3) No desktop installation required - no screwing around with what build works on your particular OS.
4) IT maintenance - while not a big issue for most of us that post here, for all those mere mortals keeping the software up to date, or upgrading to a new version can be a major headache. With software as a service, its done for you.
5) Accessibility - what if you're outside the firewall and can't get thru the VPN? Again, a bigger deal for mere mortals that/.-ers. (of course the disadvantage is no working offline)
6) less start up risk. If I can start with a couple of seats a month for $50/seat versus having to kick out hundreds or thousands of dollars per desktop copy, it's a better deal (well, legally anyways).
7) Generally the Software as a service providers have better backup/recovery processes than the average SMB (think law firm, not software house).
There's lots more reasons of varying importance. I think the parent's point #1 is probably the most relevant of all tho.
Well, the real reason is that OBL went way over his satphone minutes. Too many text messages. He was real pissed at Cingular (and his son). The whole monitoring thing was just an elaborate way for him to get out of his bill.
Yeah, that was my thought. But astronomy just isn't the same as climatology. The evidence for Global Warming is overwhelming. With Global Warming we know everything already because it's based on.....oh, nevermind.
What we've found is not normal, based on either observational studies or on computer simulations
Personally, I have a far bigger problem accepting that a graph showing a 120 year trend is supposed to mean anything of any significance in the billion or so years that earth has been around.
There's two reasons for this I think. First, MSOffice is generally perceived as "good enough". There's not enough pain for most users to look beyond what gets offered as part of a PC/Laptop package. Even if Adobe's package was available through Dell's website (for example), what would be the incentive? The second reason I see is issues of compatibility and collaboration. If I did choose Adobe, I'd need to know that I can share documents with MSOffice users. If there's *any* doubt on being able to share documents, it's easier for me to just pick what I know will be compatible - MSOffice.
Now I don't profess to be an expert by any means, but it seems that using an ice core from the poles to extrapolate what the average temperature was for the entire planet seems to be cheerfully ignoring any number of other variables. As far as I know, there are no ice cores to be had in Florida.
The earth's climate, in my unsophisticated arm-chair view, seems to be an incredibly complex system that can't be adequately explained by grabbing a few arbitrary ice samples and making grand global and historical generalizations.
The key is "recorded history". 120 years is an eyeblink in earth's history. There simply is not enough data, certainly in this data set, to extrapolate anything other than it appears that there is a slight increase in temperature over 120 years. Who knows what the next 120 years will bring? I'm sure if you were looking at this same data set in 1980 you would've been bemoaning the impending ice age since there was a 30 year trend of dropping temperatures at that point.
Seriously, that was a terrible summary. The reason the scientists think it's okay and not dangerous is because the process of old ice melting and bacteria being reintroduced happens all the time.
Well, in the case of the Google Apps, they are planning on selling it at $50/year. Compare to MS-Office at $400 (best buy price I just looked up). So after 8 years, you'd probably need to buy a new one. With Google Apps, you've got a version that's constantly being updated at no additional price.
Now that said, my economic argument was more intended towards enterprise software - ERP/CRM/BI, etc. Those systems are incredibly expensive and often take months and years to install and implement. The risk is significant since you won't really know if the system works for you until after the implementation period. Even if it does work after that initial financial hit, the yearly maintenance fees paid on the on-premise software is almost the same amount of money that they would pay for an on-demand system, and then the user has to go thru a very painful process trying to upgrade between versions.
Yeah, and bringing 4oz of shampoo on an airplane is a threat to aviation security. And not having my own power generator could result in a lot of spoiled food in the fridge. And using city water could be deadly if it's not filtered properly. And not fixing my own car could cause an accident. Shall I go on? Ok. And not growing my own food means that I have to trust McDonald's not to kill me. And taking Tylenol could kill me (it's happened before you know). And....etc etc etc.
It's risk. When that happens (not if), somebody will get sued, the problems will get fixed, and we'll move on. The economics of the hosted model are too compelling to cause it to go away.
A widely known "fact"? "Safe to say"? Linking to some bloggers is now evidence of said "fact"?? You make value judgments based on how many articles you found in technorati? No wonder you posted as AC.
I've been around long enough to remember an early version of MS-Word that had a glitch that sometimes turned all of its content into nice little asterisks. Completely unrecoverable. I had to wait several months to get a version that didn't have that particular little feature. With a webapp it would've at least been fixed and released within days of discovery FOR ALL USERS with no patches or installs required.
My company has switched some key applications from desktop to webtop and we couldn't be happier. Overall downtime is considerably less than the equivalent desktop app and it doesn't require any of my IT staff to manage.
Slashdot Mirror
3) No desktop installation required - no screwing around with what build works on your particular OS. 4) IT maintenance - while not a big issue for most of us that post here, for all those mere mortals keeping the software up to date, or upgrading to a new version can be a major headache. With software as a service, its done for you. 5) Accessibility - what if you're outside the firewall and can't get thru the VPN? Again, a bigger deal for mere mortals that /.-ers. (of course the disadvantage is no working offline)
6) less start up risk. If I can start with a couple of seats a month for $50/seat versus having to kick out hundreds or thousands of dollars per desktop copy, it's a better deal (well, legally anyways).
7) Generally the Software as a service providers have better backup/recovery processes than the average SMB (think law firm, not software house).
