Google Docs

Anyone out there using Google Docs? I am really starting to become more enamored with it. I was hesitant at first...because I wasn't sure it could match what Microsoft Office offers. But now that I have had a chance to look at it more, I think it offers everything the basic office user needs, and more.

I have been looking at the entire Google Apps package for at least a year now. I am looking to find a suitable replacement for Microsoft Office at Kaeser, to offset costs and the constant updates and patches. Also, most of our staff are not power Office users by a long shot. In fact, the majority of the staff simply uses Office to open files. That's it. Installing Office, maintaining Office, and the amount of resources Office takes is over kill. Not the mention not the best way Kaeser can spend it's tech dollars.

Google Apps also offers what Office does not. Document sharing. SHARING. Office requires an entire server to accomplish that. With Google Apps you can share and edit the same document with multiple users. You can edit the document and keep track of the changes. This also cuts back on the amount of same file instances on a server. We have that issue a lot here at Kaeser. Multiple copies of the same file. Drives me batty. :)

Google Docs gives the user a Word Processor, Spreadsheet, and Presentation Maker (Power Point). Users can create anyone of those types from the main interface. Which is from a WEB interface. That's the best part. No software save a web browser. No install. No patches. Plus, being on the web, gives the users access to their stuff from any where. No more having to worry about where you saved what file where.

Google Docs also allows the user to save the file as a PDF, RTF, even HTML. Which is awesome. With those 3 types, you have your bases covered.

Anyhoo...if you are using it shoot me an email. I want to know how you like it. Odds are its looking more and more like I am going to implement this at Kaeser...but would love some feedback.