Jooce: Close to Being All a Web OS Needs to Be. Even If They Don’t Want to Be.

The more that I've been following the development of Web operating systems, the more I've come to realize that the concept shouldn't really be that difficult. For a Web OS to be successful, there are only a few simple things it really needs to have. It needs to have a slick and attractive interface, especially for those of us spoiled by Mac OS X. It needs to be able to store all types of files. It needs to have a messaging system. And it needs to be cross-browser and cross-platform compatible. Jooce is batting about a .750.

Jooce is the product of a Luxembourg-based start-up that details their vision as “a web application that:

• levels the online playing field by empowering the vast numer of web surfers to access the Internet each day from a cybercafe;
• is easy and fun to use;
• completely reinvents the user experience;
• makes every computer your computer.”

With localization for 17 countries, integrated support for AIM, ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo IM clients, and the ability to support media files as well as standard documents, Jooce appears to be well on their way to achieving their goal. They state in their blog that they aren't trying to be a Web OS, and have unique features that give credence to that assertion. For starters, there is a difference between your Desktop and your “Joocetop” which is more of a shared workspace where you can place common files, which makes Jooce more of an option for workgroups who aren't all in the same physical location, while still allowing each user to have their own personalized area as well.

The app has an attractive look and feel, but if you aren't particularly fond of the stereotypical blue and green Web 2.0 colors, you can upload your own images to use as a background, as well as change the animations for moving between Desktop and Joocetop and other actions.

The BBC noted in their coverage of Jooce that the intensive AJAX application can bog down on slower machines, however, and that could be a serious roadblock in attracting the targeted audience of “cybernomads” who may be using systems at libraries and other publicly-available PCs that don't have frequent upgrades. There is no part of the site that doesn't require scripting to run; disabling scripts will prevent you from accessing the site at all.

However, Jooce seems to have no trouble with cross-browser compatibility; I was able to access my account on my Mac (always a bonus when many sites are PC-only) on Firefox, Camino, and Safari. Being able to use as many possible hardware and browser configurations as possible is crucial to the success of an application like Jooce, and one that other Web OS companies should take note of.

If Jooce adds in more messaging support (GTalk being a big one) and the planned integrated email as well as resolves some of the system-intensive performance issues on slower machines, they may end up at the front of the pack. Their Webware 100 nomination was well-deserved.