Tom Yager wrote about web- and client-based systems and a few of the pros and cons of each. Of course, we can all contribute to that list. I just have to say, “Here-here!” Tom is stating a fact that I've been protesting for quite some time - both customers and developers want web-based systems. Granted, rich clients are beautiful, but why can't we standardize a format that will allow us to develop these rich environments over a stateless medium like the internet? Flash does it. Microsoft just needs to make that a little easier - and it probably will with Sparkle. We'll see. I haven't heard much about Sparkle lately, but I'm sure it will be pretty nice.
The main contributor to the desktop application craze is the vendor. Tom states it beautifully...
Rich is where commercial vendors want us to go, because rich front ends require vendor-specific run-time software, dev tools matched to the run time, books and classes, support contracts, consulting, coffee mugs, and so forth. Not to mention the specialized developer skills that might prove useless in their next job.
I read this and was relieved that someone finally said it. Thank you, Tom. Very nice article.