Access vs InfoPath etc

·         Use SharePoint lists for simple applications with not toooo many columns

·         Use InfoPath web forms if you’re creating a lot of columns of the type ‘Multiple Lines’…

·         Use Excel Web Apps, if you’re licensed, if you are trying to make a list behave just like a spreadsheet. You know you’re going to need Freeze Panes at some point…

·         Use Access Services if you’re creating a lot of columns, need more functions to calculate, more queries to filter and more items to view than a list can possibly handle… and you’re on a budget that excludes more expensive alternatives

thanks to Sharon Richardson for this - only put it on here for my own reference