Computex: Asus Cloud Solution Touted, but Windows 8 Devices Draw Buzz
June 16, 2012
At a pre-Computex press release event, technology developer Asus announced their version of a unified cloud-computing solution, called Asus Open Cloud Computing (AOCC). Described as a "total solution for the ubiquitous cloud computing era," the Asus cloud offering appears to be a mashup of existing solutions into a more cohesive total package. But while those in attendance were curious enough about Asus’ supposedly next-gen solution, it was the company’s rollout of devices that drew the most buzz.
What’s on Display?
Several of new Asus offerings are described in a June 4, 2012 CNET article, including the Taichi hybrid, which is a combination laptop and tablet. While it looks like a notebook at first glance, the device comes with full-HD screens on both sides of the lid. The inside screen functions like a typical laptop display, while the outer screen is touch and stylus-capable. The screens are independent and can be used for different applications at the same time – something that requires Windows 8 to work…
Asus also debuted its Transformer AIO, which has an 18.4" multi-touch display that can be removed from its dock and operate wirelessly, implying the rather ungainly docking station has all the necessary guts to power the device. In addition, the Transformer runs a dual OS, that can be switched with single button push. The company also showed off several other notebooks, tablets, and monitors, all expected later this year. What’s interesting is that the Asus cloud solution didn’t garner more attention; cloud has been the buzzword for several years now, and although the company’s solution isn’t revolutionary, it does tap into a substantial market.
The Real Product
A recent CloudTweaks article examines research by Visiongain, which predicts a value of $37.9 billion for the cloud by the end of 2012, with that number only increasing through 2017. According to the report, "the majority of the cloud computing uptake would come from SMB’s [sic] from around the world, which are lacking in solid IT infrastructure and are looking to find new and innovative ways of conducting everyday business with the help of cloud technology offerings." The result? Cloud is on the way up.
In addition, the report details eight segments of the cloud market slated for growth, including software-as-a-service (Saas), platform-as-a-service (PaaS), cloud security, and the mobile cloud market. It also comes with investigations into how midsize companies can make the cloud work for them, rather than being shoe-horned into a cookie-cutter offering. But despite such rosy predictions and the building momentum of the cloud, it’s devices, not broad solutions that garner the most attention–the next version of Windows rather than a new way to interact with data that gets the most press. It’s a simple truth, and one IT admins need to know: The cloud isn’t all that interesting to managers and CEOs, now that its initial hype has worn off.
Midsize business IT admins are always going to be fighting the device/infrastructure battle, as shown by the hype given Asus new devices but the underwhelming interest in their cloud offering. New tablets, smartphones, and laptops all purport to offer better access to networks, but if the network they’re running on is not keeping pace with business needs, all that flashy technology won’t mean a thing. IT pros have to look beyond the hype and past the knee-jerk desire for the newest and shiniest toys and instead focus on steady ROI producers like unified cloud architectures. It’s not the most glamorous focus, perhaps, but the most lucrative over time; your CEO will thank you.