eWEEK Labs Wish List for 2004

Platform neutrality by default
Its time for vendors and service providers to recognize that we live in a technologically diverse world, particularly when it comes to the Internet.

Real security awareness
We hope that 2004 is the year that companies take security seriously and treat it as an important part of their infrastructure—not just a cost center.

Tools for privacy and anonymity
To preserve personal privacy and secure user identities, we need more easy-to-use, reliable and anonymous Web surfing tools.

File format compatibility
Wed love to see IT users take up the cause of producing and distributing their work in formats that are defined by open standards.

Onshore Call Centers
More companies should take Dells lead in pulling customer support call centers from offshore. Companies may cut costs in the short term by moving jobs overseas, but the long-term costs are customer satisfaction and retention.

Next page: More wishful thinking…

More wishful thinking

Virtual-cluster management
As large enterprises begin to look at server virtualization technologies to cut costs and improve utilization, the need for more robust management and resource allocation is apparent.

Web/desktop app integration
Web-based application providers need to come up with better tools for leveraging users desktop productivity applications, particularly when it comes to simplifying task, e-mail and IM management.

Full disclosure of Office doc formats
Microsoft Office should compete on the playing fields of features and usability and not maintain its position by fencing off enterprise data in proprietary document formats.

Interdirectory security mechanisms
Too many collaborative applications, from IM to team work spaces, bypass security constructs. In a world where streamlining communications is critical to success, we need a way to ensure that proprietary information remains secure.