing and Sharing Files and Other Online Content
   10. Sharing Digital Photographs
   11. Controlling It All with Web-Based Desktops
4. Part IV: Outside the Cloud: Other Ways to Collaborate Online
   1. Collaborating via Web-Based Communication Tools
   2. Collaborating via Social Networks and Groupware
   3. Collaborating via Blogs and Wikis

Author Biography

Michael Miller is a successful and prolific author. He is known for his casual, easy-to-read writing style and his ability to explain a wide variety of complex topics to an everyday audience.

Mr. Miller has written more than 80 nonfiction books over the past two decades, with more than a million copies in print. His books for Que include Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Computer Basics, How Microsoft Windows Vista Works, Making a Living from Your eBay Business, Googlepedia: The Ultimate Google Resource, and Is It Safe? Protecting Your Computer, Your Business, and Yourself Online.