In the 30 years I've been around computers as a hobby or a job, the model has

constantly fluctuated:

Mainframes directly operated, with mini-computers and micro-computers. All running own software. (fat client)

Then it went dumb terminal (thin client)

Then it went PC with software mostly running locally independently (fat client)

Then it went application server with limited local functionality (thin client)

Then it went to the client / server model (fat client)

Then we had n-tier client/server (thin client)

Then it went internet-enabled local software (fat client) (e.g. think Lotus Notes)

Then it went internet server applications (thin client)

Then (more recently) AJAX and Javascript heavy browser based applications, and HTML5 and mobile apps made it almost fat client again.

Now Cloud computing (scary stuff) pushes us back to the thin client.

Just like multi-national businesses will constantly fluctuate between localisation and centralisation every couple of years, so does software (and with it operating systems).

Yawn. That wasn't meant to be that long even though I oversimplified it.

Posted By: Steve in Holland on May 12th 2011 at 11:01:32

Message Thread

wrothpens - are these gonna be any good? (General Chat) - Tricky Hawes, May 12, 09:35:19
- In my experience, be a late adopter. Early adopters drive the technology, but (General Chat) - Steve in Holland, May 12, 11:04:22
- I can remember using a device like that 30 years ago - they were called "dumb terminals" (General Chat) - CB41, May 12, 09:54:00
  - The model remains sound. (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, May 12, 09:57:41
    - In the 30 years I've been around computers as a hobby or a job, the model has (General Chat) - Steve in Holland, May 12, 11:01:32
  - You're not actually far off (n/m) (General Chat) - Johnny Comecardiff, May 12, 09:54:38
    - I know ;-). BTW, does any one here use Google Chrome? Is it any good (General Chat) - CB41, May 12, 09:56:06
      - Do you mean the browser or the operating system (n/m) (General Chat) - Steve in Holland, May 12, 11:04:46
        
        ?? I personally think they've confused even themselves with Chrome and Android (n/m) (General Chat) - Steve in Holland, May 12, 11:05:02
      - highly recommended - use it everywhere (n/m) (General Chat) - Karnivore, May 12, 10:41:34
      - It is good. It's very quick, as others have said. I resisted moving over to it for work (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, May 12, 10:10:14
        
        I would use it as first choice, IF I could work out how to reduce that ridiculous top (General Chat) - Steve in Holland, May 12, 11:08:46
      - if they did Echofon for it i would probably make the switch from Firefox (n/m) (General Chat) - Ralf Scrampton, May 12, 10:06:31
      - I use it (General Chat) - scruffy, May 12, 10:06:12
      - I do a bit, at home. Seems quick (General Chat) - Tricky Hawes, May 12, 10:04:28
- they could be excellent (General Chat) - scruffy, May 12, 09:51:07
  - They might be the future, but we're a little bit lacking in infrastructure yet (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, May 12, 09:56:11
    - Hmm (General Chat) - scruffy, May 12, 11:10:47
    - Re: come on: there should be a cost of stupidity (General Chat) - Johnny Comecardiff, May 12, 10:00:25
      - That's only if you get caught though. (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, May 12, 10:12:34
        
        AB (General Chat) - Johnny Comecardiff, May 12, 10:15:59
- Well, important to note that those aren't laptops as you currently think of them. (General Chat) - Arizona Bay, May 12, 09:48:38
- You could have one now. (General Chat) - Johnny Comecardiff, May 12, 09:46:42
- Try running everything you need in the Chrome web browser (General Chat) - Ben, May 12, 09:43:09

Reply to Message

In order to add a post to the WotB Message Board you must be a registered WotB user.

If you are not yet registered then please visit the registration page. You should ensure that their browser is setup to accept cookies.