It's true that it's less powerful, but it doesn't matter because the ease of use gained from having the apps and the data "out there" will vastly outweigh the lack of capability for the majority of users.
Only in the long term. Short term, my iPod doesn't have a Wi-Fi card, and the only way to get music on it is via USB directly through the OS. So you're not going to see a web based iTunes for a reason. We may be heading towards the cloud, but there are absolutely cases where "out there" does not vastly outweigh capabilities for even the most common of scenarios.
On another note, consider the struggles of monetizing the cloud? Unless you want to pay monthly fees for storage, your data isn't going to fit fit. Beyond that, you should also consider security and lag.
The desktop will still be relevant for a long long time because it still offers practical solutions to everyday problems. Maybe we just notice these things less because the desktop needs an overhaul (see Adobe AIR).
Or HSQLDB, H2, Derby for that matter...
It's true that it's less powerful, but it doesn't matter because the ease of use gained from having the apps and the data "out there" will vastly outweigh the lack of capability for the majority of users.
Only in the long term. Short term, my iPod doesn't have a Wi-Fi card, and the only way to get music on it is via USB directly through the OS. So you're not going to see a web based iTunes for a reason. We may be heading towards the cloud, but there are absolutely cases where "out there" does not vastly outweigh capabilities for even the most common of scenarios.
On another note, consider the struggles of monetizing the cloud? Unless you want to pay monthly fees for storage, your data isn't going to fit fit. Beyond that, you should also consider security and lag.
The desktop will still be relevant for a long long time because it still offers practical solutions to everyday problems. Maybe we just notice these things less because the desktop needs an overhaul (see Adobe AIR).