If Google has a smart PR department (and I think, for the most part, they do), they pick and choose where they want their news to land. They try to burnish their veneer as one of the most prestigious tech companies in the world. Hence, the New York Times.

I have been using Google products through all phases of beta testing. Between GTalk, Gmail, and Gcalendars an small to mid-size business could get away with a tool that outwieghs MS products by far. All I need is two windows and I am effectively manage my time and communications properly...lets see a MS try to directly contact a vendor via headset from Outlook, HA..it would take then two years and about 27 hotfixes before it stopped crashing your app and corrupting your PST. Google rocks WORD!

It's very funny to see the above comment by a google fan. Of coz, Google is a very interesting company, but it is not a company that always make useful applications. This GAYD, is an example. I tried all these tools in the past months, but not a chance will they replace my office suites. Thoese applications are far from the production enviroment, unless you can bear with the awful lags. Even M$'s Office live, which is also free now, is doing a better job. What I do with these GAYD now is to show them to my friends, "Hey, do you know how foolish are these google things? Lemme show u!

All Google needs to do is roll this out successfully as a "wired product" then acquire Adobe. Adobe's Apollo runtime (HTML, Flash, PDF) OS independant (Linux, PC, Mac & Portables) solution will be a HUGE hit. http://labnol.blogspot.com/2005/12/adobe-apollo-acrobat-reader-flash.html FYI - Flash and Adobe PDF will not be on Vista (interesting). I wonder if many people will download Apollo (To get Flash, January 2007) for their favorite Youtube video. (Things that make you go ummmm).

Yeah, but MS Live requires internet explorer. Now to use IE, well, THAT's foolish.

I'm always amazed how people will read an article that states something (for example) on the order of "Google "whatever" is not a replacement for "whatever," and then immediately write a comment that explains why "whatever" is not a replacement for "whatever." What's the point in making someone else's point over again, in an argumentative way? Why not add something useful? I'm a professional writer. I have used Writely Writely since it became available, long before Google purchased it, in preference to MS Word for everything except final editing. I do prefer Word for that, because all the editors I work with use it. But let me tell you, when you travel, use several different computers in addition to your laptop, and can go online and have all your work in front of you exactly as you left it at the last stop, you realize that online applications are a goldmine. Along with that, I can't tell you what a pleasure it is to be able to travel without worrying that your livelihood is in that verrry identifiable bag, just waiting to be ripped off. Go ahead; steal my ThinkPad. There's not much of value on it, and it's insured. I'm never impressed by the opinions of people who evaluate things without considering the conditions they're designed for. It shows an insularity that isn't consistent with the reality of the Web and computing today.

I would think MS has set standards and years of work they always have to equal or be compaitable with. They can't just write all new rules. They can't abandon there base. In this aspect Google has come in, in a much different era of applications and hardware. It is easy to see why Google is able to win over simple minded folk that don't study history or knowledge of what has made MS and what keeps MS on top. Lets see Google tools when it hits over 10 years old.

Other than privacy, security, reliability, and performance concerns, it strikes me as a dandy idea. -grin In addition, at a time when personal computers offer a huge amount of computing power, why would I want to use my PC as a Dumb Internet Terminal?

Sarbanes-Oxley is the signgificant block...However, just as we can have our own corporate servers that run internal Google searches, I would not be surprised if this became available behind our firewall on our own servers.

one MAJOR reason why I won't be using it yet: lack of synchronization. Sure I love the hosted service, but I still need offline access...

You can already do all this stuff on your own servers. Its called Citrix, as well as Virtuoso. You can access your apps from any computer and have them be the same as when you left. I use Citrix at work and I love it. I have access to all of my Office apps and my data from any computer that has an internet connection. Accessing programs from anywhere is nothing new, it is just a different way of doing it. I love Google, I think they are a very inventive company, they are more agile than Microsoft. Microsoft is like the Titanic, they are too big and can't manuever quick enough, and soon they will hit an iceberg and sink, its inevitable unless they break things up into smaller more agile pieces.

