Web Application Comparison Report: Online vs. Traditional Software

This report provides a comprehensive comparison between web-based applications and traditional, installed software packages, focusing on their features, advantages, and disadvantages. It explores the evolution of web applications, highlighting the shift from reliance on software like Microsoft Office to online tools such as Google Docs and Zoho. The report discusses the benefits of online applications, including accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and ease of use, while also addressing limitations in functionality and customization compared to traditional software. It examines the cost factors, security aspects, and maintenance considerations of both types of applications, concluding that while online tools offer significant advantages, they may not fully replace installed software in all scenarios. The report emphasizes the importance of understanding the strengths and weaknesses of both web and traditional applications to make informed decisions based on specific user needs and requirements. The report also covers the security aspects and privacy policies of various application tools like Microsoft and Zoho.

College of Computer Training (CCT)
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Academic Year: Year 1 Year 2 Year 3
DECLARATION
Table of Contents
Introduction:...................................................................................................................2
Discussion:.....................................................................................................................3
Latest Web based Application:...................................................................................3
Comparison with traditional fixed Application:.........................................................4
Conclusion:....................................................................................................................5
References:.....................................................................................................................7
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I, the above named student, confirm that by submitting, or causing the attached
assignment to be submitted, to CCT, I have not plagiarised any other person’s work in this
assignment. .and except where appropriately acknowledged, this assignment is my own

