The Webtop is Dead?
Posted on December 28, 2007 by Ben Cecka
According to a recent survey by NPD, the following was found:
Ninety-four percent of U.S. consumers have never heard of Web-based productivity suite alternatives. A mere 0.5 percent have substituted Web-based productivity suites for desktop software such as Microsoft Office. Chris Swenson, NPD’s director of Software Industry Analysis, described the 0.5 percent figure as being a “bit high.” Swenson predicted worldwide usage to be even lower than the United States
Some have gone as far as to say that the Web office suite is on its way out?! Please. It’s hardly touched the threshold, why rush it out the back door?
I do agree, however, that these types of tools are better spread through necessity of actual problem solving. The average consumer probably hasn’t used or heard of it yet because they don’t have a problem with their local tools.
The fact of the matter is that these new Web applications aren’t ready for the prime-time yet (hence most are still listed as beta). But you can bet your money that as soon as local and Web data are synced smoothly and with more applications (look to Google Gears), the balance will most certainly be tipped for many.
Technorati Tags: google apps, google docs, web office
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3 Responses to “The Webtop is Dead?”
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I wouldn’t say it’s out the door at all, as you’ve mentioned, it hardly touched the threshold. I worked on Peepel (www.peepel.com) as one of my previous developing roles, and I know the possibilities online webtops can have.
Every day we had new ideas, new improvements, and better ways to make our lives more productive. The biggest barrier at the moment is trying to meet the standards our current office applications and operating systems have.
Even Microsoft are developing Office to go online, it will benefit them hugely as it will cut out piracy my $millions.
As soon as those standards have been met, watch out!
Correction: piracy by $millions
Thanks for the comment and I like your point about piracy. The online subscription or ad-based model certainly poses an advantage to installed apps.