Due to cloud computing, anyone can perform routine computer tasks anywhere, at any time, without installing applications. All users need a computer with operating system installed, connection to the internet and a compatible web browser; available at just about any coffee shop, library or other public places.

This technology has given birth to a new line of small and cheap computers, called netbooks, which have become extremely popular. They are small in size and have longer battery life due to less computing power, making them ideal cloud computing clients. Similarly, mobile phones are gaining computational power and fast becoming another cloud computing client. In short, netbooks and mobile phones—which will pass the total number of personal computers in near future—are the biggest beneficiary of cloud computing.

Consequently, this emerging and attracting market is taking a hit on tech giants, which are now teaming up to compete. We’ve rounded up the top five operating systems utilizing the available cloud computing infrastructure in the best possible manner.

1. Glide OS

Glide OS

Glide OS is a free set of productivity and collaboration applications which can help in organizing your digital life with ease. It provides a safe and secure 30GBs of storage, thus protecting your needs for private online storage. You can create up to six accounts for different users. Common applications like office suite, photo editor, email client, and media player are available.

It is compatible across multiple devices and operating systems; also providing plug-ins for popular web browsers like Firefox, Chrome, and Internet Explorer to make your experience more convenient. You can sign up for Glide Premium which will upgrade your storage to 250 GBs for $50.00 a year.

2. icloud

icloud

icloud is a nice suite of desktop applications and personal storage to make daily computer use more productive and synchronized. It has an intuitive and attractive user interface and offers 50 GBs of free online disk space; which can be accessed easily from Windows Explorer using WebDAV.

The applications suite contains essential applications for productivity (write, calendar, and to-do), media (iPlay, movie, photo, and radio), and internet (IM, browser, mail, and news reader). icloud also incorporates IDE, XML Editor, and documentation tools for applications development. It is supported on prominent operating system and mobile phones.

3. Jolicloud

Jolicloud

Jolicloud is an operating system designed primarily for netbooks. As it is an operating system itself, installed on a target device. It has a nice directory full of applications which can be installed with one click although many free web applications can be used alongside.

The installation process is very simple and jolicloud can also be used in a dual operating system mode. You don’t need to worry about finding recent drivers for Wifi, sound, 3G or other devices. It is actually a variant of Ubuntu Linux optimized for netbooks. It is very suitable for the current needs of online social communities.

Although Jolicloud isn’t located in the cloud, it leverages the cloud in many ways to create a more powerful operating system.

4. eyeos

eyeos

eyeos is an open source solution to leverage the cloud. The team provides specific solution tailored for the environment in which eyeos is used. For personal use, they have setup a public server for eyeos. Like other web based platforms, it can be used on different operating systems and platforms.

eyeos is equipped with the necessary applications the average user will need. The user can synchronize documents, spread sheets, media and other type of files. For entertainment, there are also some games available such as chess and tetravex. There is also an active community which has developed many of the applications for the eyeos platform.

5. Ghost

Ghost

Ghost aims to provide a cloud solution for basic computing and storage. Ghost provides 1GB online disk space, for personal use. The user has complete control over their privacy and files can be shared with friends or kept in total secrecy. Instead of developing their own solution for office suite, they ask you to take advantage of established and popular Zoho’s online office tools.

The online cloud storage can be integrated into Windows Explorer, which will turn it into a virtual hard drive on your system; in result, files between the computer and cloud can be shared effortlessly with drag and drop ease.

Conclusion

This is just the beginning. We will see more innovative and elegant solutions such as the collaboration between IBM and eyeos to make a virtual Linux desktop for IBM’s Solution Edition for Cloud Computing. There are many cloud operating systems which are not mentioned here such as Chrome OS and Windows Azure; both of which are very fresh. We are keeping an eye on those OSes though.

What you are waiting for? It’s time to shift from traditional desktops and operating systems to the “cloud”. It can manage and organize your scattered digital life on different work stations and also boost your productivity in mobile scenarios.

If you use or know about a free cloud OS that belongs in this list, share it with us in the comments below or shoot us a quick tweet @webappstorm. Thanks!

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