Google Expands World Conquest: Word Processor

Published on August 18, 2006 By Zoomba In WinCustomize News

Back in March, Google acquired the web-based word processor, Writely, a poster child for the entire Web 2.0 movement. Writely took basic word processing which had been seen in web-apps for years through Java applets and added in collaboration and sharing features. After the purchase, new account creation was disabled, while existing users could still use the service.

Well, yesterday Google quietly reopened registrations and formally adds its fourth major office application to its stable of web-enabled wonders. Now users get free email, calendaring, spreadsheets and word processing with their Google account. Seems like Google Office is just a little ways off now, all it would take is a unification of the interfaces and some more sophisticated linking so information could be easily passed between all the documents, and users would have a free, portable and fairly robust competitor to Microsoft Office or Open Office.

Comments

CerebroJD

on Aug 18, 2006

I wish that it was integrated into the regular google services, like spreadsheet is.

ZubaZ

on Aug 18, 2006

I wish that it was integrated into the regular google services, like spreadsheet is

Patience grasshopper.

CerebroJD

on Aug 18, 2006

I was just talkin with friends yesterday about this... we can do spreadsheets already, word processing would be easy compared to that, even handier! No more installing Office!

blackcat77

on Aug 18, 2006

Jeez, it reminds me of MS Works for Win 3.1. I'll stick with my Office 2007, thanks...

ZubaZ

on Aug 18, 2006

OpenOffice is slow but full featured and freen..It'll get the job done.

But for collaborating on a document, Writly, spreadsheets, Calender is pretty cool.

starkers

on Aug 19, 2006

If worst came to worst and my Office apps suddenly died, I'd turn to pen, paper and resort to snail mail, depend on my trusty wall calendar before I used or trusted anything from Google.

(as for spreadsheets, think we still have some left over from our last interior decorating

)

BoddhiC

on Aug 19, 2006

I think I'd have some privacy concerns. Google already keeps essentially eternal records of what searches individuals have done (those teenage searches for nude celebrities may come back to haunt you someday). I wonder if they'll cache wordprocessed document data for potential use by the government or in court if requested. I personally think I have nothing to hide, but you never know what could be taken out of context and misconstrued. Google really needs to come up with some privacy guarantees befor I consider using a service like this

starkers

on Aug 21, 2006

Google really needs to come up with some privacy guarantees befor I consider using a service like this

That'll never happen - Google appears to be extremely reluctant to hand over records to the authorities, but at the end of the day it's just a token gesture as they inevitably will always comply. Better to keep your personal documents/details internally...not on Googles data banks.

...and then, how much more uninvited advertising would come your way, based on key words in documents you've typed using their WP service?

Jafo

on Aug 21, 2006

Putting MY office documents on someone else's computer/server/system?

You're kidding, right?

Why not just slash your wrists now, sell your newborn and give all your belongings to Google...and avoid the rush.

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