Web apps vs. desktop apps. I fully agree. Native apps are always better. and considerably better if they are scriptable. I really like Salesforce.com but part of me keeps wishing they had a desktop client. I think one difference is with the typical Windows app there isn’t much UI innovation so there isn’t a huge difference between web apps and Windows apps. On the Mac things are different. I should add that I think this is a real issue for Microsoft.
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#1 by John Harrison on 2010/02/04 - 5:37 pm
A well done web app will provide a web services interface that can provide sophisticated users with even more functionality than a scriptable thick client. There are pluses and minuses either way.
#2 by clark on 2010/02/04 - 9:05 pm
Well yes. But that’s about as useful as saying that a well done Mac application will have Applescript with a robust dictionary. The problem is that it typically doesn’t happen. If there is an API it’s usually either half-hearted with huge limits or else they charge an arm and a leg to access it (such as with SalesForce.com).
The fact is that most web services have pretty poor APIs. And even the good ones are often frustratingly limited.