mrmat
Just thought about this and wanted to get your opinions. Web Apps are growing and growing, Desktop apps are being replaced by easier,simpler, and powerful Web ones, such as Google Docs replacing Desktop Office suites, online Image Editing apps etc....
Do you think Desktop apps for the average user may come to an end???
J4D
Research cloud computing . its the age of programs booting off remote servers world wide . you can say bye bye to desktop apps . ( that is in developed countries at least ! )
arithma
3D Studio Max, Games, AutoCad.. Those will stay. The other fluffy programs that were never a good candidate to be desktop app in the first place are going up to the cloud.
Ain't it funny: the lighter the application, the higher towards the cloud it will go.
Joe
It is my strong belief that all 'home computing' applications will go to the cloud. The desktop application model will still exist for scientific calculation or business softwares like ERPs.
I also believe a stronger emphasis will be made on distributed architecture (rather than the traditional client-server one).
mrmat
Although Cloud Computing is evolving fast, its going to take some time until everyone is fully adapted to it. The average 'Home Computing' doesn't require anything more than document processing, emailing, and internet browsing, which are all cloud-able, and this is what "Google Chrome OS" is trying to do.
Still, as you guys mentioned, a lot of desktop apps will have no cloud alternative.
It looks like Open Source & Cloud Computing are taking over.
xterm
Browsers are still too weak. You never get the experience on the web, that you get from a desktop app.
Features are irrelevant. Are we headed towards cloud? Yes, will i start replacing my desktop apps with web apps? No.
Joe
Features are irrelevant. Are we headed towards cloud? Yes, will i start replacing my desktop apps with web apps? No.
will you be doing so in 2020?
arithma
Google's Chrome NaCl. Native applications in the browser. The boundaries have been blurred.
Joe
The definition of a web app itself is a bit hazy. What about server-client applications where the client is different than the browser?
We use OpenERP at work. Each employee is free to connect to the server using either a web browser or a heavy client (coded in Python). To each its advantages and flaws. Does this truly go in the sense of a web app?
PS @arithma:
First attempts of Cloud Gaming are being shown. Not saying it is definitely going to work, but worth a look.
Zickar
I think even in Countries as far behind as us in Lebanon one can still enjoy Web apps .. For example The Sound Editor from Aviary (I forgot its name) is snappy , Pixlr for image editing fires up fasetr than Photoshop as well ... I haven't tried the rest of Aviary's application for stuff like video editing and such but generally I haven't been bothered by Web apps .. What gives me headaches is streamin content over the net :D
tom_c
I think the distinction should be: Desktop app vs Browser based app.
Desktop apps need a RT installed on each client machine with the data residing on a server machine.
Browser based app: the data resides on a server also, but all you need to run the app is a browser. Browser based app can be on an intranet or on the internet.
One of my client is a law firm; just the idea of having their file kept outside their premises makes the main partner's hair stand on the back of his neck. The app I designed for them is 100% desktop. I'm having a hard time convincing them to let me convert it to a browser based app with the file still sitting on the same machine. The benefit for me would be big. Instead of upgrading the RT on 9 machines, I would update the app on the server.
On the other hand I have another client, a travel agency, who wants his app ported to the internet because he keeps hearing cloud this cloud that. There will be no real benefit for his business; all his users (employees) are located in the same office.
I guess in the end, it depends on the client's needs and perception.
Joe
tom_c wroteI think the distinction should be: Desktop app vs Browser based app.
Desktop apps need a RT installed on each client machine with the data residing on a server machine.
Browser based app: the data resides on a server also, but all you need to run the app is a browser. Browser based app can be on an intranet or on the internet.
One of my client is a law firm; just the idea of having their file kept outside their premises makes the main partner's hair stand on the back of his neck. The app I designed for them is 100% desktop. I'm having a hard time convincing them to let me convert it to a browser based app with the file still sitting on the same machine. The benefit for me would be big. Instead of upgrading the RT on 9 machines, I would update the app on the server.
On the other hand I have another client, a travel agency, who wants his app ported to the internet because he keeps hearing cloud this cloud that. There will be no real benefit for his business; all his users (employees) are located in the same office.
I guess in the end, it depends on the client's needs and perception.
Interesting. Could price be an incentive to move to outside server hosting? I mean if I felt that it'd be easier for me to host my client's files outside and they refused, I'd make them pay extra ! They have 9 RT, but what about when they'll go up to 20 or 100 ?
babum
that could work, but you need a fast reliable internet connection to make it happen. Imagine yourself trying to work on photoshop and all of the sudden your connections goes dead, or even worse you have to use a FUP for these programs, hahaha.
But i believe that Browser based app are still very undeveloped and need a lot of work before they can be used regularly by customers.
mir
another thing to consider : privacy / security
disregard the tools and if it is doable or no - consider if you want to do it or no .
ex: what if in 10 years, google , microsoft and text editing software manufacturers decide it is more convenient to just have the online tools available.
You don't want to store your data at their servers - either for availability or for privacy issues
what do you do ?
somehow i believe home users will be more cloud oriented - companies should keep stuff to themselves
both worlds should co-exist ;) blablabla boring didn't take a side reply