Will online desktops kill Microsoft?

[Sealbhach]

http://live.gnome.org/OnlineDesktop

http://www.noboxmedia.com/11/web20-online-desktops/

If people use the internet more and more for their personal files and apps, perhaps the desktop is fast becoming obsolete?

Meaning that the OS you use to access the internet is not really that important....

.

[zmjjmz]

I read a column in eWeek saying that web browsers need to step up on stability before Web 2.0 trumps the desktop.
Like, if a web app crashes in one tab, it shouldn't take out the entire browser.

[fatality_uk]

http://live.gnome.org/OnlineDesktop

http://www.noboxmedia.com/11/web20-online-desktops/

If people use the internet more and more for their personal files and apps, perhaps the desktop is fast becoming obsolete?

Meaning that the OS you use to access the internet is not really that important....

.

Nope. For home users maybe, but a business wouldn't, at this moment in time, rely on mission critical software delivered over the web.

[mr.propre]

Web application will surly change the way we work but an OS will still be needed and the option to work offline to.

[zmjjmz]

Also, today's internet speeds and prices are just unable to deliver that kind of functionality comfortably.
It may not be fair, but the ISP's are being jackasses.

[acelin]

I do not want any of my stuff on the internet. Nothing. I want my files, my programs, my settings, all on a computer I can have offline as well. Tell the cloud to rain.

[Lord Xeb]

I am not really getting the point of an online desktop...

[zmjjmz]

I do not want any of my stuff on the internet. Nothing. I want my files, my programs, my settings, all on a computer I can have offline as well. Tell the cloud to rain.

I totally agree with you except in 2 conditions:
a) The files are encrypted with my own password not stored anywhere except in my head.
b) The company hosting the web app has a very good privacy policy.

I think it will take over in places where the content itself is not private or anything, and if it's more convenient than using a desktp one (I don't think having your own bit of space for it or anything is useful, your computer has a hard drive for a reason!)

[Midwest-Linux]

No, for two reasons. The question of privacy and potential privacy loss and identity theft issues need to be addressed. If one stores several GB of files online, what guarantee is there that someone, somewhere has the potential to access those files other than you?

The minute you let data out of your physical building or surroundings, it is out of your hands period and you have to rely on someone else word or some company's promise it "will be safe".

Another issue is the growing problem of "bandwidth caps" imposed by the ISP's, suppose you have 20 GB of data online. And you need to access all 20 GB for some reason, but you already used 5 GB this month and your cap is 10 GB. Guess what? You are SOL.

While "cloud computing" and "online desktops" probably have their place. Unless the security issues and bandwidth "caps" are dealt with. Then this method is not ready for prime time. And whether or not it will "kill Microsoft" is irrelevant.

[zmjjmz]

I highly doubt that it will kill Microsoft.
The computers will still need an operating system and a good web browser.
So all MS has to do is create a bare OS with a bunch of links and an improved version of IE, and they're in business.
They may lose 50% of their revenue from MS Office, but they could easily provide pay-for subscription based access to an online version of MS Office.

Actually, it will take a lot of breath out of under-funded OSS projects.
Now you need a powerful datacenter and a hosting provider to get your software out there instead of just a single little page on Google Code or Sourceforge or Freshmeat.