Review: An Alternative: Google Desktop

Google's Docs and Spreadsheets, now in beta, work with Internet Explorer 6, FireFox 1.0.7 and Mozilla 1.7.12. Mac support has been completely left out. Docs and Spreadsheets arrive with all the basic editing functions that most users need. For example, the tool has the usual cut-and-paste and other functions, and tables, links and images can be embedded as well. Docs has a unique revisions mechanism that allows users to override documents based on time.

Similarly, Spreadsheets has default formulas to tabulate cells.

The most attractive feature is the collaboration tool embedded in both products. With collaboration, users can invite other Google Docs and Spreadsheets users to view and edit documents in realtime. The collaboration tool provides security access features similar to expensive collaboration suites on the market. Users have three levels of access to manage documents. Users do not need to be online in Docs and Spreadsheets to receive invitations. Google has linked Gmail with Docs and Spreadsheets, allowing users to send invitations using Gmail contact lists.

Google provides a way to publish documents to the Web by assigning unique URLs so that anyone outside of Google tools can view them. Blog posting also is available, including a way to get RSS feeds for documents.

Docs and Spreadsheets cannot compete head on with Microsoft Office or even Star Office or Open Office on functionality. However, traditional desktop-based productivity tools do have the flexibility of easy online access. System builders should add direct links to these great new tools on every desktop.