Lost Gmail Emails and the Future of Web Apps

brajesh writes "Recently some people lost all their Gmail emails and contacts. The problem seems to be contained and fixed, but this incident shows how far are we in terms of moving all communication online on services like Gmail for your domain(beta). Will it ever be possible to do away with desktop solutions like Outlook and Thunderbird? Given the nature of the internet, will it ever be possible to truly move to an 'online desktop'?"

Because no one has ever...

[gavinroy]

No one ever loses their data on their PC.

Re:Because no one has ever...

[paeanblack]

No one ever loses their data on their PC. ...and dead-tree-format is impervious to fires, floods, and accidental disposal.

If it's important, make a backup or twenty. Unfortunately this commandment was engraved on Moses' third tablet.

Re:well

[Digital Vomit]

Personally I don't want any email stored on my computer.

Me neither. That's why I write all my email by hand.

Re:Look on the brightside

[operagost]

Yeah, but you'll stop getting paychecks and he'll move your desk down to the basement. While you're down there, we've got a little insect problem. Could you take care of that? That'd be great.

Re:Because no one has ever...

[TykeClone]

He should have made a backup of that tablet.

Re:This is not about 'potential'...

[SirCyn]

You can not directly control the computer or the programs that it runs. You merely interact with it. Your idea of control is an illusion. With snail-mail you have paper, you can directly control that paper. With e-mail the computer has bits and bytes, you have what it shows you.

Re:This is not about 'potential'...

[mr_mischief]

I see you've never lost a letter sent through the postal service. Good for you. Will you be contacting Guinness and Ripley's, or shall I?

A programmer or an administrator has the possibility of much more control over his or her email than a person dropping a scrap of paper in a steel box.

Of course, any idea of absolute control over anything is misguided and even a bit silly. You don't have absolute control over your own body. If you did, you'd never get sick. You probably don't have absolute control over your own mind, either.

For those of you who think you do have complete control over your own mind, here's a thought for you: Danny DeVito outside on a cold day wearing nothing but some peanut butter and a smile. See? If you really had complete control over your mind, you probably wouldn't have pictured that visually.

Re:Simple answer: YES.

[mysticgoat]

If you wanted better service, you'd just invest in either a better antenna, or a relationship with your neighbor so that they move the wireless router closer to you, or you'd spend money on the quality of service you require -- at a given cost.

Or he could invest in a can of Pringles potato chips and a few minutes of his time googling for directions on turning it into a decent antenna.

Basically grandparent post is all about ineptitude at thieving bandwidth. As with any other kind of thievery, the responsibility for quality and efficiency of operations lies completely with the thief. Ask Robin the Hood; he'd tell ya the same thing.

Re:This is not about 'potential'...

[Scaba]

So, let me get this straight - the first thing you'll want to have access to after a "world-society-ending" event is a encyclopedia of questionable accuracy, filled with mostly trivial information? I guess that's OK, though, since you'll be easier to defend against by those of us who will hoard food and weapons.