Introduction:
This report is about comparison between web based application and IT software
packages which are installed in the computer drive. In olden days’ various organization were
depended on Microsoft office for carrying out various like processing of word, making
presentation and spreadsheet for providing support to various organization (Jones, 2012).
With the advancement in technology various online software like Google, Zoho and many
other are used by large number of user.
Some of the advantages and disadvantages of using online based application and
traditional based application will be discussed. Various tools used by google are considered
to be useful and beneficial to user in comparison to any other user. Privacy and protection of
files in both the modes of office that is online and offline has been discussed.
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Discussion:
Latest Web based Application:
Few years back various organization round the globe were depended on software’s
like Microsoft office for word processing, presentation and spreadsheet for supporting their
organization (Espie, 2012). After that website like openoffice.org came into action which
aims in providing free and open source version. With advancement in technology various
online software like Google, Zoho and many other related to office came into action. In the
last few years this online tools have matured enough to create, manage and associate with this
type of office documents on the Web (Rao, Sasidhar and Kumar, 2012). This tool reduces the
burden of installing software and creates a platform where anyone can easily access and make
necessary changes in the required files.
Microsoft has now introduced a new product named office 2010 suite which consist
of web Apps which help in edition of word documents, power point and many other excel
documents over the internet and can easily associate with the similar product which is
installed in the system. Microsoft office has upgraded their system in the last few years
(Jones, 2012). Various firms which advance features will find difficult to replace this
software. Tools developed by google are considered to be more useful to user than any other
application. They focus in providing some collection of features to satisfy the need of the
various users.
This features aims in providing limited options to create, share and make necessary
changes in the documents (Wang, 2013). Web application of Microsoft provide ways to
access different files. Firstly, it can be accessed by logging into windows live SkyDrive by
making use of web application in which some basic set of features like google docs and
Zoho. Switching form one version of Microsoft office to another can be considered to be a
scary one for a large organization (Han and Mueller, 2012). However, Microsoft has
overcome this problem by introducing a new tool that is ribbon to all the office product that is
from 2007 to 2010 products.
Cost is an important factor when buying Microsoft products at retail rates. Various
online sites like google docs, Microsoft office and open office.org are considered to be almost
free. Zoho is considered to be free for three users and cost around 50 dollars per user. Think
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free cost around 50 dollars per user. Office software is considered to be more cost effective.
At the cost of 500 dollars almost it can satisfy the needs of 10 organizations.
Comparison with traditional fixed Application:
This are some disadvantage of this online based application like they in general lack
some of the important tools which are required by various experts round the globe. Various
things like control over the type of font and size, formatting and making changes on the style
of presentation, many formulas were lacking in this online websites(Rao, Sasidhar and
Kumar, 2012). Various online software’s like Zoho and ThinkFree aims in providing more
function in case of functionality on the contrary neither of them provides all the features
similar to Microsoft office. Web based application are designed in such a way that it can
heavily integrate installed version of office and make necessary changes in the formatting of
the documents. Web application will allow the users to apply various heading style in the
document which has been created in the desktop version of the word. On the contrary it limits
the power to make changes in the document and create new styles. An overview can be
collected like no online office is going to provide all the necessary functions of an installed
application.
Google aims in providing certain tools which can appear to simpler to various users.
The interface is considered to be much simpler to the users who have previously used any of
office software. Some amount of training is necessary for some less tech savvy users
(Machiela and Chanock, 2015). On the basis of interface, no changes can be noticed by users.
When a user uses the rationally installed office software then it is either stored on the hard
drive and on network. This happens because a backup is necessary for storing the files which
will reduce the risk of losing them. With the help of online software one can use web based
tools to managing and organizing the various files (Han and Mueller, 2012). Backup of files
in the offsite farms minimizes the risk of losing important due to computer issues or any other
disaster.
Office web app bring a number of advantage to office 2010 where anyone can easily
work on documents using various installed application after that it can be saved into the
SkyDrive and after that it can be easily opened in any browser and system. After the making
necessary changes in the document it can be easily drag into the desktop or system version of
office. The files are secure in both the modes of office that is online and offline (Hu, 2017).
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The files generated by traditional installed software are considered to be secure in the system
as it has traditional firewall for the protection of system. This thing is true for online office
tool which is also provides security to important files.
All the well-known application provider like Microsoft, Zoho have certain privacy
policies which clearly states that they are not going to make changes or sell important files to
any organization (Rao, Sasidhar and Kumar, 2012). Online office tools cannot replace the
installed software at any instant of time in the near future. Web App features can bring
Microsoft office to associate with certain tools like Google docs. In the case of maintenance
online office provides bigger advantage over the traditionally installed software (Han and
Mueller, 2012). Online tools have more advantage like various user can easily get any
updates which is required for the software. Online offices come up with incremental so there
is no requirement of new trainings for various user. On the contrary traditional installed
office suite need upgraded and maintenance plan so that the user can easily receive
incremental release for any security holes.
Conclusion:
From the above discussion it can be easily concluded that the report mainly
emphasizes on details of latest web based application and comparison between various online
and offline application. Various online application like Zoho and ThinkFree aims in
providing function which are similar to installed Microsoft office. Proper analysis has been
made about advantages and disadvantages of using online and offline mode of application.
Privacy and protection act of various application tools like Microsoft, Zoho has been
discussed. Limitation of both online and offline mode of office has been discussed in details.
The need of maintenance with respect to online and offline mode of office has been discussed
in details.
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References:
1 Espie, C.A., Kyle, S.D., Williams, C., Ong, J.C., Douglas, N.J.,
Hames, P. and Brown, J.S., 2012. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial
of online cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic insomnia disorder
delivered via an automated media-rich web application. Sleep, 35(6),
pp.769-781.
Han, W., Yang, Z., Di, L. and Mueller, R., 2012. CropScape: A
Web service based application for exploring and disseminating US
conterminous geospatial cropland data products for decision
support. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 84, pp.111-123.
Hu, K., 2017. Mindwriter: An Integrated Word Processing
Environment for Academic Writing (Doctoral dissertation, Purdue
University).
Jones, M., 2012. The evolution of digital technologies-from
collaboration to eCollaboration.
Jones, M., 2012. The Evolution of Digital Technologies–from
Collaboration to eCollaboration–and the Tools which assist
eCollaboration. Issues in Informing Science and Information
Technology, 9, pp.209-219.
Machiela, M.J. and Chanock, S.J., 2015. LDlink: a web-based
application for exploring population-specific haplotype structure and
linking correlated alleles of possible functional
variants. Bioinformatics, 31(21), pp.3555-3557.
Rao, N.M., Sasidhar, C. and Kumar, V.S., 2012. Cloud computing
through mobile-learning. arXiv preprint arXiv:1204.1594.
Wang, J., Duncan, D., Shi, Z. and Zhang, B., 2013. WEB-based
gene set analysis toolkit (WebGestalt): update 2013. Nucleic acids
research, 41(W1), pp.W77-W83.
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