The real threat behind Web 2.0 and the Network Computer
The Web 2.0 concept, open models, both still arguably embryonic in a lot of ways (the former much more than the latter) and are serving to be as threatening to platform vendors as they are liberating to end users. But the real reason this has OS vendors like Microsoft shaking in their boots? It empowers me, the consumer, with the ability to change computers at any time.
I can quickly ditch my Windows XP Professional PC for a new Mac Powerbook and not lose a beat. As long as I'm in range of a decent WiFi connection (and support soon for WiMAX, mesh networks and smart radios), I'd just need to sign-in to my various web-based services and I'm back in business. Instant synchronicity and no time lost doing installation/setup/configuration of a slew of applications to bring me back up to speed. I launch a web browser, visit my services, maybe set some cookies, and it's like I never left.
Because I never did.
On the contrary, NewsForge wisely cites three reasons against the practice of Internet-based applications, all rooted in ill-serving ISPs and the fickleness of infrastructure, both in regional networks, and in the Internet itself.
I can quickly ditch my Windows XP Professional PC for a new Mac Powerbook and not lose a beat. As long as I'm in range of a decent WiFi connection (and support soon for WiMAX, mesh networks and smart radios), I'd just need to sign-in to my various web-based services and I'm back in business. Instant synchronicity and no time lost doing installation/setup/configuration of a slew of applications to bring me back up to speed. I launch a web browser, visit my services, maybe set some cookies, and it's like I never left.
Because I never did.
On the contrary, NewsForge wisely cites three reasons against the practice of Internet-based applications, all rooted in ill-serving ISPs and the fickleness of infrastructure, both in regional networks, and in the Internet itself.
posted by Jason Salas @ 2:02 PM
1 Comments:
At October 21, 2005 3:21 PM,
nabiy said…
Hi!
I hope you don’t mind me commenting on your post. Before I begin, did you check out thinkfree.com? It’s a free web-based office suite but it's java based.
Anyways, I think there are other reasons (aside from infrastructure) the Web 2.0 movement will remain in the minority when it comes to major desktop applications. The first of these reasons is accessible data storage. I have a USB drive and carry my data in my pocket. Why do I need to leave it on the web?
Another reason is open data formats. Open XML based file formats (such as the open document format) allow easy exchange of data. Even Microsoft will be adopting an XML based file format for their Office applications. This negates the ‘benefit’ you mentioned of being able to switch between systems and applications.
Finally, web-based technologies at best can only offer second-rate performance when compared to lower level programming languages. No matter what you do, a compiled language will outperform an interpreted language any day. People like performance, they like fast cars, fast women, and fast computers – web based office suites don’t fall into this category.
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