http://mathewingram.disqus.com/enWed, 06 Jun 2007 10:30:53 -0000http://www.mathewingram.com/work/2007/06/05/web-20-mirage-distraction-or-gimmick/#comment-1314504<p>Web 2.0 is really just another way of saying client/server or thin client/fat client.</p><p>The first interactive computer systems were the ultimate thin client -- the computer did all of the work, and all the client did was display output and accept keystrokes. (Anyone remember the Lear-Seigler ADM-3A, marketed as the Dumb Terminal?)</p><p>Early web sites were static pages only, followed by dynamic pages -- but apart from a few browser widgets like dropdown lists, entry fields and pushbuttons, the client was still thin and dumb. (No hotel heiress jokes, please.)</p><p>We've now progressed along the continuum where the client's fatter and smarter -- and the web experience is much better for it. I bet Tim and Marc are happy to see the web the way it is now -- it was pretty geeky to begin with.</p><p>Yep -- Web 2.0 is here to stay, and that's a Good Thing.</p>Alex BeamishWed, 06 Jun 2007 10:30:53 -0000