Getting started with Cloud Computing

A friend of mine, John Brookmyre, has recently posted about Amazon's Web Service Database and his first tetntative steps into the world of Cloud Computing.

I'm a bit jealous really as I've been thinking a lot about the applications of cloud computing within the retail sector, but haven't actually taken anything further than initial thoughts. My own fault really, so hats of to you John.

I can think of several ways in which Live Mesh can be useful. I struggled in tha past building an e-catalogue for clothing buyers to take with them on buying trips to the South East. The catalogue functionality was straight forward, but updating the dataset that needed to sit locally on the machine (access to the internet was less than robust in those days) turned out to be a can full of worms.

Back then I could only dream of having a Live Mesh folder synchronised for the buyers so that all they needed to do was be connected to the internet, to receive the latest update.

I haven't really got into the detailed techy bits of cloud computing such as SSDS but another friend of mine, Jamie Thomson has got several examples of SQL Server Data Services he's built. Read about them in his blog, SSIS Junkie.