Why does SaaS Matter?
Posted by Site Builder on Wed, Mar 12, 2008 @ 02:43 PM
Software as a service is so prevalent now that it seems archaic to order an application on a CD. Online pay-as-you go tools and online file storage blur the line between locally-owned and web-based content and tools. Even so, loosening your iron grip on the CD takes some getting used to.
A NYT article on consumer behavior toward media purchases suggests that younger (under 40) folks don't have this need to hold and touch their media purchases. Downloading and single-item selection make them total strangers to this media ownership concept. They have never had 3-ring linen binders of user docs in box sleeves that signified an authorized purchase. They never kept torn off bits of packaging listing serial numbers and product keys taped to installation instructions and jammed into busted CD jewel cases. They aren't chumps willing to pay 700 or 1400 bucks for bundled applications.
Bravo to them.
But in trading ownership for convenience and easy, regular updates, what have we lost? SaaS seems to place greater emphasis on the web-based aspect of the software and much less on its features and help. For example, using Google docs makes collaboration easy--this blog is written in Google docs then published to Blogger. But for corporate doc development and sharing, the tool set is minimal and you can quickly run short of format options that render it useless except for memo-length work.
What's your experience with a free or paid SaaS app?