Will Google Office Catch On?
So, it’s not surprising Google is apparently coming out with a Powerpoint-like service that will complete its online productivity suite portfolio - and, more important, give it the same arsenal as Microsoft Office. The question is whether it matters? Just because Google built it, does it necessarily mean users will come?
On my computer, I’ve got Office 2003 (no plans to upgrade to Office 2007) but I’ve also got an increasing number of documents on Google Docs, Spreadsheets and GMail. The Docs and Spreadsheets documents were created so I can easily share documents and spreadsheets with other people. While Google won’t replace Microsoft Office as the “go to” productivity suite any time soon, it is a nice complement to Office given I have yet to wade into the world of Microsoft Live.
But what will it take for Google Office to take major amounts of market share from Microsoft Office? There is a lot of enthusiasm for Web-based services but it’s difficult to see many people, particularly corporate-types, abandoning Office any time soon for Google. Why should Google Office be anything different as a competitive threat as WordPerfect or Open Office, which are, in theory, easier products for many people to embrace? (One different Google Office does have over WordPerfect and Open Office: it’s free. (Update: My bad, Open Office is free too).
That said, Google Office could get some more traction if wireless networks become more ubiquitous, and the use of Web-based services becomes more mainstream. One thing I have noticed in recent months is how Google-based services such as GMail, Docs & Spreadsheets and Google News have become key parts of my computing environment.
For more, check out Paul Kedrosky, who doesn’t care Google Office may not have all the bells and whistles as Office.
February 5th, 2007 at 9:17 am
I tend to use as many of Google products as possible - just to keep it simple - such as Google Office, Gmail, and even Google Notebook. However, I find Google Documents and Spreadsheet too slow to be acceptable as my primary creation tools. Like you, I use them to to share with others as well as enable remote access to some documents when I am away.
February 5th, 2007 at 9:28 am
[…] Like Paul and others — including my fellow mesh organizer Mark Evans — I find myself using Google’s Docs more and more in order to have documents available to me wherever I am, without having to worry about which version I have, or carrying them around on a thumb drive. And the mesh group got huge mileage out of what used to be called Writely thanks to the online collaboration tools. Speaking of which, could we please go back to the name Writely instead of Google Docs and Spreadsheets? […]
February 5th, 2007 at 12:32 pm
Since when did Open Office become a pay product(not free)?
February 5th, 2007 at 12:38 pm
I also find myself using Google docs more and more. In practice, it’s mostly the spreadsheet and not the old Writely, but that is because I use so many list-based docs. For straightforward lists and financial functions, Google sheets is great - I can access it from my work computer, home computer, and wife’s computer downstairs. The sharing function makes it easy to share certain files, and I don’t have to worry about backing up excel sheets, or using an out of date sheet.
I wouldn’t use this for the corporate financial planning, but it is wonderful for just about everything else.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Hi, Mark. Another big difference between Google Office and some other office alternatives is: a Google user permanently commits his or her data to Google servers. I wouldn’t want one supercomputer to have all of my emails, my financial spreadsheets, my writing projects, and my search history, etc., integrated by username and/or IP addresses and exploitable for unlimited potential uses by unimaginable future AI, forevermore. There can be no guarantee that such information will not be used, in the decades to come, in some way I will not like. The only server that has guaranteed privacy is the one running in one’s home.
That said, I do use and love Gmail, but of course any email system has imperfect privacy by definition: SMTP is a *network transport* service.
As a Google products user, what do you think of this issue?
February 5th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Just FYI, Open Office is free…
February 5th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Just a quick correction: Open Office is free as well (hence the name
)
About the post itself: I look forward to it. I mean with Wordprocessors I definately need the power of OpenOffice Writer (or the Microsoft counterpart), but for presentations I typically need 10 to 15 functions, so I’d really appreciate a less cluttered interface and the power to quickly switch to another computer if the projector again refuses to work with this particular laptop.
February 5th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
How to get corporate users to use Google Office? Simple, offer applicances just like they do for search. They can develop the software, then sell it, plus create linkages so that people will use the online solutions to pump up the ad hits…
February 5th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
Well all the reviews for the new office 2007 have been mostly positive once you get passed the idea that they virtually changed the entire menu system. With this in mind, I don’t think Google’s office solution is going to fly very well. One of the major hurdles is that sometimes you just want to be working off line or look at an office document on that spare computer in the back keeping track of some inventory on an older PC with no Internet access. Google can’t reach those computers and a lot of small non-tech businesses still have those. (They might even being running with cobol developed programs… EEK)
I think Google should make its focus as a way of sharing documents than simply trying to replace office programs. If people can develop with office and share with Google, they will make something much more successful.
February 5th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Last night I downloaded Open Office and it is still a great free option!
February 5th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
MS Access is missing. Google should offer a Web based DB solution.
February 5th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
You need to try Office 2007. Use the new Word, Excel or PowerPoint for a few days, and you’ll wonder how you ever used anything else. There’s no way “Google Office” or even “Live Office” would be able to replace these new apps!
Granted, there is value in having something simple, fast, and online - but not for every scenario.