Technology Review: Google Conquers E-Mail

In the hubbub of the privacy concerns, MIT's Technology Review points out that some significant technology developments are being missed in Google's Gmail service. In particular, the use of very clever browser scripting creates an application that, unlike other web applications, operates as fast or faster than programs running on users' own machines. The review notes that this may give a huge boost to the notion that the web could become a replacement to the old desktop operating system metaphor.