Applications from Hard Drive to Internet

There are plenty of advantages to using online applications rather than running them on your hard drive. Such applications are finally starting to catch up with software like Microsoft Office. In this article we'll consider why you might want to use online applications and take a look at the capabilities of what is out there.


Read the full article here: Applications from Hard Drive to Internet

For more discussion go here: Blog Article Discussion

Yes there are advantages but the disadvantages for me don't yet make it worthwhile.

For now I'll stick to my trusty Pen-drive for my applications...but I have for years used an Internet based e-mail service which also adopts my home pop3 email account.

Very interesting article none the less.

I've very against cloud computing and online applications. Just like I don't like downloading full versions of games or software (paying to download). Sure it's a great option to have (like Steam) but I want a hard copy (CD/DVD) of what I own.

PROS:
access from any location (or at least easy to get installed back on your main system if needed)
Using someone else's storage space (which will be limited to low amounts like 1-5GB for the first decade or so).

CONS:
I suspect RIAA and MPAA and DRM advocates are pushing hard for this so they can have a free (or secretive) scan of your personal documents.
ISP bandwidth/usage caps
If the server goes down or they lose several hard drives or the server gets hacked, you can lose your stuff.
No hard copy (unless you copy it to the PC first and then upload it).
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Personally I prefer to manage my own backups and systems without having to rely on online services. Until they allow 500GB online storage for free or very low cost ($5/month) I will pay my one time $100 for a 500GB NAS/backup hard drive locally.

just reminising over article - I remember when Floppies where 8" and only people with huge budgets would have a 5MB LOL hard drive. You would even run a multi-user accouting system from floppies oh and there where no PC's yet

I also like to be able to hold what I own or part with substantial money for (I know I am old fashioned like an 8" disk).

The issues of online software means the vendor will be more in control of what software version you will use, you will end up having less choice about when to choose to upgrade. You will not be able to do what you can today with add-ons (not in the same way) to enhance your apps.

When you are travelling (internationally) the cost to access the internet can be astonomical and very unreliable, this makes working with these apps under these circumstances very frustrating.

Until internet access becomes much more reliable (end to end), suitable consistant bandwidth is in place and costs are reasonable I am likely to shy away from most online apps where I never purchase anything I just subscribe to the use of the service and am at times going to pay a service fee for something I cannot use because of access.

I can appreciate the convenience, but I think this concept is extremely lacking in both security and privacy for quite obvious reasons. You have no control over who has access to a server that you have most likely never seen with your own eyes.