Apache Hadoop started as batch: simple, powerful, efficient, scalable, and a shared platform. However, Hadoop is more than that. It's true strengths are:

• Scalability – it's affordable due to it being open-source and its use of commodity hardware for reliable distribution.
• Schema on read – you can afford to save everything in raw form.
• Data is better than algorithms – More data and a simple algorithm can be much more meaningful than less data and a complex algorithm.

Next Steps

• Get started with Hadoop using CDH
• Watch Mike Olson interviewed regarding Hadoop in action
• View the Beyond Batch slide deck