There's lots more reasons of varying importance. I think the parent's point #1 is probably the most relevant of all tho.
Well, the real reason is that OBL went way over his satphone minutes. Too many text messages. He was real pissed at Cingular (and his son). The whole monitoring thing was just an elaborate way for him to get out of his bill.
How is the above comment a troll? It's probably the truth.
Gah. I must be new here.
Yeah, that was my thought. But astronomy just isn't the same as climatology. The evidence for Global Warming is overwhelming. With Global Warming we know everything already because it's based on.....oh, nevermind.
What we've found is not normal, based on either observational studies or on computer simulations
Flame On!
well sorry, but that's a load of crap.
Hey, we've already been there.
Fox farks Fark's fark.
Darl's SCOX sucks Cox
Google bungles YouTube's bundles
Global Greedy Gluttons Gleefully Grind Glaciers
I couldn't get anything to rhyme with "RIAA"
Personally, I have a far bigger problem accepting that a graph showing a 120 year trend is supposed to mean anything of any significance in the billion or so years that earth has been around.
There's two reasons for this I think. First, MSOffice is generally perceived as "good enough". There's not enough pain for most users to look beyond what gets offered as part of a PC/Laptop package. Even if Adobe's package was available through Dell's website (for example), what would be the incentive? The second reason I see is issues of compatibility and collaboration. If I did choose Adobe, I'd need to know that I can share documents with MSOffice users. If there's *any* doubt on being able to share documents, it's easier for me to just pick what I know will be compatible - MSOffice.
You said you wanted to be a marine biologist! Now go up to your room and dissect that shark! What else are you going to do with your life? Sales?
Sure I've heard of ice cores.
Now I don't profess to be an expert by any means, but it seems that using an ice core from the poles to extrapolate what the average temperature was for the entire planet seems to be cheerfully ignoring any number of other variables. As far as I know, there are no ice cores to be had in Florida.
The earth's climate, in my unsophisticated arm-chair view, seems to be an incredibly complex system that can't be adequately explained by grabbing a few arbitrary ice samples and making grand global and historical generalizations.
The key is "recorded history". 120 years is an eyeblink in earth's history. There simply is not enough data, certainly in this data set, to extrapolate anything other than it appears that there is a slight increase in temperature over 120 years. Who knows what the next 120 years will bring? I'm sure if you were looking at this same data set in 1980 you would've been bemoaning the impending ice age since there was a 30 year trend of dropping temperatures at that point.
chiPhone
while (1){
Beer b = (Beer)getBeer();
drinkBeer(b);
belch(BelchType.LOUDLY);
}
I... c.
Seriously, that was a terrible summary. The reason the scientists think it's okay and not dangerous is because the process of old ice melting and bacteria being reintroduced happens all the time.
Nothing to see here, move along.
My attention span doesn't last th
And all along I thought I was the only one that ever happened to.
I really like Apple and have never been let down by their hardware
[cough]Newton[cough]
Snide remarks aside, my somewhat techno-luddite wife saw an ad for the iPhone the other day and was completely enamored with it.
I'm waiting for the audiobook (as long I can download it off of somebody's website).
I said - Did you place the BOMB UNDERNEATH the TRASHCAN???? The trashcan by that surv- ...uh. I'll call back.
Well, in the case of the Google Apps, they are planning on selling it at $50/year. Compare to MS-Office at $400 (best buy price I just looked up). So after 8 years, you'd probably need to buy a new one. With Google Apps, you've got a version that's constantly being updated at no additional price.
Now that said, my economic argument was more intended towards enterprise software - ERP/CRM/BI, etc. Those systems are incredibly expensive and often take months and years to install and implement. The risk is significant since you won't really know if the system works for you until after the implementation period. Even if it does work after that initial financial hit, the yearly maintenance fees paid on the on-premise software is almost the same amount of money that they would pay for an on-demand system, and then the user has to go thru a very painful process trying to upgrade between versions.
Yeah, and bringing 4oz of shampoo on an airplane is a threat to aviation security. And not having my own power generator could result in a lot of spoiled food in the fridge. And using city water could be deadly if it's not filtered properly. And not fixing my own car could cause an accident. Shall I go on? Ok. And not growing my own food means that I have to trust McDonald's not to kill me. And taking Tylenol could kill me (it's happened before you know). And ....etc etc etc.
It's risk. When that happens (not if), somebody will get sued, the problems will get fixed, and we'll move on. The economics of the hosted model are too compelling to cause it to go away.
A truly properly maintained and secured system should shit on online apps for reliability of access.
Here, let me help you with that:
A truly properly maintained and secured hosted system should shit on desktop apps for reliability of access.
There. Now, you prove your version, and I'll prove mine.
A widely known "fact"? "Safe to say"? Linking to some bloggers is now evidence of said "fact"?? You make value judgments based on how many articles you found in technorati? No wonder you posted as AC.
I've been around long enough to remember an early version of MS-Word that had a glitch that sometimes turned all of its content into nice little asterisks. Completely unrecoverable. I had to wait several months to get a version that didn't have that particular little feature. With a webapp it would've at least been fixed and released within days of discovery FOR ALL USERS with no patches or installs required.
My company has switched some key applications from desktop to webtop and we couldn't be happier. Overall downtime is considerably less than the equivalent desktop app and it doesn't require any of my IT staff to manage.