Apr
8
Going NoWare: 9 Ways To Use Your Home Computer From Somewhere Else
Filed Under Going NoWare | 14 Comments
I’m big on Web applications because they free us to work from any Internet-connected computer on the planet. But when your work requires software that doesn’t (yet) have a Web 2.0 equivalent—or software that is proprietary or has a limited license—only your own computer will do.
Remote access software resolves that problem beautifully by helping us view and operate our home computer from almost any other computer, as long as we can connect to the Internet. Beth at HankerAm Store asked me about remote access options way back on March 21:
My question to you is, we are looking for remote access software. The only one I know of is pcAnywhere. Are you familiar with something in this venue? I would appreciate your input.
I promised her an answer the following week, and then the week after that. Now on week 3, I have to admit there are too many remote access applications to explore and report on each one thoroughly. It’s better to list the remote access apps that Dan (my hubby-to-be) and I use every day with ease and success, and include a few that I haven’t used, but covet. Read more
Apr
2
Going NoWare: Solutions For My Opposite-of-Mobile Office
Filed Under Going NoWare, In General | 12 Comments
Last month I was energized by Location Independent Living’s tried and true list of portable office necessities. Armed with that and lists of webware, I felt ready to wean myself from traditional software and create an entirely mobile workspace.
And then I really looked at my office.
Books and reference manuals and journals and manila folders and morgue bins and binders and notepads and legal pads and photos and art and pottery—and dozens of Post-Its stuck to my desktop, monitor, and each other.
Crap! Read more
Mar
7
Going NoWare: 5 Must-Read Articles on Working from the Web
Filed Under Going NoWare, Work the Web | 9 Comments
I’m determined to abandon software by running my business with online tools and Web 2.0 applications, and it didn’t take long to find I’m not the only one experimenting with working 100% from the Web.
In no particular order, here are the top posts and articles I’ve found on the topic (so far): Read more
Feb
27
Going NoWare: Abandoning traditional software for Web 2.0
Filed Under Going NoWare, Work the Web | 6 Comments
No, this is not another blogpost on the wonders of Web 2.0. Actually, this is a blogpost that is wondering about Web 2.0.
By definition Web 2.0 is “the generation of web-based communities and hosted services such as social-networking sites, wikis, and blogs…which aim to facilitate creativity, collaboration, and sharing among users”.
So primarily, Web 2.0 is about connections…about giving us access to friends and strangers anywhere on the planet; storing and sharing our photo albums and diaries and links; logging our briefest thoughts, cataloging our possessions, and enabling virtual and actual exchange.
So I’m wondering: if I can (and do) use the Web to access anyone, anywhere, anytime…if I can (and do) store and share my documents, photos, and thoughts online…if the Web can be (and is) my primary method for exchanging books, products, ideas, and money…then what do I need software for?
Because compared to web applications (Web 2.0 and otherwise), software is a hassle from beginning to end. There’s an—often large—upfront financial commitment, then downloads and maintenance for fixes and updates. Software requires lots of hard drive space, is bound by license to one computer, and accessing new and improved features requires spending more money on upgrades.
Web-based applications lack all that software drama. There’s almost always a free service plan, or advertiser support so it’s free to all. If there is a cost, it’s a tiny monthly subscription payment with no long-term commitment. There are no downloads or installations or maintenance. Web apps can be accessed with any Internet-connected computer with a web browser—whether Mac or PC or Linux—and improvements are integrated at no extra cost.
So here I am, liberated from my desk by a wireless Internet connection, but still tied to this specific laptop by its software. Which is totally okay…until the motherboard croaks, or the hard drive fails, or it burns up in a house fire, or I lose it, or someone steals it. Then my business is in a coma until I can get myself a new computer and reinstall all the software and recover all my files.
But if I was Web 2.0 Wondergirl, I imagine I’d find/borrow/buy another computer and get back to work within the hour. And actually, must it be a catastrophic scenario? Maybe I just want to travel light rather than lug my laptop to Mom’s, or into the city, or on a plane to…wherever. Maybe I like to be on the move and could work quite well at whatever Web-ready computer I found at the cafe, hotel, library, etc.
So I’m wondering: With the appearance of Web 2.0 collaboration tools and other sundry web applications, can we live without software?
I’ll try it and let you know.
Whew! Taking a short break from blogging, folks. More posts coming soon. Thanks for your patience!
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