Brian’s Weblog

I completed the Google Docs portion of this week’s assignment with ease. It was very intuitive on how to use the programs. It was easy to cut & paste text, insert an image and I was amazed at how easy it was to create a powerpoint type of presentation. I think the presentation portion of the Google docs was the greatest. I had not thought there was an alternative to PowerPoint – I was mistaken. While very basic, it does everything powerpoint does without having to buy Microsoft’s software – which is not cheap.
The Google docs can be an inexpensive (free!) alternative to having to purchase the Microsoft office program. The downside is that you have to be online to utilize. However, with home internet access becoming more readily available this may not be an issue.
Since my work environment has the Microsoft enterprise license, Google docs or Zoho will not take the place but it would be a viable alternative when working on a professional committee with members from different institutions at different locations. One concern is the security of such documents as well as the “ownership” of such documents. Since they are stored at the google site, can they be accessed by others? how long are they stored on the free version? Is there a corporate, more protected, version of google docs? If I worked in a more competitive intelligence field this would be of a major concern.
I also tried the Zoho.com site and there were dozens of applications that it would take me weeks just to try them all out.  I did notice they offer an Online Business Solution (Zoho Business) that would meet the need of a small organization that does not want to purchase the MS Office software. They mention things such as remote backup, company branding, single sign on, etc.