If you want to make the move from Gmail (or—gasp!—Hotmail) to iCloud, we've already shown you how to get it done. But many folks are weaning off the Apple Kool-Aid and saying, "No way!" to what iCloud has to offer. Here's 5 reasons why it might not be the best move.
iCloud offers limited storage.If you're using iCloud for mail, calendar and mobile device backups, you'll probably fill up that free 5GB limit pretty quickly. You can buy more space, which is easy to do and reasonably priced, but that seems like a poor move when Google offers 7GB for just your webmail storage.
iCloud's web interface might be blocked.Since iCloud is considered backup storage, it's likely to be blocked at more strictly secured work or school computers. If you need to check your calendar from your work PC, you're out of luck. We've already (dissapointingly) experienced this first-hand. Google Calendar, however, loads up just fine and even syncs with Microsoft Outlook with Google Sync.
iCloud won't sync with your non-Apple devices.Prefer reading on your e-ink Kindle? Do you check email and surf the web from a Nook Color (like me!) or another Android tablet? Well you can't use iCloud there. Your best bet, if you're set on iCloud, is to buy up an iPad 2, which increases iCloud's startup cost from free to around $800.
iCloud only backs up Mac-made documents.iCloud will automagically backup any important docs you're working on in Pages, Keynote or Numbers, so your days of worrying about failed hard drives are over. Unless, of course, you opt to use Microsoft Office, Open Office or some other non-Apple document creator. Then you're out of luck.
iCloud requires the latest operating systems.If you want to use the full features of iCloud, you'll need to update your iPhone, Ipod Touch and iPad to Apple's new iOS 5 operating system. The good news is it's free. The bad news is if you don't have one of the three latest iPhone releases (iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4 or iPhone 4S), you can't get it. And to access iCloud through your Mac's apps, you'll need to have Mac OSX Lion 10.7, which comes at a modest price tag of $29.99. Did we mention Google Sync is free?
(Images: Flickr member Lachlan Hardy licensed for use under Creative Commons, Ars Technica)
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Good points. My biggest reason to go with iCloud is the 5gb limit not applying to iTunes. Although, honestly, I've not played with it enough to really judge.
I wonder how many comments are going to be about the "Free Software" sticker.
This article has less to do with "transitioning" to iCloud than it does with iCloud alternatives. I thought this article would make a case for staying with MobileMe. It does not.
Unpluggd is getting less and less relevant every day. Perhaps you should make your case for people to continue to read your content.
Great Article! Not syncing with non-apple devices is the killer for me. it's great when I'm on my mac or my iPhone but when I'm on my windows laptop or my Xoom I'm out of luck. Not to mention work. I would love to have the clean integration of an Apple solution, but this article does a fantastic job of pointing out the reason that I can't transition from google services.
ScottAG: MobileMe is basically a deadman walking, thus we don't believe in promoting a case for staying with the service. It's clear Apple wants users to migrate for MobileMe to iCloud, whether this is for the better or worse is up for debate.
gregory: there are some of us who have Mobile me who have't switched over to iCloud yet. Since many of the features are available until June, the question of what are the pros and cons of migrating is appropriate. Funny thing about things being up for debate: it usually makes for good articles.
@Jdcarms... we do have that article, I wrote it (as a long time .Mac user who has still not migrated to iCloud): --> http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/what-you-need-to-know-before-making-the-mobileme-to-icloud-merge-158305
There is also the fact that no iCloud, Google or other on-line storage is accessible (works) if your Internet connection is down. I carry the most important information with me on a USB stick that hangs on my key-chain. The rest is at home.
I know that this method means that someday I will lose some of the data. It is also possible that some stranger will access it. But the same thing also applies to on-line storage. :)
I don't think you fully comprehend what iCloud is and its features. I could probably write about 10 things wrong with your "reasons" but I'll just name a few.
Limited Storage:
If you use 5gb for mail/contacts/calendars you need to rethink what you're doing. I've had gmail since it was in beta and I only use 700mb of my available space.
Wont sync with non apple devices:
Not true, you can sync with windows computers perfectly fine, even photo stream works with windows.
iCloud requires the latest OS:
When has a brand new feature been available for older OS's from Apple? This is the status quo for any Apple feature.
The only thing I really want iCloud for at this point is Find My iPhone.