Good post, but there are two important things you overlooked here.
First, dumb terminals are about control. Not speed. Not behind the scenes smart shenanigans. Control at the user level. By that definition, web browsers and IPhones are Dumb. Jailbroken IPhones, Android phones (not locked), and PCs, are Smart. That's what cloud OS detractors talk about when they say "dumb terminal".
Second, viewing the internet as a secure vault that you can summon at will can be dangerous. Like, get-your-identity-stolen dangerous. (You know this, but many people don't.) There's also systemic risks associated with the centralization encouraged by the (re-)rise of dumb terminals. And you wouldn't want anyone to look at your private data (say your e-mail). Or doing automatic semantic analysis on it so it can directly extract the good stuff… and use it to his advantage.
Now, I agree the couple "cloud + dumb terminals" is extremely convenient, and has an unmatched potential for ease of use. Now if only it didn't require the user to relinquish his right for privacy (an even other freedoms in some cases), that would be great. Personally, I'm looking forward to see Eben Moglen's FreedomBox.
Good post, but there are two important things you overlooked here.
First, dumb terminals are about control. Not speed. Not behind the scenes smart shenanigans. Control at the user level. By that definition, web browsers and IPhones are Dumb. Jailbroken IPhones, Android phones (not locked), and PCs, are Smart. That's what cloud OS detractors talk about when they say "dumb terminal".
Second, viewing the internet as a secure vault that you can summon at will can be dangerous. Like, get-your-identity-stolen dangerous. (You know this, but many people don't.) There's also systemic risks associated with the centralization encouraged by the (re-)rise of dumb terminals. And you wouldn't want anyone to look at your private data (say your e-mail). Or doing automatic semantic analysis on it so it can directly extract the good stuff… and use it to his advantage.
Now, I agree the couple "cloud + dumb terminals" is extremely convenient, and has an unmatched potential for ease of use. Now if only it didn't require the user to relinquish his right for privacy (an even other freedoms in some cases), that would be great. Personally, I'm looking forward to see Eben Moglen's FreedomBox.