iNetWord is Like an Application

iNetWord works like a desktop application rather than like a Web site. It is a responsive, satisfying, familiar environment instead of a typical page-load-wait Web site.

Typical Web systems require the dialog boxes, options, and pages being edited to reload frequently. This dramatically slows your work and requires you to learn their new way of formatting and editing.

iNetWord works like an application by using a technology called AJAX, made famous by Google. The technology enables iNetWord to communicate with the server bi-directionally and asynchronously without interrupting your work. This technology and the services built with it have been called "a major breakthrough" by Walt Mossberg (article).

Since all document data is stored centrally and saved automatically, you can easily publish to the Web and can work from different computers at different times without worrying about document versions, graphic files' locations, or edit collisions. You can collaborate with associates without explicitly tracking and sending copies of documents or graphics.

Functional Area	iNetWord with AJAX	Typical Online System
Save to Server	Saves without interrupting edits, like an application	Reloads page and requires more navigation to perform next task
UI Pages to Learn	(1) The UI is contained in one main screen, like an application	(3, 5, 6...) or more separate pages are launched to access features
Formatting Drop-Downs	Immediate, with previews	Without previews and often delayed due to server interaction
Dialog Box Response	Immediate, like an application	Delayed, launched by server request
Number of Documents	Edit up to 8 documents simultaneously	Edit only a single document at a time
Browse Files or Images	Always-present UI navigates quickly	Separate browse interface is launched, navigated, and dismissed
Auto Save	Automatically saves changes every minute	Changes must be explicitly submitted to server