Google Bundles Web 2.0 Productivity Suite

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In yet another step into Microsoft territory, Google on Wednesday released a package of applications that directly compete with the software giant's Office suite. Google is using its popularity in the search engine realm to garner attention for its Web 2.0 applications, Writely and Google Spreadsheets. Writely is a Web-based word processing program targeting Microsoft Word. Google Spreadsheets aims at Excel. Dubbed Google Docs & Spreadsheets, the bundle is available free of charge. The programs allow users to create and share documents online within a Web browser, one of the promises of Web 2.0.

Rumors of a Microsoft Office killer started earlier this year. Google acquired Upstartle, maker of Writely, in March. The software allows you to edit documents online, then publish them via blogs and other Web sites. Writely users can upload Microsoft Word, OpenOffice, RTF, HTML or text documents, or create a document from scratch. A WYSIWYG editor formats and spell-checks the documents online. Google is now dropping the Writely name.

Google Labs launched Google Spreadsheets in June. Google hopes integrating the applications, both of which are still in beta, will make online document sharing and collaboration easier.

News source: Tech News World

#1 slimy on 11 Oct 2006 - 22:31

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=502682

(1 reply) #2 mlauzon76 on 11 Oct 2006 - 22:34

Now they just need something to compete with PowerPoint & Access, then they'll be all set to fully compete IMHO.

#2.1 guylaroche on 13 Oct 2006 - 01:28

Bollocks! MS Office > Google

(4 replies) #3 sagy on 11 Oct 2006 - 22:34

Well, nice.

Just wondering, how many people would use it.

#3.1 mlauzon76 on 11 Oct 2006 - 22:38

Quote - sagy said @ #3

People will use it -- this or OpenOffice -- and they will be the ones who cannot afford MS's extremely high prices.

#3.2 sagy on 11 Oct 2006 - 22:53

Quote - mlauzon76 said @ #3.1

Agreed. Is it going to be an easy switch for people?

#3.3 fobban on 12 Oct 2006 - 05:57

Actually I use it quite often. It's very good when doing your school reports and you work several people in each group. No need to manually send the document between all people all the time.

Of course it doesn't have all the features Word does, but for not-so-fancy documents it works very well.

#3.4 Pallab on 12 Oct 2006 - 06:24

I regularly use writely while writing my blog post.

(3 replies) #4 stifler6478 on 11 Oct 2006 - 22:51

People complain that Microsoft is stretching theirselves too thin by getting into too many things. Google started out as a search engine, and now look what they're getting into. Nobody complains about them. Just pointing that out.

Since I have Office 2003, I'll be sticking with that.

-Spenser

#4.1 mrmckeb on 12 Oct 2006 - 03:24

Once in every day an intellegent comment is posted on Neowin. You sire, win this award.

Why is it that Google/Apple/etc can do exactly what Microsoft does and don't get the same amount of flack?

#4.2 Unplugged on 12 Oct 2006 - 08:54

Quote - mrmckeb said @ #4.1

Because they dont have a Monopoly yet and their products are free

Microsoft wouldent get nearlly as much flack is Windows was Open Source. Google could make Google Car and as slong as they make it free people will use it as it means paying out less.

#4.3 guylaroche on 13 Oct 2006 - 01:30

Quote - mrmckeb said @ #4.1
Once in every day an intellegent comment is posted on Neowin. You sire, win this award.

Why is it that Google/Apple/etc can do exactly what Microsoft does and don't get the same amount of flack?

Because they dont have a Monopoly yet and their products are free

Microsoft wouldent get nearlly as much flack is Windows was Open Source. Google could make Google Car and as slong as they make it free people will use it as it means paying out less.
****************************************
"No monopoly" my ***! I don't know anybody who uses Yahoo!/Live/etc search. They're using their brand to market crappy products (those mentioned in the article).

(1 reply) #5 normangerman on 11 Oct 2006 - 23:34

I doubt it can beat Office, especially in businesses.

#5.1 Pallab on 12 Oct 2006 - 08:04

It is not trying to beat office. Its just the media thats touting it as an office killer and what not.

#6 Raven on 11 Oct 2006 - 23:58

People don't complain about Google because they don't act like Microsoft. Just as AMD's rise in the marketplace caused Intel to be competitive, so will Google and Apple. Only competition will stem the tidal wave of domination by Microsoft. Maybe then we'll see better products and cheaper prices.

(1 reply) #7 VT-Vincent on 12 Oct 2006 - 00:04

Has anyone actually tried Google's word processor and spreadsheet? I have, and I'm sorry to say that they don't even hold a candle to Office '97 / OOo, let alone Office 2003 or 2007. It's an interesting idea, but aside from the ability to access your files from any internet capable computer, I see little to no value in such a product.

#7.1 SniperX on 12 Oct 2006 - 09:59

I agree with you entirely. I'm perhaps the least MS supportive person I know and so my judgement isn't hampered by that disability. However, having used Google's offerings I can safely say it will be quite some time before they coax me away from the MS Office suite. Particularly with Office 2007, which I feel is the best Office release MS has ever made, you just can't get that level of functionality with Writely.

In fact, it will, in all probability, be Microsoft who coax me away from their own Office suite, if they ever decide to make it a full-blown web application. I don't like working on the web when I know that conections die far more readily and frequently than my desktop ever has.

