Why so many words. Modern browser (webkit-based with optimized js runtime and hardware-accelerated rendering) now is what java ought (and failed) to be - portable desktop application platform, but without installation, additional training or special support required.
Almost everyone are familiar with browser - can click on links, hit the back button and have some assumption what they would see on the screen and what to expect.
There are already obvious trends, like an end of desktop mail apps (yahoo and gmail are leaders), desktop chat programs - they were evolved into voice/video communication technologies or replaced by social networks and so on.
Tell me one reason why not take advantage on this situation and remain attached to previous century's "desktop" technology from MS. (sure, special cases, such as heavy 3D games or CAD/Video-editing tools will stay long.)
Almost everyone are familiar with browser - can click on links, hit the back button and have some assumption what they would see on the screen and what to expect.
There are already obvious trends, like an end of desktop mail apps (yahoo and gmail are leaders), desktop chat programs - they were evolved into voice/video communication technologies or replaced by social networks and so on.
Tell me one reason why not take advantage on this situation and remain attached to previous century's "desktop" technology from MS. (sure, special cases, such as heavy 3D games or CAD/Video-editing tools will stay long.)