Google Spreadsheets: Apparently Imminent
Posted by Harry McCracken | Monday, June 05, 2006 10:41 PM PT
Okay, "Google Office"--the
long-rumored Microsoft Office rival--is coming into focus. First Google
bought Writely, the nifty browser-based word processor. And now
everyone seems to agree that Tuesday will see the release, in at least limited form, of a Google spreadsheet.
Google Spreadsheets is definitely much more than a rumor--in fact, the Google site
already has a guided tour of it. That's where I swiped these screenshots from:
According to the tour, Google Spreadsheets will have a bunch of features you'd expect (browser-based operation, Excel compatability, online storage and sharing), and at least one you probably wouldn't (some sort of built-in instant messaging).
I have three additional questions:
Will it be truly usable and useful? There are early versions of a bunch of online spreadsheets already, including
iRows,
Zoho Sheet, and
NumSum. They're all intriguing, but none replicate the traditional spreadsheet experience in the way that the best online word processors succesfully mimic their desktop counterparts, and so I can't imagine doing serious work in them as they stand. Doing a spreadsheet in a browser, it seems, is just plain tough.
Will it play nicely with Writely and Google Calendar? Google doesn't always seem particularly interested in consistency and integration. So I'm wondering if Spreadsheets will pick up Writely design cues (the screens don't look especially Writely-esque) and do things like store its spreadsheets in a single repository with Writely documents, for instance. And how do
Google Calendar and GMail fit in?
Will there be more Google Office to come? Is Google Presentation on its way? Does Google plan to keep piling features onto its online productivity tools until they rival Microsoft Office? Will
GDrive be one of the puzzle pieces?
Er, that's more than three questions. Enough pondering for now...I'll report back once I've had a chance to try this thing.
very good ! I hope that i can use it as soon as possible!
Its a nice application. This can be used during reviews.
hey wow............im a recent fan to GOOGLE and now im regular user........so im eagerly waiting for this product to launch.........
if it's as good a program as Picasa and has some sort of excel importing, i'll be using it lots.
yep this would be a nice and best alternative for microsoft's office....hmmm atlast i can stop using microsoft
Google is the worst company in the world. Microsoft rules. Long Live Microsoft.
Looking forward to it.If it works it will be a better alternative then microsoft
Great Tool from Google. Finally a Browser is what we need
*cough* Open Office *cough*
Give me a break. All you people acting like you have no choice but to use MS Office. Open office has been around for some time for free yet you all, are still using MS Office. Now Google comes out with a substandard product and you all think its the best thing since Linux because it is free alternative. Well you have had a free alternative that is way better then this piece of fodder and you haven't used it. My guess is you won't use this one either and MS will continue to rule your desktops.
seriously openoffice.org is great and google already wants to keep track of my voice and im chats and emails and shopping habits. im ok without letting them have access to work i do in spreadsheets i wouldnt think anyone in a real business situation would use such a thing.
This is definitely not going to be used in a work environment. But I guess Google isn't trying to woo the Corporate Environment. This is aimed at typical home users with data which is not so sensitive. Of course, I wouldnt use it to list down my taxes and paychecks ;-)
Google vs. OpenOffice:
Google highs:
No installation.
Use from anywhere.
Maybe collaboration possible.
Google lows:
Must wait for download of code every time it's used (very bad for dial up, and still an annoyance for broadband).
Most likely will have to wait for download of components when you want to use specific features (charts for example), which is another annoyance.
Not integrated with other Google products yet.
Requires a net connection to function, probably intollerable with Dial-up, thereby requiring broadband.
Google can get to any data you process with their tools. Do you want to let them have this too?
No full Google Office yet, so there is still a need for other softare for presentations and database (Google does have a word processor)
Oo Highs:
Installs and works very similarly to MS Office.
Snappy (about as fast as MS Office, and certainly faster than downloading code every time).
Has almost all of the MS Office functions within its own suite, so it is a viable alternative to the entire MS Office package.
FULLY featured and works well with all components
Does not send our data to anyone.
