There’s this idea floating around the web design world that it’s “bad” to make web apps that too closely resemble actual (non-web) apps. While I think there’s some truth to it, I mostly disagree. I think, when done right, a web app that mimics the behavior and look of a desktop app is a beautiful thing. The MobileMe apps from Apple are a great example of this in my opinion. This screenshot above is of the photo upload progress window. It’s easily one of the best looking upload progress interfaces I’ve seen.

Some have argued that the mail app in MobileMe fails by being too close to the actual Mac OS X Mail. Again, I respectfully disagree. I use the “real” Mail on my Mac everyday and love the interface. And the MobileMe web app version is extremely similar. The only thing I find both of them lack is the concept of an “archive” that Gmail has popularized (and which I think is brilliant).

The Gallery app in MobileMe is fantastic. It very closely resembles iPhoto, but in a simplified form. The thing is: it’s a great interface — no matter where it lives. If it works, it works. Plus, their users know it well and it’s comfortable.

That is the biggest issue if you ask me. It’s not whether or not a web app should or shouldn’t resemble a desktop app, it’s whether the interface works. And in my mind that means it is supremely beautiful, supremely functional, and simple enough for a novice to pick up and use. 

Sometimes I wonder if the people who are crowing about web apps needing to stay inherently “webby” in appearance are just repeating the idea because it’s popular, rather than looking at why a particular web app works or doesn’t work.