My Hard disk vs. the web
23 Nov
I’ve just finished re-installing for the n th time my PC. It’s become quite a habit in fact with Windows XP, specially because I try out demos and a lot of apps. Installing and uninstalling them makes your system go unstable. So, every 3-4 months, I have to format my system disk and reinstall a fresh copy of XP, and then all the apps I use (plus some games, of course). Multiply this by 2, since I also have a laptop and you get the picture.So, after having re-installed for the 4th time this year my Outlook, I was thinking: “maybe I should try to find a better way to store my data, that is everywhere except on my system that gets corrupted on a regular basis.” But where?Then I realized that I was sharing more and more information and content between my computers (from the office and from home). I’m currently working as a web developer / content manager, so being on the Internet during the whole day has become a second nature. At the same time, I noticed the trend on the web was to provide more and more web-based services and apps and softwares that share information over the net. The list below shows some of which I use:
- Groove, a apps that helps you share files among PCs and manage projects.
- BaseCamp, the famous web-based project management tool by 37signals.com
- Listal, a free, social, web based DVD, music, game and book collection manager
- Flickr, of course
- and my good ol’ WebMail, which now comes with the possibility to synch to my local Outlook mailbox.
Now, my question is the following: “Do you think it is a good alternative to move everything to the web, i.e. store all your information on remote servers?” Am I wrong if I think that we’re slowly moving towards a new sort of “client – server” architecture, where your PC at home or at work would fetch the information stored on servers and run apps on these remote machines?
Twitter
Tumblr
LinkedIn
Flickr
Last.fm
Delicious
I share your thoughts. Over the past few months, I have become increasingly reliant on online services for everything from “to do” lists to news and information. Its a world that allows us to share and get opinions known, even if no one really cares. There is one concern I do have though. There is likely to be an explosion. Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, and many others are trying to win the stakes in this new web. Will there end up being a proliferation of services. What if there are 10 sites like Flickr? Will we join all of them? How does one avoid getting multiple personality disorder on the new web?
You are right, but the proliferation of identical services or applications is part of the game. I have tried 3 or 4 different blog tools before I chose WordPress. Same thing for my image handling tool: Flickr is my actual choice, but I used Picasa, Coppermine Gallery and other stuff before. Lately, I discovered Flock, a new web browser. There’s a big discussion going on about it, whether it’s better to have another browser on the market or whether the developers should have created an extension to Firefix, etc.
In my view, what matters most is that these tools, no matter who develops them, be as compatible as possible.
Alex,
I think in the end, things will play themselves out and the best 2-3 in each category will remain. Like you I have tried a bunch of services (still doing so) and while I have not come to a conclusion in each category, I am getting there. I have tried flock as well, but decided to stick to firefox as there were aspects of firefox that I prefer. Still have not switched over to flickr, but I suspect that it is a matter of time.
I also agree that compatibility and standards are critical. Hopefully developers will keep that in mind.
that’s a good question. i think i would like the option to store in both places. the remote would be a good back-up. that is a lot of work you have to do.
love the look of your new place. take care.
thanks for your comment Lorena. I just came back from Thailand, where I spent 3 weeks. Read your post on “7 things” http://every-passing-moment.blogspot.com/2005/12/invited-by-sirbarrett.html . Can you really touch your nose with your tongue??