The Google Experiment Part 3

So far, the Google Experiment has brought me a few surprises. The one that stands out the most was yesterday’s failure of Chrome OS. But that was the subject of my previous post so let’s move on.. to Google Docs, Sheets and Slides!

The trio of aps is accessible online, making it easy to work on various documents on the go, on multiple devices and platforms. For example, I am using Google Docs to type this from my Chrome browser. If I want to, I can pick up my phone and continue the post right where I left off, seamlessly.

This is a great advantage, because the fact of storing data on the cloud makes it easier to retrieve and more accessible, providing that you are connected. But how does a free app like Google Docs compare to an established powerhouse like Microsoft Word?

It all depends. If your goal is to write, edit and save simple texts, then I believe that either application will do the job. You can change fonts, formatting and spell check your work on the fly.This means that for the vast majority of people Google Docs will be just great. And it has the significant advantage of being free. However if you are a content writer who needs advanced features such as templates, macros and watermarks, you will find Google Docs to be an underachiever. Sure there are plenty of add-ons available, but no compilation of these will compensate for the vast array of embedded features in any recent version of Microsoft Word.

So what about Google Sheets? The principle is similar in terms of the comparison that was established between Google Docs and Microsoft Word. I imported by budget workbook through the File Picker, a tool which allows you upload files into the cloud and edit them with Google applications. Upon opening, the style seemed easy to read and all of the information was transferred accurately. All of the sheets in the workbook were present and in the proper order. However keep in mind that this test was done with a simple budget workbook. I am not sure how Google Sheets would react if faced with an Excel Workbook filled with macros and formulas. So once again for most mere mortals, the Google alternative to Microsoft Office is a success.

And what about presentations? How does Google Slides stack up against Microsoft’s Power Point? It's a story similar to the word processor and spreadsheet applications. Google Slides gives you the basics to create a decent yet simple presentation free of charge but without the bells and whistles of Microsoft Power Point.

In the end I can only say that the trio of google Docs, Sheets and Slides is awesome, providing that you are a basic user on a budget and who is comfortable doing all of their work online. If not, then you will need a product such as Microsoft Office, or OpenOffice at the least. Speaking of OpenOffice, it will be the subject of its own review at some point down the road. For now, personally, I will keep on using Google Docs as it is perfect for writing blog content, letters and any type of short note.