Computer Habits Changing
My computer habits have changed in the last year. I’ve noticed that I’m using more web based software. I find data portability to be the over riding factor in the products I use. Last year, I changed from using Apple’s Mail program to using Google Apps for my email, calendar and documents. This gives me amazing flexibility. I’m able to get my email, calendar, and documents wherever I have access to a web browser. With the advent of ajax and lean javascript frameworks, developers are creating products that act more like desktop applications, thus making operating systems less relevant.
I’ve also switched from using Safari to using Firefox exclusively. I’ve grown attached to a Firefox extension called Foxmarks. The extensions syncs bookmarks to all of the computers that you use. This isn’t revolutionary, but it’s a free service and it works seamlessly.
As more and more web based applications supplant desktop applications, it makes you think that the debate between Windows, MacOSX and Linux is irrelevant. I can also see hardware sales stagnating, with most of the data storage and processing off loaded to the network.
Are your computer habits changing?
→ Jack T @ July 29th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
Interesting!
I made exactly the same change a few months ago. I was tired using all things Apple so I canned Mail and iCal for Google apps.
I was also completely lost in a Browser complication. Had been using Safari quite a lot, Opera and Firefox. I decided it would be simpler just to use Firefox. I’m not sure if it is faster or more reliable, but it has some very useful extensions (for web developers check out the “web developer toolbar” and “firebug”).
As for Apps becoming web based, it is well welcome for applications that need to be portable like email and a calendar. But would you really like to use a web based application to build websites? I don’t think I would. When (trying to) being productive you need a lot of responsiveness from your computer. Web based apps do not have this. There are far too many bottlenecks holding responsiveness back.
→ Rik Catlow @ July 30th, 2007 at 5:10 am
I agree that there will always be need for development computers, but for the average user most of there computing can be done on a thin client.
→ Cori @ July 30th, 2007 at 9:56 pm
Wow, I’ve never noticed it, but I have been using web-based applications a lot lately. I’m a part-time newbie freelancer so free apps are a life saver for me. I’ve found a free invoicing app called Side Job Tracking and a project management app called Tick all are quite useful at this time.
Opera was my main browser but I’ve switched to Safari because it just seemed to be simpler to use. I don’t really care about the widgets but being able to check your mail as well as feeds through Opera is really cool. I only use Firefox and IE when testing websites. Google calendar is the best and it has been the only thing that helps me with time management.
→ Tony M @ August 15th, 2007 at 8:50 am
there seems to be a presumption that you’ll always have an internet connection… which seems a flaw in a professional work ethic. I suppose if you are professional you would not consider trying to work in a space unless you were assured of such a simple thing.
→ mike @ September 20th, 2007 at 11:27 pm
I can totally relate to your post.
As a windows user, I used to swear by outlook express, sunbird, firefox, msn and the like. Now, having more than one computers, syncing apps and data is becoming an increasingly difficult task. In the end I started using the app-based alternative (gmail/google cal/google reader/facebook) which significantly consolidated the number of programs I need.