ZiNgA BuRgA Wrote:- less loading, as you don't need to load additional metadata for each page
- as with above, generally faster, especially cached content
- integration, eg get a popup when there's a new article, similar to how MSN works
- almost always more configurable
- internet apps suck
- did I mention that internet apps suck?
- Google doesn't seem to like my connection (I often have to try 2-3 times to get a search to work)

And no, you can actually use these news readers without a connection.  The connection is only required for downloading new articles, but if your connection dies, you can still view saved articles.

What happens if you don't have your computer and you're using a a computer, say, in the library?

Extensions/plugins can be easily added to a website to allow a popup notification. You can add even easily a notification in the tab, but I'm guessing you don't want the website open all the time.

I'm not sure about loading speeds but my point about using the desktop application offline is that the reader becomes obsolete without a connection to the internet, not straight away but as soon as all the cached articles have been read.

Furthermore google reader is lightning fast as well as all other Google products. I guess if you have a bad connection, a desktop application may be the way to go, but that still won't avoid connection errors to websites/RSS Feeds.

One more thing I like about web applications is that they update frequently and seamlessly. You don't have to download anything, go through any install update wizard.

Why dya hate web apps so much Zinga?

You know they're the future...in Google's eyes ;)