Before I discuss the web applications I use, I need to address one of the downsides of web-based applications. The overriding consideration for which applications I use is dependability. It's one thing to admire the benefits of an online application in theory, it's another to trust your actual work to a website you can't control. If I use an online word processor like Google Docs & Spreadsheets what happens if Google decides they no longer want support this application? Or what if they have a glitch and lose track of my account or my data? I'll have lost all my documents.

This is a real concern. This is why I almost always use Google tools over other choices, even when another product is marginally better. That's because I trust that Google isn't going to suddenly disappear, close up shop, or get bought out by a competitor. Even if Google does decide to end a service, as they've done with some of their less popular ones recently, I trust that I they will give me enough time to move my data to another service.

On the glitch front, I also trust Google to keep my data safe and secure. In my opinion, Google is a least as dependable as my own computer with regard to system crashes that could wipe out my documents. And on the plus side, I don't have to worry about my documents in the event that my computer were stolen; they would all be safe in my Google account.

In a perfect world, I'd like my online applications to provide an offline version that automatically syncs my data in both places. Good thing Google Gears was recently released.

Google Gears is a tool that allows online applications to be used offline and sync the data in both places. Unfortunately, Google Gears is still pretty new and has not been implemented in many applications yet. Google Reader (for RSS feeds--you have an RSS reader now, right?!?) uses it. So does Rememberthemilk.com (the to-do list app we mentioned) and Zoho Writer (see more about Zoho below). I'm very much looking forward to Google Gears for Docs & Spreadsheets.   next >