Mainframe = cloud

The cloud is hot. So hot. But not everyone is buying into its hype. One of those people is Bruce Arnold, a Miami-based web designer who recently blogged about “techno-marketeers” throwing out terms like “revolutionary” and “innovative” like they’re bead necklaces at Mardi Gras.

Arnold’s latest peeve is cloud computing and SaaS.

“Both terms are bogus,” he writes. “The only true cloud computing takes place in aircraft. What they’re actually referring to by ‘the cloud’ is a large-scale and often remotely and/or centrally managed hardware platform. We have had those since the dawn of automated IT. IBM calls them ‘mainframe.’”

Ouch! Arnold goes on to list the current hot hype terms and their ancient equivalents:

1. “Mainframe” is now “Cloud” (with concomitant ethereal substance).

2. “Terminal” is now “Web Browser” (with much cooler games, and infinitely more distractions).

3. “Service Bureau” is now “Saas” (but app upgrades are just as painful, and custom mods equally elusive).

4. Most IT buzzwords boil down to techno-hyped BS (just as they always have).

Please Mr. Arnold, tell us how you really feel.