At the very least, you probably have heard the term dropped at a meeting or two. Or, you may just be chin-deep in the cloud, scrambling to find a way to use it to break your company’s Microsoft-branded shackles.

If you are one of the former, who know it’s there but don’t know much more about it, the top tech publications have your back. Ars Technica and Informationweek recently published (almost) everything you need to know about cloud computing. Here’s a rundown:

Level 1, Working knowledge of computing: If you know of the cloud but nothing more, read Ars Technica’s intro piece. It’s a rich, informative primer that covers everything from the history of client-server computing to the rise in popularity of the grid and “utility computing.”

The article, written by Jon Stokes, also touches upon the unfortunate name that seems to have stuck.

“It doesn’t help that the image conjured by the word is of something vaporous, flimsy and fleeting—,” he writes. “Whatever cloud is, it doesn’t sound like the kind of thing you want to entrust critical business functions to.” This brings us to the next article:

Level 2, C-level exec with computing knowledge but more concerned with selling the idea: The cloud is supposed to revolutionize the way we work. It promises to end to waste and redundancy in the enterprise, lower costs and produce happier workers. But when it comes to what it’s called, the name doesn’t fit the face. (Think of the whole “swine flu” vs. “H1N1” debate.)

Informationweek’s Bob Evans explores this issue in a recent column. In his article, he relays a story told to him by HP CEO Mark Hurd, who was giving a presentation to a group of CEOs about the cloud and was booed. Yes, booed.

To non-technical CEOs, Hurd told Evans, the term cloud computing doesn’t sound very clear. And when you are trying to sell a concept, clarity is paramount.

Evans advocates for a name change, which we back him on. What term would you like to see replace “cloud computing”? Send an e-mail or post your entry in comments.

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