Frankly, only simple, moderate-to-low bandwidth demand apps are suitable for being served from the web. (And yes, live streaming video is only a very moderate bandwidth demand). Some advanced users may find their needs fulfilled with web-only apps, but for the most part, web only apps are suitable for the needs of low-end users who just wanna surf the web, create simple to moderately complicated office-type documents (and a very few other relatively simple file types), view streaming media, etc. But try using web apps to compose a music score or edit a movie or even do extremely simple sound file editing (comparable to the very basic functions available in something like Audacity). *yech* Not happening.

And I’m trying to imagine some small businesses I consult for that’re required by law to maintain complete, total and absolute client confidentiality running their legal software or patient records or even their bookkeeping from a web-only OS. I really don’t see them jumping on board that one with enthusiasm. I can see such things being done with relative safety (and have set up some VPN access doing such things in very limited cases), but “relative” isn’t a comfortable term for some of these folks’ justifiably paranoid concerns in an atmosphere where commonsense and “best faith efforts” no longer afford protection from litigation.

No, as far as the ordinary user who just wants to surf, email, etc., a web-only “OS” is just fine. Folks who should receive a medal every time they get to WalMart and back without causing a 15-car pile-up are a subset of “average users” (Call them “Sub-moronic Users”) that SHOULD be limited to web-only apps run by a web-only “OS” (and probably in an “Assisted Computing Facility” where aides do the actual “computing” for them, e.g., “Here, dearie, let me make that mouse click FOR you”). Users who actually want to do anything beyond those super simple things need apps run on their local computer, and that still requires an operating system that isn’t web-only.

I might consider something like Google’s Chrome OS for a small web appliance running in the kitchen, right next to the toaster or waffle iron, but for daily use I require much, much, MUCH more.

Over time more and more things are becoming browser focused, but they are all such a long way from the leading edge they have become commodities, used by those who traditionally avoided computers.

In some ways Apple is working very hard to make sure the OS matters, what were traditionally web applications (or phone before them), like ordering a pizza, are now custom applications that have to be written for the iPhone OS itself to work best. Microsoft and Adobe are heading in the other direction with Silverlight and Flash intended to eventually be totally OS-independent. Google have had some sucess in the ‘plug-in not required’ web application space, however while simple applications like Gmail are very good, they’re not ‘quite’ up to the standard of desktop applications, and Google Docs is a long way behind. This is mainly due to browser limitations, and the internet as a whole is being, and will continue to be, held back almost a decade due to the users reluctance to upgrade their browser (despite their eagerness to install plugins, benign or harmful).

The desktop OS is likely to become ‘less’ relevant, but it’s not going to be irrelevant for most users, at least in the next 10-15 years.

Most applications that I use are completely on the OS. I use so few web based apps because I have no use for them. I’m not a “oh look, pretty” kind of guy. I need something to be able to do what I need it to do and that’s it. Many webapps offer a lot, but not enough to make me use them on a constant basis. I mostly use the web to download stock photos for my manipulations in Paint Shop Pro.

They are even trying to develop technologies that allow web-apps to gain much of the same processing speed an power as a regular application, using the OS to do this.

I could never work entirely online, I need my OS. I need my desktop and my offline programs. I still carry my USB wherever I go. A lot will go online, but most will stay on the actual offline desktop in my opinion. It just makes more sense to do so in my opinion.

The whole “The Web is the OS” concept was DOA. I suppose many techies like to feel like the Paul Revere of the internet in proclaiming what is to come. PCs are too powerful and too cheap to have all their functionality simply swept away into the cloud.

I see the future as each household having some sort of centralized server, whether it is a ‘home server’ or an HTPC. Connected to that server will be the traditional desktops and laptops but also devices that will help make peoples homes intelligent. Sprinkler systems, alarm systems, A/C thermostats, smart refrigerators, car alarms, smart ovens, etc.

The “Personal” Computer is here to stay and Microsoft is right on course with Windows 7. I sure hope their device stage concept really gets exploited by device manufactures…. I see the Device Stage as the beginning of this PC evolution.

The web has it’s place, and so does the local desktop. They aren’t mutually exclusive by any means. We need both.

The best way to ensure that we never become beholden to one particular corporation or monopoly is to continue to actively push for open standards and support efforts to keep the Internet OS agnostic.