The End of the Desktop Application?

Today I was discussing with an IM friend my RSS reader of choice, BlogBridge. My friend remarked that everyone used Google Reader now, and in fact was so bold as to suggest desktop applications were “so yesterday”.

I’m shocked to say I can not bring myself to agree but can’t find any huge arguments in favor of Destkop apps! While I am a big fan of certain desktop tools, Photoshop, iTunes, after what I said about Office I can’t say I am completely convinced by them.

Here are the best I could come up with, using BlogBridge as my prime example but also drawing on some of my other favourites:

  1. Regardless of internet connection you can still be productive
  2. Especially when it comes to RSS, download and take with you is still a great model (think flights, commute, etc)
  3. Desktop apps even in the current world of applets, AJAX and Flash tend to be more powerful and feature-rich

It seems to me as the technology progresses #3 will not be the case, plus we do not need to wait for the technology for #2. Unfortunately for my arguments, with my line of work I really need my internet connectivity, and wireless connections are becoming more and more ubiquitous.

Is this the end of the desktop application?

Posted on September 27, 2007 by Chris Garrett 
Filed Under Web 2.0

Comments

4 Responses to “The End of the Desktop Application?”

  1. Pito Salas on September 28th, 2007 5:11 am

    It’s a question/debate I’ve had myself more than once. My feeling is in the end it’s a matter of preference. I use google mail when I am traveling but Mac Mail when I am at my desk. I know people who hate outlook but others who know nothing else.

    If you compare Google Reader with BlogBridge, there’s no comparison I think it’s hard to debate that BlogBridge has it over Google Reader on power as well as snappy performance, and of course it works even when offline (or when Google Reader is offline.)

    But you do have that darned download which is a pain, once.

    By the way, the exact same points make me say that Google Docs will not replace MS Office - it will affect it but never replace it. I use Google Docs for many things I used to go to Word for, but I still would not give up Word.

  2. Jack @ The Tech Teapot on September 28th, 2007 2:51 pm

    The client programming models on the web even with flash and silverlight are in no way comparable to Windows + Mac client APIs. Until such a time as they are it is hard to see the desktop app disappearing. Desktop apps do give more control. If you don’t want to upgrade, don’t. If a web app developer wants to change their design then they can deploy whenever they choose without consultation.

    Many apps are local due to bandwidth constraints. Uploading data to a web app is going to constrain a lot of web apps for a good while yet even at broadband speeds.

    It’s gonna be a while til we are connecting to the internet using fibre!

  3. Chris Garrett on September 28th, 2007 4:20 pm

    @Pito - Yeah and it is hardly a huge download really. I wonder if we think this way because of our technical proficiency, would a beginner computer user prefer the “no setup” and easier tech support of web based software?

    @Jack - I’m not sure, it could be sooner than we think. Just look at bandwidth increases from only 5 years ago. What was once deemed “corporate” bandwidth is now seen as meager by todays consumer standards!

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