Re: IBM Gives RPG Devotees Their Own Café

[David Gibbs <david@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Nathan Andelin wrote:
> Access from an airplane?  I don't know the answer to that - I'll let
> the network people figure that out.  It would have to be wireless ;-)
My point is that it's not available yet.  Yes, you can get network access from a plane ... but it's extraordinarily expensive.

> Developers must address the privacy issue by software design, to make
> privacy possible, but let service provider's and end-users come up
> with a privacy policy that both agree to.

That doesn't really address the issue ... with a email client, the data is yours.  It's on your laptop or desktop.  Nobody can cut you off from it by simply disabling your account.

> Desktop storage?  Well, that depends on the application.  Is the data
> personal or shared?  My focus is groupware applications and shared
> data, so that interested parties are served from a common database.
> On the other hand, I see a need for built-in export capability within
> applications, where users can pull data to their desktops on-demand.

Well, if you're talking about groupware with shared data ... then you're not talking about email anymore.

> I think desktop computers and applications cost too much.  Borrowing
> a line from the Bourne movies, "look at what they make you give".

That's a cost / benefit question ... is the cost of a personal computer greater than the benefit of privacy and security of your data.

I'm not suggesting that you NOT develop your application ... I just think that what you propose can, or should, replace an email client.

JMO, of course.

david