The desktop. Currently the battlefield of an ongoing war, Windows vs Linux vs Mac. Sounds a bit like Aliens vs Predator vs Batman huh? And probably just as relevant in the near future. Why? Cos pretty soon, the desktop application will be dead, except for a browser... probably Firefox.

What am I talking about? I mean, there's word processors, spreadsheets, videos, music, games, accounting packages, CRM, ERP and all those other 3 (or more likely 4) letter (swear)words you use when you talk about your computer system. All of those applications are IMPORTANT. Especially in the commercial world.

Camera moves across the desk... focuses on a watch... time fast forwards 5 years... Every application is available as a service on the web. Think Yahoo or Google mail. All you do, is connect to the net, and PRESTO! You get access to those applications (for a fee). Oh. Wait a sec. 5 years? Maybe in Internet time, cos they're here right now! The new buzzword - SAAS (software-as-a-service), here's some examples:

Word processor and spreadsheet - Google Docs

Videos - YouTube

Music - StreamingRadio

CRM - SugarCRM

Now there are some things that aren't there, and might need five years to get off the desktop. A web-based iTunes. 3D gaming. Image manipulation like Adobes products. But they're coming. 

There are of course limitations to this. Here in NZ, we're choked by our lack of true broadband, which will hinder this. My supposed 'max-speed' internet pipe just had to be downed to 3Mb/s to stop it from dropping out. Don't you just love incumbent telecoms?