Google web services threaten Windows desktop

By Stan Beer
Monday, 04 September 2006 19:48

Opinion and Analysis

I just know I'm going to get criticised for blogging about this but I feel I must. We at iTWire have just run another poll and, like it or not, I'm going to comment on the results, which say that a clear majority of readers believe that Google web services pose a threat to the Microsoft desktop.

We did the poll over five days and got a relatively small sample of 301 respondents to the question: Are Google web services a serious threat to Microsoft desktop software?  198 (65.8%) answered yes;  103 (34.2%) answered no.

The point is that the results indicate that the perception is out there in cyberspace that web services - and particularly Google web services - will one day rule the roost and relegate the Microsoft desktop, including both Windows and Office to a state of irrelevancy.

At this point in time, this perception may not be even a remotely realistic one but the writing is on the wall. In our increasingly connected world, web services is the way of the future.

As cases in point, both Google Calendar and Google's Writely wordprocessor, which is still in beta, have shown themselves to be acceoptable and easy to use alternatives to their Microsoft desktop counterparts for a vast majority of non-demanding middle of the road users.

So what's my point? Just this. Web services applications are only going to get better. Google Spreadsheet right now is Mickey Mouse but one day soon it will be the equivalent of Excel online. What happens then? The conclusion is obvious.

Why would you want to tie yourself down to a proprietary computer platform like Windows on a specific computer, when you can have access to your applications and data on any computer, anywhere at practically any time - provided you have an internet connection and a browser? What's more, unlike the software you used to pay for, the services are much cheaper and, if supported by advertising, can even be free.

An obvious objection is that you can't always find a place to connect to the internet. However, with the advent of technologies like citywide Wi-Fi, WiMax and other wireless broadband solutions, one day soon it will be possible to stay connected indefinitely.

Like I said, this will probably upset a few people but there's no sense sticking our heads in the sand, web services will one day soon make Windows and other proprietary operating systems redundant. The Writely is on the wall.