Google search finds seafaring solution

[tannybogus]

Google may take its battle for global domination to the high seas with the launch of its own “computer navy”.

The company is considering deploying the supercomputers necessary to operate its internet search engines on barges anchored up to seven miles (11km) offshore.

The “water-based data centres” would use wave energy to power and cool their computers, reducing Google’s costs. Their offshore status would also mean the company would no longer have to pay property taxes on its data centres, which are sited across the world, including in Britain.
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/the_web/article4753389.ece

This should be interesting.

[mikelgb]

1. awesome

I have always wanted to but a barge and live in int'l waters

one of my deviant dreams

[arcadian]

2. Aye, and hoo is going to safeguard these barges from the likes of pirates?

By me cracked and bleedin' fingernail, this be a bad idea.

[applexcore]

3. Interesting

and weird.

[denverbill]

4. Interesting. Good in some ways, bad in others, iffy in others.

It's a nice solution to save energy, which is good.

It's kind of a semi-shady way of evading taxes, which I count as bad.

What's iffy is wondering if they actually expect to save money doing this. They will save property taxes and energy expenses, but are their employees going to be happy commuting to a barge 7 miles offshore, or perhaps living there for a week at a time? I wouldn't want to. My guess is their employee costs are going to escalate. And I have a feeling their insurance costs for a floating datacenter are going to be WAY higher, not to mention the expense of building it.

[Newshues]

5. legal costs reduced

seriously, who would have jurisdiction over the data then? Just google and a couple of arcane slow moving chattering bodies.