I liken the current staple of web experiences to how people surf the web on their computers to how they surf the web on their phones. It's watered down and there is a HUGE hesitation because it's a different experience. Only recently with blackberries and iPhones has web surfing increased on the mobile platform.
To bring a desktop experience online essentially eliminates a user's learning curve and makes it a seamless transition from the desktop to the web.
So as painting apprentices painted the great works of the masters before them, I too analyze this monumental work. The images below highlight my points. Read below each for my breakdown:
1 // A Nod To The Web / The bottomline is that this is still a website. Some features that lend itself to that fact are key. The header affirms where a user is and acts as the area where a user can find all high level features of the site.
2 // A Nod To Social Networking / From a lot of the research I've done in the past on eBay Neighborhoods, the left column is a designated area where a user confirms that this space is indeed his or hers. An image, status, and all things of a personal nature are kept in this area.
3 // In Browser Windows Pt I / The in browser windows are such an amazing way for users to manage and customize their experience. Although it seems like such a standard thing, I want to highlight that for that reason, it is amazing. The fact that it is such a familiar experience, an experience that a user does not need to learn is the very reason it is significant. Notice the minimize, maximize and close buttons. Surely familiar interactions to even the most novice of users.
4 // Minimize Windows / Just like daddy taught me.
5 // In Browser Windows Pt II / On top of being Minimizable, Maximizable and Closable, these windows are also draggable and resizeable (from all borders). The texture in the lower right-hand corner indicates those last two things.
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Before I go on, I would like to make a comparison for this website to the half-vampire hero, Blade. Much like him, This site has the best of both worlds. Okay, on with the analysis.
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6 // Innie, Outtie, Innie / It would be such a shame to just make an offline desktop experience and not take advantage of some of the features browsers enjoy. A lot of the times, you really won't need all the features on the online desktop and to be able to pop out what you need while you do other stuff is a great example of how we can take advantage of the web. Imagine in the future when Meebo wants to start incorporating other widgets that you can just pop in and out of the experience. ~drooool.
7 // The Desktop Environment / This totally is the work of Chris Szeto from Yahoo! IM. Oh, wait.. it is... he works there now. Great way for users to customize and a great way for the site to monetize. Cha-Ching!
8 // The Base Line Menu / It's like the drawer underneath your bed. You can stuff extra stuff there without cluttering the rest of the experience. Just like OSX, and windows... It's there when you need it.
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