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i think the point is that the web is not an easy platform to create apps for. so, when you end up choosing to do, you should ask yourself if it really is the be

i think the point is that the web is not an easy platform to create apps for. so, when you end up choosing to do, you should ask yourself if it really is the best place. for data that really needs to be shared with other users, like social networks, the web is really the best place for it, and the benefits of that connectivity outweighs the complete pain of doing so. for something like spreadsheet software, you dont want to replace Excel, you want to add features that Excel would have an incredibly difficult time matching, like sharing and collaboration. the web is a great way to share information with other people, and apps that rely on such sharing find their way to the internet.

ashu 19y ago
Web-based software also allows you to constantly update your software without even making the user aware that the software is getting updated. To my mind, that is one of the biggest advantages of web-based software and one of the reasons why it will ultimately kill most forms of "desktop" software.
- axod 19y ago
  Not to mention you can use webapps from your wii console, iPhone, etc etc. You get multiple platform support pretty much free.
SirWart 19y ago
I use google docs on a regular basis, and it pains me how bad it is sometimes. The worst part about it is that it's not the people writing the software, it's that the web is a really lousy platform for certain applications. I can't think of any other reasons a 10 line spreadsheet would bring a brand new machine to its knees. On the flip side, I use google docs because it's free, works anywhere on any platform without installation, and it is way better for collaboration than office. Maybe once the improved standards and JIT javascript compilers come with the next wave of browsers these applications will really come into full force. At this point I don't care how good the desktop applications are, for certain tasks that don't require anything more than rich text editing I'll stick with online tools.

ashu 19y ago

Web-based software also allows you to constantly update your software without even making the user aware that the software is getting updated. To my mind, that is one of the biggest advantages of web-based software and one of the reasons why it will ultimately kill most forms of "desktop" software.

axod 19y ago
Not to mention you can use webapps from your wii console, iPhone, etc etc. You get multiple platform support pretty much free.

SirWart 19y ago

I use google docs on a regular basis, and it pains me how bad it is sometimes. The worst part about it is that it's not the people writing the software, it's that the web is a really lousy platform for certain applications. I can't think of any other reasons a 10 line spreadsheet would bring a brand new machine to its knees. On the flip side, I use google docs because it's free, works anywhere on any platform without installation, and it is way better for collaboration than office. Maybe once the improved standards and JIT javascript compilers come with the next wave of browsers these applications will really come into full force. At this point I don't care how good the desktop applications are, for certain tasks that don't require anything more than rich text editing I'll stick with online tools.