What I'm saying is that we're getting richer and richer applications to run as Web applications, and fewer and fewer apps are being done as desktop apps. When is the last time somebody asked for a new application as a standalone desktop application? THere are still a few use cases where this makes sense, but for most business applications I'd say - the Web is the way it will go. Cloud is just another way of saying Web apps that are virtually hosted.

I don't necessarily think this is necessarily a good thing, but that's where I think things are headed. I've always liked the richness and performance of desktop apps, but a lot of the UI interactivity and design pieces at least are now possible with Web apps...

+++ Rick ---

>I am intrigued by your statement that "software is going to the Web/Cloud." Not because I disagree with you, because you already know I respect you as much as anyone in this industry. It just gets my attention that you say it. That's where you really think things are headed? Maybe I better rethink this whole thing. Up to now I have regarded the cloud as just another Microsoft "marketecture" designed to increase revenue. I do not want to be slow on another paradigm shift.