This is not “very convincing” if it doesn’t meet your requirements.
There are plenty of ways to distribute thick client apps that are usable from any client, easy to update, and which don’t have access to local resources, like Remote Desktop, VMware, Citrix, etc.
and ask your users to install those before being even able to use your app?
I haven't phrased my argument very neatly, but the point stands: anyone with an iphone/android/linux/… can easily use a web app, now, without any prerequisites.
You don't have to bundle it or distribute it differently than with a webserver and it's a single codebase.
That's not the case for any other tech that I'm aware, and it's a shame.
I agree, sure.
I was only replying to the "… but why?" comment: There are plenty convincing reasons to go the web app route, although it obviously has downsides too.
There are plenty of ways to distribute thick client apps that are usable from any client, easy to update, and which don’t have access to local resources, like Remote Desktop, VMware, Citrix, etc.