Which common features of desktop applications do most web applications miss? [closed]

Question

Stackoverflow User Luke wrote in this answer:

The boundaries between desktop and web applications have really blurred. Whilst once upon a time the nature of developing for the web was totally different to developing for the desktop, nowadays you find the same concepts [...] cropping up in both.

Since I am continually looking to improve my existing web applications, I'd like to know which common features of "classic" desktop applications do most web application miss?

For example, most desktop apps prompt the user to save unsaved data leaving a page or closing a window - a feature that many web applications miss. It could be that some feature aren't even necessary or are compensated in some other way. Maybe there are features which can't be implemented in (a classic) web application?

Answer 1

The thing you'll never be able to imitate in a web application is the low latency and instant feedback of a well written desktop app.

Even with the ajax techniques to load only parts of the pages, there usually is a noticeable delay in the response (or maybe it's just me and my narrowband). You're (for at least a few more years) just bound to the orders of magnitude of speed difference between network access and no network access.

Answer 2

The Undo button.

Answer 3

Right-click application-specific pop-up menus is the thing I've noticed most.

Usually right-clicking on a browser application will bring up the browser pop-up menu rather than an application-specific menu.