I wholeheartedly agree. I shouldn't need an internet connection nor overpriced software for what boils down to simple data entry and exporting the data to a file for archival purposes. Cloud apps may have their purpose, but the lack of an offline alternative when the internet is neither needed nor available for whatever reason is short-sighted.
To piggyback on this discussion, I was browsing last night for possible future software options. A review for one oft-mentioned free software program criticized it for not saving data to the cloud because it makes it harder to share the data. Never mind how easy it is - perhaps too easy - to share data with or without secure transfer options. Sure, the review had criticisms that were more legit, but the whole TL; DR feel for it was "free, plain, simple, and local storage is boring and unusable. Pay for the latest and greatest instead - and save your data to the cloud!"
The review also overlooks the idea that there might be data that people
don't want shared or saved on the cloud. In talking to another professional colleague during the week, we both agreed putting business data on the cloud is not always a good thing because of all the assorted hacks and data breaches - especially in niche areas such as healthcare, education, and finance where all sorts of personal data is stored.
I'd be willing to bet the same reviewers who pan software saving data locally are the same ones who write pearl-clutching articles when cloud data is hacked and disseminated across the dark web.
Remember all the spam that would come in through Windows Messenger?
I remember getting some and wondering WTF was going on. I think that was the first time I found Steve Gibson's (
link/
2025 archive) site. He had a utility titled
Shoot the Messenger that blocked the messenger service with the click of a button and he's made several useful Windows utility programs since then.
(Edited for spelling.)
Before Windows Messenger was used as a conduit for spam, my IT colleagues at the time would use it for pranks. I heard a story how one of our senior consultants went into the server room and sent a coworker a message from the main console suggesting there was a major system issue that required immediate action. Said recipient was set to act on it because it sounded like an actual error message until he discovered he had been pranked. Other times, the bunch of us would send SFW gag messages back and forth via Windows Messenger until the service had to be blocked.
I almost miss that sort of camraderie in the professional world. Now, everyone is afraid saying or doing the wrong thing is a serious enough HR faux pas to cost one their livelihood and future employability.
