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Question: why didn't any of these issues prevent the web from taking over the desktop during the years between 1995-2005? Native has always been faster and mor

by johnrob 12y ago

Question: why didn't any of these issues prevent the web from taking over the desktop during the years between 1995-2005? Native has always been faster and more feature rich, on every platform and at every point in time.

jlongster 12y ago
I think its because the bar for native apps wasn't that high back then. Also the interactions required for desktop apps are much simpler than mobile apps, where gestures are key part of interactions. Gesture-based animations is actually part of using the app, instead of on desktop where they just make things look pretty.
frik 12y ago
Really? If you use Windows, you should be familiar with Windows Explorer. Since Win95 with Internet Explorer 4 desktop refresh (shipped also with Win98) you have a trident (IE) web engine in Explorer. The side bar with the metadata and info is DHTML in Win95(IE4), 98, ME, 2000. And a fork of trident code is used in XP and newer. Also WinXP "Software" application to uninstall programs is basically DHTML based. The newer control panel pages, the newer dialogs, etc. The EU demanded that Microsoft has to document the new UI-engine, used in IE "addons" dialog, Vista/7/8/10 Explorer bars & shell dialogs and Office 2007+, so that there no completive advantage. One has yet to find that in MSDN.
apetrovic 12y ago
My guess: 1) Microsoft made Windows too damn fragile. Installing the app means that setup.exe will write all over the hard drive, and uninstall was never easy. Web didn't required install/uninstall. 2) Windows programs, with a few notable exceptions, were/are butt ugly. Web started as an ugly abomination, but designers catched up quickly. Web applications, even then, on slow connections, often provided more pleasant experience. Web app on mobile today doesn't have the same luxury - native app install/uninstall is painless; native applications are better integrated and most of the time handle unstable connections better; good native apps are beautiful and often have superior usability compared to web apps.
Iftheshoefits 12y ago
Most desktops are far overpowered for the (relatively) trivial computing tasks they are used for. As a result the relatively poorer performance of the webapps most people use desktops for is masked to a large degree, where it's even relevant.
bsder 12y ago
Corporate controlled most desktops. The web allowed you to access and run stuff even when IT told you not to. Installing a program simply did not happen without an act of God. Individuals control most phones. The goal of the developers is to intrude on your device and you have permission to allow it. The issues here are same as "web toolbars". Developers want to intrude on your mindspace and the web doesn't allow that easily. Consequently, they have no incentive to build good web apps.

by johnrob 12y ago

jlongster 12y ago

I think its because the bar for native apps wasn't that high back then. Also the interactions required for desktop apps are much simpler than mobile apps, where gestures are key part of interactions. Gesture-based animations is actually part of using the app, instead of on desktop where they just make things look pretty.

frik 12y ago

Really? If you use Windows, you should be familiar with Windows Explorer. Since Win95 with Internet Explorer 4 desktop refresh (shipped also with Win98) you have a trident (IE) web engine in Explorer. The side bar with the metadata and info is DHTML in Win95(IE4), 98, ME, 2000. And a fork of trident code is used in XP and newer. Also WinXP "Software" application to uninstall programs is basically DHTML based. The newer control panel pages, the newer dialogs, etc. The EU demanded that Microsoft has to document the new UI-engine, used in IE "addons" dialog, Vista/7/8/10 Explorer bars & shell dialogs and Office 2007+, so that there no completive advantage. One has yet to find that in MSDN.

apetrovic 12y ago

My guess: 1) Microsoft made Windows too damn fragile. Installing the app means that setup.exe will write all over the hard drive, and uninstall was never easy. Web didn't required install/uninstall. 2) Windows programs, with a few notable exceptions, were/are butt ugly. Web started as an ugly abomination, but designers catched up quickly. Web applications, even then, on slow connections, often provided more pleasant experience. Web app on mobile today doesn't have the same luxury - native app install/uninstall is painless; native applications are better integrated and most of the time handle unstable connections better; good native apps are beautiful and often have superior usability compared to web apps.

Iftheshoefits 12y ago

Most desktops are far overpowered for the (relatively) trivial computing tasks they are used for. As a result the relatively poorer performance of the webapps most people use desktops for is masked to a large degree, where it's even relevant.

bsder 12y ago

Corporate controlled most desktops. The web allowed you to access and run stuff even when IT told you not to. Installing a program simply did not happen without an act of God. Individuals control most phones. The goal of the developers is to intrude on your device and you have permission to allow it. The issues here are same as "web toolbars". Developers want to intrude on your mindspace and the web doesn't allow that easily. Consequently, they have no incentive to build good web apps.