Web apps replacing desktop apps--for me

[AERachael]

Windows XP Home is my primary operating system. But I find myself removing programs installed on my computer more and more often, turning to Web applications instead. For example, the programs I've kept installed are:

- My security programs of choice (few--I rely mostly on safe browsing and packet analysis with Ethereal for fun).
- Mozilla Firefox with NoScript, my web browser and add-on of choice.
- Adobe Reader and Java, the essentials.

For checking and writing e-mail, I've migrated from an e-mail client to webmail. Like Gmail (mail.google.com/), which is also useful for backups because of its large storage capacity.

For a calendar, I no longer use an e-mail client or add-on but use Google Calendar (www.google.com/calendar), a service with Gmail. Google Reader (www.google.com/reader) is another service I use in conjunction with Gmail to check my feeds.

For instant messaging, I've moved from an I.M. client to Meebo (www.meebo.com/), which lets me sign on to AIM, Yahoo!, Google Talk, and MSN all at once.

And the most impressive migration I've made is from Microsoft Office to ThinkFree Online (www.thinkfree.com/). I'll include some pictures to show how accurate ThinkFree is, making Office users feel at home:

- Document (http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7122/documentkp8.jpg) (Word)
- Spreadsheet (http://img112.imageshack.us/img112/5716/spreadsheetzl0.jpg) (Excel)
- Presentation (http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/4/presentationlb7.jpg) (PowerPoint)

It's a Java app, and it offers the majority of features Office does. It's an amazing alternative--you can upload and edit actual Office files, read and edit ThinkFree files with actual Office programs, and save your files as PDFs.

And the benefit of going Web-based--I can do it all from any computer with an Internet connection. And it's free.

[Dan18960]

Rachael,

Except your "office" suite is OLD - you apparently haven't looked at Office 2007.

AND while this is all well and good - what happens IF your internet access goes down for A DAY :eek: .

Your completely dead in the water. Sure you won't be able to get email or surf the web if you lose the internet services, but IF your a business and need to look at a word document record, enter spreadsheet updates for a quote, or need to tweak a presentation for that meeting next week, you friend are hosed!

AND what security do you have that someone can't hack Google's server and take your info?

You are a trusting soul, I, however, have no faith that an internet company or server is safe from prying eyes and slippery fingers.

[mommalina]

Rachael, we told you about GRUMPY Dan earlier. Can't get mad at him,
however -- he's usually right. In fact, I can't recall when he's been wrong;
that is, about computers .. :)


Lina

[kern]

Rachael,
The security issues are cause for concern. For an alternative to M$ Office, try Open Office >>> http://www.openoffice.org/

[AERachael]

Oh yeah, I remember Grumpy Dan. :) But as I'm only 16, I don't worry about having private information stored anywhere--an interesting point for others, though. The reason I like the idea: At home I have Office Basic (Word and Excel, no PowerPoint) on another computer, so being able to create presentations for school without having to buy it is big for me. And as for Office 2007, it will probably be supported soon. Then there's always Viewer (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=048dc840-14e1-467d-8dca-19d2a8fd7485&displaylang=en).

About OpenOffice, it's not of much use to me, as it and Office don't work hand-in-hand. So if you take my presentation-for-school example, I'd have to download OpenOffice at my school first, which would then be removed overnight. Plus there aren't as many features as are in Office (at least in presentations), and I don't care for the OpenOffice layout. But security is a concern; ThinkFree's a good concept as far as convenience goes.

[Dan18960]

But as I'm only 16, I don't worry about having private information stored anywhere--an interesting point for others, though.

Ah, young Grasshopper, you apparently don't know (or have not researched) that ANYONE with a Soc Sec number is open to idenity theft today.

While I PERSONALLY don't know of a victim - there are reports of id thieves using minor's soc sec numbers to establish accounts and riping off the banks and causing issues that are not known of years later when applying for college, auto insurance, opening bank accounts, and getting that first job!

But then I am an old man, already have my mortgage loan for my house, have my bank acounts setup, auto insurance history for decades, retired from the grindstone, and now work at my hobbie that pays well.

[AERachael]

Ah, young Grasshopper, you apparently don't know (or have not researched) that ANYONE with a Soc Sec number is open to idenity theft today.
I know; all I'm saying is I don't store any enticing integers on the World Wide Web. ;) To clarify: When I said "I don't worry about having private information stored anywhere," I was thinking along the lines of financial information that business owners or other people may have and save on some computer medium.

[Phelyx]

Rachael, also you can integrate your gmail into Mozilla's Thunderbird, which also would provide a calendar based off Google calendar. I find it a much better application than Outlook and is perfect for gmail. Unlike Dan, I personally hate Office 2007 and still use 2003 or openoffice for my papers. For your IM client.. I use Pidgin which allows me to integrate all IM clients in one, so when I have a client who prefers to use some obscure chat program like google talk, gadu gadu or even Groupwise (ick) I can simply add a username and add it to my overall contact list.

Also unlike Dan, if my Internet doesn't work... I'm usually not on my computer but down working on my router to configure the problem or cussing at my ISP.

[Guest117]

Hey, you are too young to be on here anyway.
This site rated:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d53/NickGrana/NC17.gif:D

[AERachael]

Rachael, also you can integrate your gmail into Mozilla's Thunderbird, which also would provide a calendar based off Google calendar. ... I personally hate Office 2007 and still use 2003 or openoffice for my papers. For your IM client, I use Pidgin which allows me to integrate all IM clients in one ...
Thanks for the suggestions, Phelyx. I just found it interesting to see how Web apps are competing against desktop apps, and that they're doing a good job of it too. For example, even if you don't like the thought of using ThinkFree, how well it emulates Microsoft Office.

... if my Internet doesn't work, I'm usually not on my computer but down working on my router to configure the problem or cussing at my ISP.
That's the spirit. But there's no excuse for inappropriate language, remember now.

This site rated: NC-17
Not Cool if 17--ah, yes, I've seen that before, Nick. :)