Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by RC_ITR 1958 days ago
This may seem like a silly question, but what is the point of the cloud if people don't buy goods / services over the Internet?

If ecommerce remained flat for the rest of time, do you really think the cloud would grow?
1 comments
randomsearch 1954 days ago
I don't really see the cloud as attached to retail. But yes, if online retail remained flat, the cloud would still grow. Because most software will be built using the cloud, for the cloud, for the foreseeable future (I'd stake confidently 50 years, probably at least 100, perhaps forever).
link
RC_ITR 1952 days ago
I think you’re being very short sighted.

“Retail” is just the part of commerce that’s somewhat moved online today. “E-commerce” is any type of commerce moving online.

I really struggle to think of reasons as to why people will pay for software if it doesn’t ultimately lead to commerce.

EDIT: For context, BABA used it e-commerce lead in China to become the largest gateway for utility bill-pay. Very much not retail, but still e-commerce. The internet is a tool run by humans to serve humans, & if humans aren’t transacting using the internet, everything else about the internet is inherently less valuable.

link