Is cloud computing and cloud PC a big deal?

I previously worked in the cloud computing space, specifically for application deployment purposes. However, getting the opportunity to look at the cloud computing space from a broader perspective helped me understand the benefits it can bring to both individuals and corporations.

A Kenyan friend of mine, Ruth Nduta, introduced me to the cloud computing space as I know it now, which is the ability to use computing resources such as hardware, software, and licenses through a network without owning the infrastructure or making heavy upfront investments in these resources. Ruth, a data analyst and AI evangelist, passionately emphasized the benefits of training models and running statistical analyses using cloud-based solutions. Her love for training AI models earned her the nickname ”ⓘdata models.”

By the way, Ruth is the type of person who can sell you almost anything if she believes in it. Her ability to sell me on the cloud computing concept made me want to work with her because her energy that was so contagious. I was also fortunate to work with Olamide Sunday and Patience Ayeni, both Nigerians, who shared our hunger for success. Together, we called ourselves the Jabari, which means ”ⓘthe strong and brave.”

It’s worth mentioning that we worked on various projects and industries with this exceptional team, including fintech, social media, and devices as a service, among others. However, what truly captured our attention was the complexity and cost associated with using the cloud, especially for those who were just getting started. This was particularly true for individuals and organizations using cloud computing services under infrastructure as a service (IaaS) or platform as a service (PaaS). Most of the use cases in these categories of cloud computing included web and app deployment, AI training, 3D modeling, and rendering. Some of these issues hit home for some of us on the team, as we had experienced them firsthand.

After speaking with several individuals who faced similar challenges, we discovered that developers, creators, and artists encountered numerous obstacles when trying to use the cloud. This also became a problem for us because we couldn’t decide how to solve just one issue as a team. The most significant challenge was the time and complexity that developers spent setting up intricate tech infrastructure to ensure fast and reliable applications with minimal downtime while keeping cloud costs low. With the constant emergence of new deployment methods, developers found themselves investing more time in learning these techniques rather than focusing on actual platform development. That’s when Jabari Web Services (JWS) came to life.

We created a prototype that could help developers deploy any type of application without the need to write complex configuration files. We tested the application with various developers, who were able to successfully deploy their solutions without any hassle, complex architecture, or configuration files. While we struggled with the more complex applications, trying to build technology to cater to different application types within just two weeks proved nearly impossible. We did our best as a team, but we realized that we needed to give ourselves at least 2–3 years to properly immerse ourselves in the industry. This was a hard pill for my teammates to swallow.

Working with this remarkable team and within this industry space, I developed a deep appreciation for cloud computing. Having a strong team like Jabari with an incredible work culture showed me that even the most challenging tasks can be tackled with the right people. Even if everyone on the team decides to move on to something else, I still feel the need to carry on the Jabari dream, which was to make the cloud easy and affordable for everyone. While it might not necessarily solve all the challenges for developers, I also reflected on my own struggles with the cloud.

As someone who occasionally uses cloud resources for 3D modeling and animation purposes, I found it painful to set up a cloud PC for quick work while keeping my cloud spending low. After speaking with more than 40 people who faced similar challenges with underpowered computers, I decided to make access to cloud PCs easier and more affordable. A cloud PC is an efficient and easily scalable virtual machine providing users with a desktop experience streaming it from the cloud. As of today, testing and development, with key feedback from these early adopters, is refining the product and solving their challenges. I believe that just as personal PCs became practical, the same will happen for cloud PCs, possibly around 2027 or after 2030. High-end personal PCs will become a thing of the past.

ⓘ Cloud PCs provide the ability to upgrade our setups easily with a simple click, unlike most personal PCs today. With more people working from home and taking on various work opportunities, the use of personal PCs will depend on the specific tasks at hand. For example, if you need to edit videos or create motion graphics today, having the right PC specifications is crucial. With a cloud PC, you can easily increase performance, effectively turning it into a supercomputer to meet your work requirements. ⓘ Once internet connections improve, which we see is already changing with the use of 5G networks, cloud PCs will make more sense to use as the additional benefit of using the cloud is privacy and keeping security risks low. Since the cloud PC is in an isolated environment, virus attacks or even physical attacks on the device will not be possible and separation of work and personal things on your PC will become easier.

For now, I’ll keep my head in this space and will work with more early adopters, more entrepreneurs and any cloud enthusiasts. Matter of fact, if you feel like you could offer any feedback, ideas or support, please reach out through my email at paul@katumbapaul.com

Special thanks to the Jabari team, Ruth, Patience and Olamide, You guys are my MVPs and in whatever you do, I’ll be here to support y’all. Zum Zum Zaa forever 👏💪🎉🍾