Term of the Moment
Darbee Visual Presence
Definition: personal cloud
A small server in a home or small business network that can be accessed over the Internet. Designed for storing photos and videos that can be shared with friends and family, personal clouds enable viewing and streaming from any Internet-connected personal computer and mobile device. Although personal clouds function in a similar manner to any private cloud set up in a company, their primary feature is easy installation for the average consumer.
The Pogoplug Cloud
Various Kinds
One of the first personal clouds, this Pogoplug model (pink unit) connected four drives via USB to the local Ethernet. Subsequent models added support for SATA drives. Sharing data across the Internet, Pogoplugs sync with additional units for storage and backup. (Image courtesy of Cloud Engines, Inc.)
Personal clouds come from a variety of manufacturers, such as these Western Digital (WD) and Seagate units advertised side-by-side on a shelf in Staples.