I don't think this launch is the news in itself, but the fact that the bigger picture is coming into greater focus. There has been much speculation that Google will compete with Microsoft in the Office market sometime in the future. This is another step towards that. There have been other Microsoft "giant killers" before: Corel was a big one, Sun Microsystems is always at hand, and to a lesser extent Adobe. But all have failed -- usually after spending a ton of money to leap headfirst into the fray. Google is different. Besides the fact that they are a huge company, they are not spending gross amounts of cash to take their share. Instead, they are buying proprietary software for reasonable prices (much more reasonable than developing from scratch) and easing into the market. Why not market yourself to soccer moms? They are not going to scream as much when something doesn't work, but still you will get reliable feedback. Cut your chops in the amateur market so when you hit the "big time" you are ready with a solid plan and most importantly, solid software. Windows and Office are becoming unwieldly, as the latest Vista problems have shown. It will soon be necessary to improve software efficiency (development, debugging, operating requirements) to reduce development time and avoid a string of required updates. Is Google the answer? Way too early to tell, though they seem to be on the right path. Don't forget, Bill Gates started Microsoft by buying someone else's OS, and Apple bought its mouse and graphical display model from Xerox at a steal. They have a huge head start now, but if radical changes are coming to the software market to increase efficiencies, Google may in retrospect be seen to actually have the lead...

Why is everyone calling this "Google Office"? This is *not* Google Office. Writely + Google Spreadsheets + Google Applications for Your Domain + more (like OpenOffice.org and Firefox, which Google supports) would be Google Office. Not this. This is just what is says - Google Applications for your Domain. Not even "For your Office" or "For your Business" - just for your domain. There is no Google Office. Not yet anyway. I want there to be one. Like Zoho.com or Ajaxlauncher.com or gOffice.com or something - but there's nothing like that from Google yet. Writely and Spreadsheets come close - but they haven't been intregated, and they need more (database, presentation, etc.)

Number #1 reason I probably won't use it: lack of encrypted protection for all documents or services from either competitors, governments or governments working for competitors.

i really, really, really, really want google talk to succeed! it's so good.

man this sucks almost as much as Terracosmo http://rolleyes.net/bloodscans/terra.html

I'm in the process of testing it just for my family, not my business. I've been looking around for some free software to use as a "digital family hub". I'll be using email @mydomain in Gmail. My wife and I can share calendars and contacts. Maybe even use the Page creator to keep our family site up to date, with links to Picasa Web Albums. Nothing too serious or confidential. That's pretty much it.

The Google guys seem to have an unhealthy obsession with Microsquish. Seems it's not about money or even marketshare, but about 'Proving the Ultimate Superiority of Our WorldView.' Silicon Valley ideologues give me the creeps way worse than any self-righteous Baptist.

YOU SUCK! MICRO$OFT TOO! DON'T WRITE SHIT! YOU'RE WRITING LIES JUST FOR MONEY! FOOLS

Every Dell I've purchased of the past few years(7?) has included a free copy of Corel Office Suite free (WordPerfect, Quattro Pro, etc.). Yet, I've never used any of it. Word processing and spreadsheets are core software applications, and like most people folks, I prefer not to canoe upstream, counter to industry standards. Word and Excel are two of the best software products ever made; they've dominated the market for 15 years with good reason. Question, what happens when your internet connection goes down? Does the office/company take the afternoon off?

I am not a "soccer Mom"... in fact I am president of a software development company that has been in business for over 20 years. I've written multiple books on technology topics. And I am not afraid to say that I use Google Spreadsheets. Most of the spreadsheets and word processing docs that I create are simple... really, really simple. I probably only use 5% or less of Exce or Word's abilities. I write simple letters, create simple spreadsheets, and really hate paying Microsoft all that money for their over-engineered products. We have offices across the country. With Google Spreadsheets I can invite our management team to view and/or edit spreadsheets. We can all look at the same sheet at the same time, and see changes automatically. Collaboration is very cool! We write some very complex software, but I would argue that for most of our users Google Spreadsheets or Writely or Zoho or ThinkFree is more than enough. MS Office products are, IMHO, overkill for all but a few users. Remember, complexity kills.

