This is the place to discuss the future of the web apps and also its competitor: standalone apps/desk apps/windows form apps.

The advantage of Web Apps is that it basically doesn't require installation for user side and accessible anywhere via the network.

With the release of Google Gears (http://code.google.com/apis/gears/) it seems that the gap between web apps and standalone apps are closing in.

Google Gears is an IE & Firefox plugin (not sure about safari/opera).

With Google Gears, web apps can be developed to take advantage of this plugin which essentially works as an offline application state and database storage, which allows webapps to be used without the "web". Once the user connects back to the web, this plugin will sync the latest changes and updates back to the webapp servers.

For those who use Google Reader (web based RSS feed reader), you should already see it integrated in such a way, where you can "sync" all your RSS feeds, and take it along with you offline to read on the plane/train/places without internet connection. With Google Gears, you just continue browsing through the RSS feeds right on your browser, as if connected to the internet.

With the introduction of Google Gears, I would not be surprised to see other Google web apps (like google docs and google spreadsheets) take into account Google Gears integration in their future roadmap.

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Founder and CEO of wilfredstudios.com | happy CNY 2008 cny2008.wilfredstudios.com

web apps do have a bright future.
my company is switching many of its system with web apps investing millions into it.

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Ipoh Chai | Free Blog Directory | Free PHP Game script

currently in the office, we're using / testing out the following webapps :-

Email : Gmail (www.gmail.com)
Calendar Sharing : Google Calendar (calendar.gmail.com)
Document Sharing : Google Docs & Spreadsheet (docs.google.com)
Project Managment : Basecamp HQ (www.basecamphq.com)
Contacts Management : Highrise HQ (www.highrisehq.com)
Design Reviews : Conceptshare (www.conceptshare.com)

Due to the nature of how we work in the office, lot's of communication with contract based programmers + designers + clients even... via the web, web based applications, especially those that have collaboration features is the natural way to go.

Anyone else has any experience with other sort of web based apps?

We're actually looking for a Document Management System (small scale, 1 - 10 staff) any suggestions?

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Founder and CEO of wilfredstudios.com | happy CNY 2008 cny2008.wilfredstudios.com