Except for the install package, no additional downloading needed, and no net connection needed.
Oo lows:
Requires install
Does not have "Google" in it's name.
I think the best marraige would be to have Google team with SUN to enhance Oo to closely and integrate with Google's stuff, so Oo get's colaborative features and Google gets a real office suite with a proven track record.
It looks like a usable program, but the whole idea of puting my data out ther on the 'net for everyone to see...well...I don't like it. Even if you work on a local file, you still need to be connected to use the software. You can't firewall it like a local install app.
PhilDude: Try Portable OpenOffice.org No installationis required. It's designed to run off a thumb drive or other portable storage. It's a bit slower at start up than a full install, but it works!
I totally agree about being uncertain with having my data 'out there'. i'm a big fan of MS Excel it will be interesting to play with anyway.
Google Base combined with Google Spreadsheet will provide a very unique and targetted advertising opportunity for large corporate clients.
Google Base provides the sophisticated search capabilities to identify and locate content. The Google Spreadsheet is the glue to make you stick.
Currently, at ibanknet.com we publish financial reports of Banks to Google Base. Depending on the finacial report selected(each bank has about 20 reports), ads within the different spreadsheet reports can be targetted specifically at importers or exporters, or mortgage brokers or financial insitutions, etc. http://base.google.com/base/search?q=ibanknet
Its a nice replacement for all the normal spreadsheet needs and add Writely to it, and u have these Free apps available, Platform independent. It'll take time for the product to mature(still in Alpha stage).
It took Gmail 2yrs to be where it is today, but once they start adding up features. It'll be very tough for Microsoft to charge such exorbitant price for its Office products.
The Hunter becomes the hunted for a change, sit and enjoy as Google heightens its battle with Microsoft.
Has anyone discussed the implications of having financial data on a hosted system?
I can only imagine what an Auditor would say when the client says "Yes, all of our financial information is stored on Google's servers"
I don't know why we are talking Google Spreadsheets or OpenOffice. OpenOffice is nice, if you are used to using Microsoft Office 95 or MS Works. Office 2007 is easily 10 years ahead of OpenOffice 2.0. Google Spreadsheets may be nice for keeping track of a grocery list or home inventory, but not much else at this point. Everyone claims that Microsoft prevents innovation. If that is true, where are the great products? I will give Google credit for GMail and it's calendar program. Those are innovative.
Yeah! Finally, one of the company willing to stand up and fight w/ MS. :)) MS always like to compete w/ other companies. Say GOOD BYE TO IE. Welcome to FIREFOX. :))
Say good bye to MS excel.. welcome GOOGLE SPREADSHEET ..
Goolge RULES
Don't forget WordPerfect. It may not be free, but it is an alternative to MS Office, and in some ways a superior one.
Thanks!
come on people, if you think google is going to do anything with your data, you need to stop right now. almost email services, for example, archive your activity. even most websites track your navigation for statistics purposes. google is just really popular right now, and so of course you're going to hear more about them than anyone else. don't let things you read in articles alter your perception. use them to cause yourself to become curious about something and research it yourself as well as the other side of the story.
I like google's search engine. It is great.
Google Maps, Pretty cool.
Google tool bar - Hate it
Desktop Search - What for.
Gmail - I don't think so.
Picasa - No thank you.
Google Office? Now this is just silly
I realy hope that all these google projects don't have any impact on their search engine, it would be a real shame.
Just my thought's
Okay,
For real people, why all the Google bashing?
Google is a very young and strong
company destined to thrive and survive.
I think Google has challenged our outlook on the way we use computers, and they are doing an outstanding job. I have been using Google?s API to develop some very interesting
C# programs. So what if they use web based Apps, if your so afraid for your data, host your own website and email service, and while you at it make it FREE (Not so easy is it?). I am a freeware developer and a Google enthusiast. If you don?t like it don?t use it,
And for sure don?t hate it.
I would really give it a try.
Its cool, but I still prefer Open Office for all of my word processing and other office like functions.