The information age's insatiable appetite for ever-larger servings of digital goodies has turned the humble data center of old into the rock stars of 2010, and Rich Miller over at DataCenterKnowledge.com has compiled a list of what he believes are the biggest of an increasingly oversized breed.Miller's list is intriguing and informative in many respects, but what really jumped out at me is that Microsoft claims four spots on the list of massively gnarly data centers. As Miller writes:

As Miller says, those data centers have indeed become essential in Microsoft's transformation into a Web-centric company and in its ability to compete on modern terms with Google-a confrontation that's the subject of our column this morning called Global CIO: As Google And Microsoft Slug It Out, CIOs Come Out On Top.

Miller's special report on DataCenterKnowledge.com offers a fascinating perspective for not only those involved in planning or operating data centers but also anyone who's intrigued by the application and operation of cutting-edge technology at true scale. He's loaded up his special report with photos, historical perspective, and analysis, and it's definitely worth reading.