Matt Asay over at C|Net wrote an article earlier this year titled The Web’s unfortunate fetish with the browser, in which he essentially states that he is tired of being forced to use various applications from within the confines of his web browser.

To me, it sounds like he is too easily distracted (claiming that the browser toolbars steal his concentration away from the application he originally set out to use, for example) and the argument seems kind of weak.  But maybe I’m just not thinking “outside the box” enough.

Anyway, what’s your take?  Is it beneficial to have a common playground in which to use all of your favorite web-based applications, or would there be more freedom in applications that use browser features but don’t always require the chrome and all it entails?

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