An interesting data point supporting the "software + services" model...
Web-based computing has a small disadvantage: working with an online program like, say, Writely (now Google Docs) is slower than using one based on your own machine, since info must constantly go back and forth from a remote server.
It also has a huge disadvantage: when you're off line, you're out of luck. You can't get at your web-based mail, you can't get at your online calendar or contact list or documents, you can't do very much. Traveling in China, I spend a lot of time off-line, so for me this is a deal-breaker.
All of which is why, to me, the news that Google Calendar will sync with Microsoft Outlook is big news indeed.
James Fallows (March 17, 2008) - Another step toward the online "cloud computing" life
Another online calendar product called Famundo also syncs with Outlook. I've tried other similar products, but Famundo is my favorite. Now that it offers Outlook Sync, I don't need anything else!
ReplyDeleteYou can find more information at http://www.famundo.com
Angie D.