If you're talking to major cloud-computing advocates, they'll surely try to convince you that cost isn't necessarily the main or only advantage of these solutions and services.
Although this can be the case and for a certain selection of users, cost can definitely make the difference - one of these customers is indeed the freelancer.
Freelancers are reluctant on paying upfront for software they're not even sure will be fully using, never mind a huge initial investment on complex IT infrastructure.
In fact, being a freelancer myself, one thing I've noticed in the way I work is that I often find new and interesting IT solutions that address a specific problem that I currently have.
However, whenever I decide to try out these solutions, I always find myself lagging behind - not giving myself enough time and resources to explore all the features, as well as adapt my organisation to the way the software have been conceived.
This usually results in a situation where, after two or three months, I give up trying to use that software.
On the other hand, had I being paying a lot more money upfront, I would feel obliged to make it all work despite this - hey, no one wants to waste hard-earned money these days.
So you may wonder how cloud-computing would help me, as a freelancer, to get things done? Well, cost is indeed one major factor that weighs in: the low-initial investment that most cloud-based solutions require, coupled with the very flexible contract (in most cases, you can stop whenever you require) makes cloud-based solutions a very good fit for me.
But there's also one big advantage that enticed me to stay: mobility.
In fact, most solutions come bundled - at no extra cost - with a mobile feature that allows me to work during my usually idle telecommuting time.
And that's a huge advantage.
But let's get back to what other freelancers think about cloud computing.
A recent study made by BestVendor, a start-up website aimed at connecting users with useful apps confirmed that love affair between freelancers and the cloud.
As an example, most freelancers quoted the use of solutions like DropBox - but DropBox isn't the exception.
In fact, that same study mentioned that 25 top applications used by freelancers are...
cloud-based.
This comes as no surprise when solutions coming from Google come top of mind, but other applications also got the unanimity - including apps like Evernote that allow freelancers to get everything noted and synced between multiple devices.
One thing that was a bit surprising in this study was that freelancers are the ones who are very active in searching and finding great applications that help them get things done.
At some point, that same study even mentioned that if some cloud-based application catches the interest of freelancers, it's kind of an 'approval stamp' certifying its usefulness.
Among other applications, the 'Remember the Milk' application was quoted as part of freelancers' preferred application.
At first sight, that name doesn't sound particularly attractive, nor commercial enough - however, the community seems to have embraced it as their de facto to-do list and task management application.