>>>>What are peoples thought on virtual machines in Azure etc ?
>>>>
>>>>I've used more of these now on various contracts . You can dynamically boost processing power and storage as needed and then dial it down for when you aren't needing it.
>>>>The home or office end just needs a decent internet link and a decent screen on what could be a fairly basic machine.
>>>
>>>Cloud stuff great if you have
>>>long running analytic stuff (easy to save oodles of data, partition task, add more machines to same problem,
>>>or are just writing (be it office doc, xls(x) code), where convenience of "any device" synch with anybody is great.
>>>
>>>But whenever I need to invoke debugger, I want stuff to be running local.
>>
>>Why?
>>
>>I was writing ssis packages some c# elements SQL code creating databases in sql on azure servers. Didn't find anything undoable on the virtual machines. also I can connect to them anywhere with any machine. in their office I use one of their machines . at home I use mine. Saves me cycling to and fro with kit in a bag.
>
>Could you connect with a Chromebook?

Didn't have one to hand Bill so I don't know.
However if you have one and wanted to try it you can create a free trial azure subscription and that gives you a $150 dollar credit which is enough to start a bit of exploring.
its good to remember to shut things down when you're not using it so you don't burn through the free credit . I left some reporting service running when I trialled it so my credit was being used even when I wasn't connected .