Around Google Docs in 10 minutes

You can do anything for 600 seconds, right? It's only a couple of 5 minutes. How hard can it be? Each minute you will embrace a new platform of Google Docs--immersing you in it and throwing away the tools and software you are familiar with.

Google Docs is a very capable platform in many ways, and unique features, benefits in Google Docs simply don't exist in Microsoft Office. We readily admit that we are essentially telling you to abandon MS Office a platform you have used for more than a decade, and try to replace it with Google Docs, a turnkey solution.
But trust; we share a fairly wonderful experience each day with Google Docs. Suffice it to say, you will not be in complete awe with MS Office anytime soon. At first glance, it looks obvious that Google Docs does not have the bells and whistles of Microsoft Office, but when you start to poke around you find that Google Docs actually has a fair amount of advanced features and capabilities as compared to MS Office .Watch this video

Google uses Gears to sync and download Gmail for offline access

The first thing that pops into mind when we consider using a cloud-based tool or service is "what happens when the cloud is not available?" Most of the attention on the cloud focuses on how you can access things from anywhere and everywhere because it's just ‘out there' on the Web, but fail to mention what happens when you can't connect to the Internet.

Thankfully, Google has a solution for the same in Gmail. You just have to click the gear icon in the upper right of the Gmail screen and go to Mail settings, then select Offline from the options across the top. Within these Offline settings, you can select Enable Offline Mail for this computer, and configure the options regarding just how much email should be downloaded, and any limitations you might want to place on the size of file attachments.

Cool. Now, when you are out and about with no Wi-Fi, or if you happen to be at 35,000 feet in an airplane, you will still have access to your emails.

Google Protects Gmail Users with Suspicious Activity Alert

Intruder alert! Intruder alert! The new Gmail feature launched by Google won't have any cool audio alert blaring out "intruder alert", but it will alert us when suspicious activity is indicated.

A new approach from Google monitors certain criteria and considers a range of user behaviors to try to identify activity which should raise red flags.  Obviously we have to keep in mind that these notifications are meant to alert us of suspicious activity.

Google Docs 'Fidelity' leaves a bit to be desired

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines ‘fidelity' as: a) the quality or state of being faithful, b) accuracy in details: exactness. So, how does Google Docs measure up on the quality or state of being faithful with the formatting and conventions of Microsoft Office, and can it deliver accuracy in details or exactness when working with Microsoft Office file formats?

In a nutshell  ...pretty good, really. The real answer, though, depends on the composition of your file.

We can tell you that Google Docs has improved by leaps and bounds. We imported a Microsoft Word white paper we wrote --complete with images and footnotes, and to our surprise it appeared virtually identical in Google Docs. The only noticeable difference was that the Microsoft Word table of contents (ToC) had been converted to links which corresponded with bookmarks inserted by Google Docs to allow you to jump from the ToC directly to that point in the document.

We were even able to add a footnote, insert an image in the Google Docs file, and include a new comment, and have those changes appear exactly as they should when we saved it back to Word. 

Our immediate impression is that working with spreadsheets in Google Docs seems simpler and more intuitive than working with documents--at least for someone like us who was under the shell of Microsoft Office for years.

Google Docs Scripts

We think we have established that Google Docs is more than adequate for creating simple documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other content. Now, let's take a quick look at some of the features that power-users might appreciate.

For more advanced users, Google offers Google Look Up and Google Finance to automatically search for and add information to cells in your spreadsheet.

Another power tool from Google is Google Apps Script--a JavaScript based language. You can create an expense report workflow that automatically converts currencies, catches errors and omissions, and forwards the expense report on to an approving authority.

OCR in Google Docs

The OCR in Google Docs - an improved experience. To test it out, we uploaded a PDF file from my Documents folder. It was a 4-page PDF document weighing in at 225Kb, but Google Docs managed to upload, and convert it in a matter of seconds. But, the million dollar question is "Did the OCR accurately capture the content of the file?"

The first thing we noticed when checking out the newly uploaded file is that it was now eight pages. Why? Well, Google Docs ensures the accuracy of the OCR translation--it included the original PDF / image, followed by the editable transcript of its contents. So, each of the four pages of the original PDF was now two pages--one original image, and one editable content.

We were pleasantly surprised. The transcript of the text appears to be flawless. The OCR version loses something in formatting in terms of inserted images or icons on the original, but it even manages to try and match heading sizes and bulleted lists. All in all, the Google Docs OCR is impressive and delivers what it promises.

With the Google Docs sweet spot--real-time collaboration you can share out a Drawing and enable whole teams of individuals to work on it together online in real-time. Visio is awesome, but it doesn't have the online collaboration piece.

Google Docs in iPhone

Keeping contact and calendar data in sync with iPhone is crucial. As you travel around, the iPhone is your lifeline to the world, and it needs to have current, accurate, contact and calendar information in order to be of any value.

Thankfully, Google figured out a way to leverage the Exchange Active Sync capabilities of iOS to sync email, contacts, and calendar information from my Google account. Best of all, it syncs wirelessly on the fly so do not have to be dependent on tethering your iPhone to your PC to make sure you have the most current information.

Google Docs Translations 

 
One of the features touted by Google for Google Docs is the ability to easily translate documents into 53 different languages.

Forms and Surveys Made Simple in Google Docs

Microsoft Word has built-in templates and tons available online. But…at least... Microsoft Word does not have any wizard-like feature walking you through & creating a form the way Google Docs does, Word never automatically tracks and tally the responses.

Forms in Google Docs are another area of real-time online collaboration where Google Docs seems to set the bar. In Google Docs, you can create a form or survey in a few simple steps using the forms feature. You can use the feature to create sign-up sheets, surveys, product feedback, etc.

Google Docs on the Go

 
Google Docs will save you. OK--"save your life" is a crumb melodramatic and sensational. No, it will neither give you the Heimlich maneuver, nor prevent you from seeing a video, but it will enable you to roll with the punches and remain productive even though you are not using your primary computer.

Google Docs will let you jump onto the nearest PC and stay productive without missing a beat. If you were reliant solely on Microsoft Office and locally-stored files, you would have been caught up in a major fiasco. You will have had to drive over to the office just to get your laptop and bring it home. You can have access to half-finished writing projects you started yesterday--all nicely organized into various collections.

There is something in this cloud thing!! 

 All in all, we will say that Google Docs is a solid productivity platform, and it delivers most of what you need at a price that can't be beat.

 

It is a culture shock coming out from Microsoft’s shell and getting into the groove of Google Docs. Now we cannot let go Google Docs.

Its time for you to relax and nurture innumerable functionality which will make your work process faster. We will help you migrating to Google Apps with complete set up and deployment process coupled with Training and Support.

Approach us. We are a Global Authorized Google Apps Reseller.