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A short film and guide, with two robots

Local or cloud?

Where Claude does its work, and when your laptop has to stay on.

Where should my job run?

With music. Best with the sound on.

Two words. One question.

The little robotLocal

On your own computer. The laptop in front of you.

The little robot lives here, at your desk.
The big robotCloud

On someone else's computer, in a big building somewhere. With Claude, that's Anthropic's.

The big robot works up here, in the cloud workshop.

So the only question is: whose computer is doing the work?

Either way, Claude does its thinking at Anthropic, over the internet. So even local needs Wi-Fi.

What happens when you close the lid?

Flip the switches and watch both robots.

The little robot working at the open laptop The little robot asleep beside the closed laptop Local
Working on your real files While your laptop is awake and online. Close the lid and it stops until you open it again.
The big robot at work in the cloud workshop Cloud
Still working It runs on Anthropic's computers, using the copy of your files you gave it. Your lid makes no difference.

The film, scene by scene

What each robot is up to, and what it means for you. Tap a scene to jump to it.

Scene 10:06

The desk job

Tidy files make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Local means Claude works on your computer, with your real files. Its thinking still happens at Anthropic, so if the Wi-Fi drops, it stops.

Watch this bit
Scene 20:24

Lights out

Lid shut? Nap time.

Close the lid and your computer sleeps. So does the work, until you open it again.

Watch this bit
Scene 30:36

The night shift

Send me a copy. I'll work through the night.

Cloud means Claude works on Anthropic's computers. It keeps going with your laptop shut, on a copy of your files, and the result comes back to you.

Watch this bit
Scene 41:02

The long arm

I can reach your desk, but only while it's awake.

Some cloud jobs, like Cowork's, can reach files on your computer, but only while it's awake and the Claude app is open.

Watch this bit
Scene 51:17

Don't keep me waiting

Leave me waiting and they take my bench.

A cloud computer left waiting too long is handed back, and anything unsaved goes with it. Save as you go.

Watch this bit

Where should my job run?

Four questions about the job you're about to start. The answer updates as you go.

Does it need files that only live on your laptop?

Does it need apps you only have on your laptop?

Will it run for longer than you'll keep your laptop open?

Could you give it a copy of the files it needs?

Upload them, or connect the place they live, like Google Drive.
The big robot holding up a card with a question mark
0 of 4 answered The robots are waiting

Rule of thumb: if it needs your laptop, keep the laptop awake. If it doesn't, the cloud can do it while you sleep.

The cheat sheet

Local

  • Runs on your own computer
  • Uses your real files and apps
  • Stops when the lid shuts or the Wi-Fi drops

Cloud

  • Runs on Anthropic's computers
  • Keeps going while you sleep
  • Only has the copy you gave it, so save as you go

Both

  • Claude always does its thinking at Anthropic
  • Some cloud jobs can reach your laptop, but only while it's awake with the Claude app open

Needs your real files? Keep your computer awake. Done while you sleep? Send it to the cloud, with all it needs.The film's last word, at 1:32.

Both robots waving at sunrise

Local or cloud, Claude only knows what you tell it.

My free Business Context Document Starter is the first file I'd give it: one page on who you are, what you sell and who it's for.

Get the free Starter Visit solvstream.io