Basecamp and Salesforce.com – the new mob
Basecamp, the project management tool, from 37 signals is everything the new web should be
- It just plain works
- Functionality comes first
- Highly Intuitive. Users can jump on and start using the app with little or no training
However, there is a dark side as we found out when we tried to export our data. While 37 Signals proclaims that you can export your data every 24 hours, the XML file you receive has little or no use. You cannot export all the files, attachments, and versions that you uploaded. You cannot download your write boards, or chat logs. What you get is a fat XML file of all your projects in little usable order.
Users must realize that once they commit to a hosted product there is little chance that they will be able to switch. All the functionality gained in the forefront is lost by the insidious entrapment of data. Buying into a hosted application is a little like being part of the mob. Once your are in you can never get out.
This problem is endemic to many hosted applications. We have had the same problem with Salesforce.com. At Nimbletoad we advocate opensource apps hosted by the user. That way, no matter what happens in the future the user will have complete functional access to their data.
Tags: basecamp, problem with hosted apps