#8 gregj66 on 12 Oct 2006 - 00:15

I got tired of having to keep track of which file was current (Desktop, Laptop, Work, etc) so I tried Writey! for some simple work files (memos, schedules, etc). I like using it and the collabaration betwen co-workers was neat.

Although, when I was ready to print the doc, I did do a copy & paste in to Word so that I could use a my memo template.

It's a great idea, so long as you have internet access (no working on the airplane)

(2 replies) #9 mattisking on 12 Oct 2006 - 00:19

So... they took the beautiful writey ajaxy interface and replaced it with boring "suck". Nice google.

#9.1 Ghostdraconi on 12 Oct 2006 - 06:26

True the Writely interface was much better.

#9.2 Pallab on 12 Oct 2006 - 08:05

+1 to that.

#10 CrisCr0ss on 12 Oct 2006 - 02:29

i may give this a go, although im a happy office 2003 user, with Custom install you can install all that you need and want My office is only about 155mb in the Program Files folder, which i believe maybe even smaller than Photoshop CS

#11 simon360 on 12 Oct 2006 - 02:36

I think this is great (although the Google interface is garbage). The only issue is that the only place I'd use it is in school, and obviously we don't have wireless internet. Maybe they need an offline interface that uploads the file when your computer is connected to the interwebs, and if another file was uploaded, or changed, it shows you the differences with a checkbox or something to keep this or undo this.

Heh, the GoToMyPC ads have an element of irony when displayed on this page

(2 replies) #12 Lare2 on 12 Oct 2006 - 04:41

I don't see how an online service like writely can compete with a desktop application. I like and use writely myself, but fail to see the competition there.

Google should invest more on Open Office and collaborate more with them to take it to new heights, then that would create really good competition.

But that's just my opinion

#12.1 machorro on 12 Oct 2006 - 05:05

I don't think it should compete, in my point of view I see it more as a nice tool when you are in a hurry and in a computer w/o Word, very unlikely but hey things happens, also, it could be a nice way to have important documents stored there in case of any emergency

just my $ 0.02

#12.2 ptchaos on 12 Oct 2006 - 08:21

Sometime ago i would prefer accessing email using a desktop application (like OE), i thought that webmail was just for temporary use while i was not at home. Now i use gmail and i prefer it over any desktop email application.

I think online office will be in the same path. Just give it time.

#13 leesmithg on 12 Oct 2006 - 08:07

I wonder how long it will be till the E.U. daylight robbery department file some sort of claim to fill their coffers!

#14 antaris on 12 Oct 2006 - 08:13

Two things I just noticed, Writely is still a common label found in various points or the application (try uploading a file which it doesn't support). The other thing which would be annoying is that in IE7 if you try and use the cut or copy commands it asks you each time whether or not you will allow access to the clipboard. It is not a bad feature of IE7, in fact, I like it, but it is noticably annoying and one of those small issues that is enough to drive me away....saying that, even though Writely/Docs is free, Office 2003 has a plethora of features that are far beyond the capabilities of a Web2.0 application, I personally can't see them coming anywhere near (not just Google's apps, but general Web2.0 apps) the usability and functionality levels of Desktop applications, simply because I don't feel there is enough capabilities in the languages used (javascript/jscript) on the platforms distributed (IE, Firefox, Opera, etc.), using the chosen medium (xml, xhtml) etc. One of the few things these Web2.0 apps have got going for them is they exist in a system that tenders to a natural collaboration.

Maybe Web3.0 will bring web based applications up to the functionality or Desktop applications, providing an evolution of the programming model takes place, probably coupled with the development of a dedicated programming language (maybe the next iteration of javascript/jscript), but as always I still will be a certain reliance on the browser, as does exist today with Web2.0

Sorry, just my views, I believe these to be fare and unbias, constructive criticism is always welcome!

(3 replies) #15 C_Guy on 12 Oct 2006 - 15:19

*shakes head*

Google, how about stick to the only thing you're good at and let the pros handle desktop productivity software...also known as "Office".

#15.1 KCKitsune on 12 Oct 2006 - 16:24

Uh, C_Guy, how about you let Google try their best and if their offering is not up to par, then it will go away on its own. If Google can make a better suite, and Microsoft has to compete, then EVERYBODY is benefitted. The current situation with Microsoft will only lead to stagnation.

#15.2 C_Guy on 12 Oct 2006 - 19:40

Google can "try their best" if they want but they are not a software company. I am just saying companies should stick to their competitive advantage. If you don't like Office then use an alternative. It's your choice.

#15.3 lbmouse on 12 Oct 2006 - 21:03

As an Office user, you should be kissing Google's feet and rooting them on to someday compete with MS. Without competition, MS has this real nasty habit of just sitting on their arses and not doing anything (i.e., IE 6.0

. Innovation is good for the consumer and the industry. So just remember 'Competition Good', 'Monopoly Bad' and you'll be alright.

#16 OrganicPanda on 13 Oct 2006 - 10:10

I'm sorry but as a web application, Writely or whatever it's called today is really amazing, so is the speadsheet app, I think it is a really good thing they exist as I use them regularly at uni and at home, Sure they aren't as functional as OOo/Office but why would anyone expect them to be? you don't complain that the flash web games you play aren't as good as CS or WoW so why complain now?

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