Exciting news from Adobe this week: CNET reports that the graphics giant will be offering an online version of Photoshop within six months.

Their plans got me thinking. I moved from high-def video streaming in Colorado to a slow-as-mud, frequently-throws-me-off-to-reboot-itself connection in New Zealand. We all know the challenges of uploading, downloading and accessing large files online. I’m also a frequent user of Photoshop, and when I think about the speed restrictions from trying to access it online… I shudder. Literally. I have a visceral response that makes me want to take my local version and hide it so nobody can take it from me.

I’m not alone in this, either. Milliseconds after the first announcement went up, InformationWeek was reporting on the underwhelming response from graphics professionals.

“I don’t see how it would be very useful,” said Jeff Singer, a San Francisco, Calif.-based photographer. “I work with files that are sometimes one or two gigabytes and can’t imagine having upload those. Using a Web-based app doesn’t seem feasible. Maybe for someone who uses iPhoto.”

Now, I do recognize that Adobe’s online offering isn’t for professionals: I’m envisioning a stripped-down version with slightly more functionality than, say, Windows Paint. Still, I can’t help but wonder: what things DO we want online? Adobe is chasing after Google’s ad-supported free-for-consumer model:

Adobe’s online push has as much to do with consumers’ expectations as encroaching competition from Google, said Peter O’Kelly, an analyst at Burton Group.

And, while I love Gmail’s simplicity, powerful search and accessibility, there are some things that I would rather keep local. Photoshop is one. All my graphics programs, really, including Premiere. Anything that involves large files and limited collaboration. And anything that I typically access from only one machine; my home office setup includes lots of peripherals that impact my usage as much as the software itself does.

I’d also rather buy a license and own it. I’d also rather have the option of not seeing ads for Corvettes if I’m working on an image that has a car in it.

What do you think? Is the move towards online, on-demand software inevitable? Tell me it isn’t so, please. Surely there are some bastions of non-connectivity left in the world.