Mar 22 2007
Web-Based Apps
Seems like everywhere you look people are getting funding for web-based apps. Like most people I have tried some of Google’s offerings like docs.google.com but have not been impressed. (gmail is my default webmail so I’m not anti-google or anything) I tried opening some excel sheets and even simple ones totally tanked. My impression overall was “pretty nice AJAX is making great strides, but I couldn’t replace any of my desktop apps.” My opinion was that they are basically swinging the pendulum back to a centralized server model like before wintel box on every desk period. Basically copying desktop application and their functionality while providing web-based, always accessible copies. My opinion changed today as I ran across Kiko Calendar. It looks to provide a lot of the functionality of Outlook but with a footprint and interface that is tailored the the web. I then stubbled across 37signals which has a couple different products all based on a web-based app with a pay as you go pricing model. Their offerings include:
- Basecamp™ Project management and collaboration
- Highrise™ Track leads, clients, vendors, and more
- Campfire™ Real-time group chat
- Backpack™ Information organizer and calendar
This is a nice little roundup of apps. I plan on giving them a try going forward. It really changes the ability of small and medium size companies to digitize some processes that previously would have been prohibitively expensive. The backpack application is also very interestin in how they are pitching it. Here are some examples of how people have been using it. It is really amazing the many uses and polymorphic nature of this offering. Just copying a desktop based app isn’t the best strategy. What do you have to change about the interface to make it work.
Another real possibility here is the ability to change the dynamic between customers and suppliers. Now you can pop up an impromptu project management site to deal with a product evalution or some other joint work. It is not as easy as it should be to share digital data when you cna’t get access to your partners network.
- How could you use something like Basecamp or Backpack in your group at work?
- How much better would your interactions with customers and partners be if you had neutral ground for project goals, actions, and project data?
- What applications that are still on the desktop could be switched to AJAX based?
Addition: After I wrote this I saw Seth’s post on the topic also.