For me the key reason I won't use Google Office is the same reason I don't use their other stuff - it looks like crap. Moreover, Google has a tendency to let things go to rust (Froogle, anyone?, or how about that amazing Notebook we heard so much, then nothing, about?) Lastly, I won't trust any of my clients' information to Google, as they don't have policies that provide decent protection nor assurances of availability. I don't use MS products either, mostly for quality concerns, but if I had to choose Google would still lose.

Why I Won't Use Google Office: The two 900 Ib gorillas in the corner. Who's that? Google and the Government. One of Google's shouts is "We never erase. We remember everything." One of the Government's shouts: "We want your online data. You can't tell anyone we took it." Bad separately. Evil together. Ad revenue-driven "we want to know you and we'll never forget you" meets Big Brother Control-driven "we want to know you and never forget you". Who wins? Not you. Okay, it's the other guys problem, and beside, you're "not doing anything wrong." Two things: My definition of freedom isn't trouble-free control if I behave; it's control-free freedom until I (seriously) misbehave. And as for the other guy, it's Orwell time baby, at the rate the Patriot Act is swallowing patriots one day the other guy will be you. I'll not be using Google beyond search and for catching my spam e-mail until Google has a better answer for US government intrusion than the one they gave the Chinese government (they turned over so they could keep in the China game).

As someone who is both a Google search user and a Adwords advertiser, this is very disappointing. Google seems to have given up on improving the quality of the two products that put them on top. Maybe they're just not talking about the work they're doing in those areas, but all I hear about Google these days is how they intend to move horizontally.

Along with SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley), I am sure that HIPAA regulations would prohibit my medium sized therapy clinic from using Google Spreadsheets, Writely, and Google mail as cool as they are.

I would appreciate if you could explain why you believe that Sarbanes-Oxley act prevents use of hosted apps. I consult in enterprise information management, and legislative compliance is one of those things I'm trying to stay on top of - e.g.: I have read the SOX act. To my surprise, I've seen several comments in agreement with your statement. Am I missing something, or are you just assuming that hosted corporate electronic information is not compliant with SOX?

Not having a copy of the files on PC will be answered once Google launches GDrive. They talk about having all the files on the PC whether there is an internet connection or not. Using online apps is great. Once we start using it, it's a joy to have all the apps on the net, and Free of charge. Can't get any better than that.

Hmm... so when google are searching all a company's documents (which include masses of confidential data), how will that affect the stockmarket, with stuff like insider trading rules? Google will know about mergers and company profits before even the boards do.

The only reason Google is drawing real attention is because its the only company actually innovative enough to take on Microsoft. Keep in mind they are not beating Microsoft at its own game, they are beating it at a new one, integrating simple applications online for low cost. This is where the majority of the market lies, but for every 100 mom and pop users, Microsoft really only needs 1 small business user. As an example, it is funny how no one mentions Google Page creator as a direct competitor to Adobe Dreamweaver. They provide the exact same function, building webpages. However just like Google Office and Microsoft Office, one is simpler, costs less, and provides much less functionality. Google will probably take the majority of non-savvy web developers but any smart business realizes the real rewards lie in attracting those who invest in those complex applications that know how to use them. I expect Google to kick out a flash killer next because hey, who wants to pay $700 to Adobe to dabble in animation? All reasons considered, I won't use Google Office for two reasons. One is that Google Office probably won't offer the functionality I need. The second and most important is support. "Microsoft Office Live Collaboration customers receive free 24-hour phone, e-mail, and billing support." Anyone know the phone number for Google's tech support? If you've dealt with Google, you know they aren't exactly fast with customer service.

There was a rumour many years ago that Microsoft had specially written for their own use a version of Microsoft Mail server to run on a UNIX box as the company realized Windows Servers weren't cutting it. Interesting story which makes me ask the question: what does Google staff use to perform complexing budgeting: Excel or their own spreadsheet app? Google is great for searches (tho I prefer Yahoo these days for searches); everything else they produce is immature toys for the masses, esp. those, it seems, who dislike Microsoft just for it being Microsoft. I'm a Mac guy myself with only Excel on my machine as I work for a Bank and Banks like Excel as it's hard to beat. I use Yahoo! extensively for a portal as it has more content and a more pleasing UI than anything Google can muster, and Yahoo! also has some widgets that interact with your Yahoo services. iCal and Mac's Mail package I use extensively. My .Mac accounts gives me an email account and iDisk, which is storage on a server that synchronizes automatically on my Mac's hard drive. All this existed before Google launched it's first, ahem, "app." So please, all of you who are jumping up and down about Google's new app set, explain to me at which point Google because uniquely innovative.

