Is 'Splashtop' a Trojan horse?

I think it is every technologist's dream to develop a “killer app” or (disruptive technology). However, I suspect they are often not the result of deliberate endeavor; but are the by-product of trying to address a deep need or by having faith in a solution that isn’t yet recognised or adopted elsewhere. Sometimes I don’t even think they know they have the killer app until much later on. Perhaps not surprising, since it can't naturally be obvious, otherwise everyone would have developed it!

However, this hasn’t stopped Netscape, Oracle, Sun, IBM, Linux and latterly Google and Apple – and probably many others - trying to develop a solution that would compete or undermine the Microsoft monopoly and/or give them a competitive edge. Microsoft have become – rightly – paranoid about almost everything and everyone appearing with a silver bullet or wooden stake (not that I’m comparing Microsoft to anything evil :) ).

Windows gives Microsoft a competitive edge, domination and channel/relationship with what must be close to 1 billion + people. Microsoft will do almost anything to protect this franchise.

And of course windows has had to compete with Larry Elison’s 'network computer', Netscapes 'the browser is the computer', Linus Torvulds 'free operating system' and Google’s 'Internet Centric computing' and more recently Apples 'Leopard'.

With Microsoft’s latest Vista release receiving much negative publicity and an increasing Apple market share many would see Apple as a potential rival to Microsoft.

However, Apples operating system is not disruptive at all, simply a better product. A (disruptive technology) is in my view something that often goes under the radar – like a Trojan horse - and is initially purchased/considered for purpose ‘A’ but eventually (and sometimes rapidly) is adopted for purpose ‘B’. It is the later scenario which unseats the established players and disrupts the market.

Whilst Apple may not have the disruptive technology, I suspect splashtop and a number of other offerings ( see engadget ) may deliver a significant blow to Microsoft.

Splashtop – and other similar offerings – is effectively an “instant ON” cut down hardware compliant operating system with browser/email/calendar contacts etc.

And the benefits ?

You do not have to wait ages for windows to load or close down.
You can be on the internet in seconds.
There are less attack vectors for viruses/hackers.
It requires less/no patching/hotfixes.
Battery life is measured in DAYS not hours. Yes DAYS!
There is almost certainly a faster browsing experience than via windows.

I am sure these points are an obvious attraction to anyone with a laptop. Note the 'instant ON' offering is NOT instead of windows but an additional solution. You can still boot up your 'full fat' windows solution whenever you want.

But windows now isn’t needed if you simply want to surf the web or pick up/send email. You will also be able to view any office documents, just not write any documents in word etc. But you can use the various online word/excel solutions that Google and others provide etc.

So hang on, you actually will be able to use the web, email, book meetings, check your calendar, write documents online as well as spreadsheets etc. You will be able to do this instantly and quickly and with a battery life that is measured in days....

You will still load up windows, but won’t it be less and less, as you find more ways of doing stuff online and/or Splashtop and others provide more instant functionality? Sure you will still have windows – as a comfort blanket – for a while at least, but only for a while.

And gradually windows would die a death of every increasing instant small silver bullets, not for everyone but for the many people who simply use their compute for these activities. After all we have the Playstation 3 and X box for games don’t we?

So whilst Splashtop is not seen as a challenge to Windows, but simply complementary (purpose 'A'), I can see it developing into a real challenger and even replacement (purpose 'B'). I predict this will be one of many slimOS products being released in the next 12 months.

My quesiton is, have Microsoft seen this coming and is Midori their response?

But perhaps the most important question is, will they be too late?