Web-based software: Not for prime-time yet?

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The problem with web based applications is the browser

For some reason software suppliers have assumed the only way to offer internet connectivity is through the web browser. The new ?Smart Client? method whereas desktop applications can connect to data via web services is a much better way for business applications like SAP to go.

While I agree that Ajax technology is certainly improving the usability of web applications you have download quite a bit of javascript to get them going. To me, the lack of keyboard shortcuts and the fact that business documents (like check, sales order, invoices, etc) first need to print to Adobe Acrobat first really diminishes the usability of browser based applications. I have personally spoke to a number of companies that have had to actually INCREASE staff when moving to one of the more popular web based business applications to get the same amount of work done. Remember when we all speed around from screen to screen in DOS with shortcut keys? What happened?

In comparison a smart client application has all of the advantages of both a desktop application and a web browser application. It can access data over both a LAN (via TCP/IP) or the Internet (via Web Services). Since there is no HTML, Javascript, CSS or Graphics to download - and static data can be cached in a local SQL Express database ? Smart Clients are much faster than comparable browser based applications. Furthermore, Smart Clients can access multiple CPU threads which is like Ajax on steroids and can evelve to offer offline capabilities.

After all, given the choice, users prefer the desktop version of Outlook (Smart Client) compared to the Outlook for web (AJAX).

Posted by: interprisesolutions   Posted on: 04/17/06 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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