‘Cloud’ Computing Microsoft Live Free Giveaway
This week Microsoft are giving us something for nothing… Well, it’s offering software applications through the internet. Google do this already of course but it seems Microsoft now want to get in on the act in an effort to connect windows “more seamlessly” to internet services.
Could we now be seeing the end of packaged software ?
In true Microsoft style they do not fear taking on the likes of Google and not only when it comes to the search engine side of the business. In simple terms Microsoft want to be the leader when it comes to digital information – on pc, on mobile or on the net.
IKBBI 2085 days ago
http://www.ikbbi.co.ukIt will be interesting to see if they actually manage to knock out something interesting though or just something they think people will like… Meh good on them for trying I guess!
Tom 2085 days ago
http://www.secondsighting.co.uk/I don’t think there will be an end to packaged software for a long time. There will always be a need for a computer to be used by oneself, in a physical location, with associated software. Certain software is ideal for being installed locally, for example where something involves a physical output – moving a mouse/keyboard, using a tablet, printing, scanning…
But there is definitely a ton of stuff that would work so much better through the internet.
Alex 2083 days ago
I think over the next 5-10 years Google has a real chance of busting Microsoft’s Windows monopoly by bringing out their own online OS. Then all you’ll need to use a PC will be simple access to the web and a simple computer.
Basically massive super networks and if you think about it networks are what computers are built on and pretty much everything gets networked at some time in the future.
Chris Boswell 2077 days ago
I have a couple of thoughts here – I do really appreciate more freely available software coming out, and I’m a big believer in the benefits of FSF and OSS; however it does hurt the little guy when these megolithic businesses flood the market with Virtual Office software and so forth. A good friend of mine has just invested a fair bit of time and money developing an affordable VO solution, and such developments are obviously going to affect his returns.
I also like online apps for their potential to make a contribution to green computing – more people can get by with lower spec machines, the more they are able to run as thin clients.
However, I seriously doubt this is ever actually going to happen. Some apps and processes are just too business critical (even the humble Office apps), to trust to access via the internet As a case in point, just the other week about 40 businesses in the Halifax area completely lost their broadband connections for several working days, owing to a problem that BT denied was there at the start, and couldn’t fix with any speed as all the additional capacity had been taken up during the flooding. Just shows how vulnerable we are when we depend 100% on our internet connections. It would be foolhardy to say the least to put 100% trust in the availability of online apps.
I guess the upshot is that virtual software is great, but without some sort of synchronisation between offline and online data and a physical backup solution and policy, you wouldn’t want to run a business off it.