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Tom Potts wrote: > James Fidell wrote: >> Tom Potts wrote: >> >> >>> The client and server can exist on the same machine for a 'home' user. >>> If you want to be a 'home' user then obviously you would update your >>> local server yourself - possibly as part of 'distribution'? >>> >> So how does this improve on using M$ Office or OO directly? Surely all >> you've actually done is change the applications you have to deal with? >> >> > 1) you don't have to update every machine -just the server > 2) you don't have to buy a new operating system when the supplier gives > up trying to fix the old one or just want some more cash > 3) you don't have to pay for a massive 'server infrastructure' and > domain controllers. > 4) and most importantly your companies data is accessible. Try finding > a document containing a certain phrase on every computer in your 'global > enterprise' system now . see below You were addressing "home" use above, though, so in all likelihood none of those points apply. >>> If you were part of a company then your data would be stored on a >>> central server - as would the programs that run in the browser - they >>> are after all only html/css/javascript/xml files. >>> The server controls access - you can use directory services if you >>> like - which you can control through a browser. >>> >> This can already be done using shared filesystems, without the need for >> a web browser or server, using existing software (such as M$ Office). >> > its hard to stop people working locally - because they can they do then > see point 4 above. Nonetheless it can be, and is, done, today, with existing technology. >> I don't actually see that you've added much, if anything, to the >> functionality that already exists. >> > massive cost reduction. Cost reduction is not functionality, but even so it's not guaranteed in the general case. If you're setting up systems from scratch or introducing a new system then you have a probably case, but changing the existing practices of a large business costs huge amounts of money and whilst they may recoup that in the long term, not many people care about the long term these days. > It is effectively thin client. The current thinking seems to be - M$ > nearly works and we cant be bothered to change peoples mindsets. IME it's usually that the managers or board see no short-term cost benefit in changing. > It may > work that way until something forces a change in that mindset - like > going out of business to a competitor who saves a fortune on their IT by > adopting the KISS approach. The decentralised M$ approach means you pay > for a lot of massively complicated software of which only a very tiny > proportion of its functionality is used. And you need major systems to > run it on. You then have to pay to re-centralise it and then extra for > further data mining tools. Largely true, but as I pointed out elsewhere, web-based applications are not the only solution to this problem and others exist already. > What percentage of accountants at your firm can actually create a useful > pivot table from scratch? What percentage of sales? So why buy all of > them a full office suite when you can view then over the web? > The current approach is based on what people have been sold - not what > is required. A company requires control and access to its data. Your > average accounts department can normally find out who agreed to buy > printer, who it was bought from, when it was paid for and sometimes even > where it is at the click of a mouse. Ask the background for a major > corporate decision and its in.. oh who wrote that, no its not there it > must be on Harrys laptop, hang on while I try and read this 47 page > document... but its really well formatted when you find it! I'm not arguing that there is no case for centralised control of applications and data. The issue is whether that should all happen within a web browser. I can't see a compelling case for it. James -- The Mailing List for the Devon & Cornwall LUG http://mailman.dclug.org.uk/listinfo/list FAQ: http://www.dcglug.org.uk/linux_adm/list-faq.html