There are those who would have you believe the desktop is dead.
They tell you that should move all your data into the cloud
,
use web apps, and throw your desktop computer in the trashcan, because nobody will want to buy it any way.
Obviously, those people do not live in the real world.
There are many reasons why these wanna-be pundits are wrong.
The desktop is not dead, but very much alive.
The web is alive too, and cloud services are here to stay.
The age of the desktop has become the age of the desktop, smartphone and tablet.
Today's reality isn't desktop or web, but desktop and web.
You need not choose between the desktop and web, you can have both.
It's a question that regularly pops on genealogy forums: should you use desktop or web genealogy software? The question is often presented as an either-or choice, and that is known as a false dichotomy, becuase you need not choice between them, you can have both.
Various vendors of web genealogy services would have you believe that their web app is all you need. Some even suggest their web app is the future of genealogy itself, and that you will be left behind if you don't switch to it soon. I've written about this before (Desktop versus Web Genealogy), and will gladly save you the trouble of following the link by repeating my crystal clear opinion on the matter: Poppycock, balderdash and malarkey from vendors, sock puppets, sponsored bloggers, blinkered fankids and the occasional wannabe pundit.
Desktop applications, mobile apps and web apps all have their strengths and weaknesses.
Desktop applications, mobile apps and web apps all have their strengths and weaknesses. Desktop genealogy application offer many features and are always ready to start, no download, Internet connection or subscription fee required. A web app offers access anywhere - well, as long as you pay your subscription and have an Internet connection. A mobile app that keeps its database local lets you take your data anywhere, no Internet connection required. Much more can be said abort the advantages and disadvantages of each, but all that needs to be said is that you do not need to choose between them, you can use them all. It is common for genealogist to use one or more programs from each category.
It is not only possible just use them all, it's also becoming fairly easy to use them all. Nowadays, multiple vendors are offering multi-platforms genealogy suites. Some offer a complete suite themselves, others work with third parties, but either way, there is a lot of integration between products and platform going on. It becoming easier and easier to switch between your favourite desktop application, mobile app and web app whenever you feel like doing so.
There are many ways to use the web. You can post some genealogy on your blog. You upload web pages created by your desktop genealogy software or some specialised web publishing tool to your website. You can install a genealogy web app on your own server, upload your data to a third party site, or even do all your genealogy work on a web app. Each choice has both advantages and disadvantage, but again, you are not limited to a single choice.
My principal message is that you should take advantage of everything that can help you in your genealogy research. Do not avoid something just because it is a desktop application, a mobile app or a web app. Feel free to use whatever combination of desktop applications, mobile apps and web apps you like. Create your personal genealogy suite.
However, while I endorse the use of the web, I consider few web apps a good choice as your main genealogy program.
There are good reasons why your main genealogy program should be a desktop application.
Copyright © Tamura Jones. All Rights reserved.