Alas, the value of any app lies in the content generated with the use of the app. I won't use WordPerfect, OpenOffice (which by the way is free) and certainly not GAYD. I have tons of Word docs and Excel spreadsheets that I'm not about to give up.

A tongue-in-cheek press release from Intermedia spoofs real world concerns over Google's Apps on Your Domain service.

Starting today, Ask.com they will help you figure out what those pesky emoticons mean

Starting today, Ask.com they will help you figure out what those pesky emoticons mean.

Starting today, Ask.com they will help you figure out what those pesky emoticons mean.

Starting today, Ask.com they will help you figure out what those pesky emoticons mean.

Starting today, Ask.com they will help you figure out what those pesky emoticons mean.

Google apps are great! Plus they are free. I don't use them that much but I use Office even less. These days I do most of my work with Apple's Iwork. It dances circles around Word and Powerpoint. The only thing keeping office alive is the fact that larger businesses have invested so much time and money in those apps. They would hate to have to pay the price to convert, or recreate, all of their old documents to a new format.

Today's topic: What will Google do to rain on Microsoft's Vista parade?

Today's topic: What will Google do to rain on Microsoft's Vista parade?

Today's topic: What will Google do to rain on Microsoft's Vista parade?

Today's topic: What will Google do to rain on Microsoft's Vista parade?

Today's topic: What will Google do to rain on Microsoft's Vista parade?

Google is announcing today a partnership with Intuit in which Intuit will integrate links to Google's online services into the popular back office software Quickbooks.

Google is announcing today a partnership with Intuit in which Intuit will integrate links to Google's online services into the popular back office software Quickbooks.

Google is announcing today a partnership with Intuit in which Intuit will integrate links to Google's online services into the popular back office software Quickbooks.

Google is announcing today a partnership with Intuit in which Intuit will integrate links to Google's online services into the popular back office software Quickbooks.

Google is announcing today a partnership with Intuit in which Intuit will integrate links to Google's online services into the popular back office software Quickbooks.

Google is announcing today a partnership with Intuit in which Intuit will integrate links to Google's online services into the popular back office software Quickbooks.

UPDATED: Google is embedding software in popular back office software Quickbooks 2007 that will allow Quickbooks customers to better market their business online.

UPDATED: Google is embedding software in popular back office software Quickbooks 2007 that will allow Quickbooks customers to better market their business online.

UPDATED: Google is embedding software in popular back office software Quickbooks 2007 that will allow Quickbooks customers to better market their business online.

UPDATED: Google is embedding software in popular back office software Quickbooks 2007 that will allow Quickbooks customers to better market their business online.

Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.

Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.

Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.

Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.

Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.

Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.

Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.

Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.

Google will announce tomorrow at the Office 2.0 conference a new product called Google Docs, which will merge Writely and Google Spreadsheets into a collaboration and document management solution, according to sources.

"The underlying draw is to see what users are doing and have computers suggest related or adjacent content. It is a whole new paradigm and important to users," Scmidt said.

"The underlying draw is to see what users are doing and have computers suggest related or adjacent content. It is a whole new paradigm and important to users," Scmidt said.

"The underlying draw is to see what users are doing and have computers suggest related or adjacent content. It is a whole new paradigm and important to users," Scmidt said.

Sure, How many of you used an IE browser to post your comments? The last time I checked that belonged to Microsoft.
The argument that any new software distribution model annihilates the past is silly. Trace the history of software computing and you will see it survives and reinvent itself in some wrapped or adapted fashion. How do we know that Google APPs are not hiding behind some huge Microsoft based server farm with some fancy facades that Google Engineers have put together. With the advent of webservices and the like we have re-exposed legacy applications in mediums that the legacy apps did not ever conceive of participating within.
Some food for thought!!