Sunday, September 28, 2014
Microsoft Office WebApps vs Google Docs
A student would like to create a simple document and share it with his classmates.
How can such task be done? Well, easiest and most used way is to create a document on local computer with Microsoft Word and just email it to classmates. This approach has worked since inception of email and Word 97. But lets remember that its 2013 and there must be a better way.
Essentially, there are two major free solutions available in the market: Microsoft Office WebApps and Google Docs. Lets compare them face to face.
We will analyze a work flow of creating and sharing a Word document in with Microsoft and Google solutions.
Lets take a look at Microsoft Web Apps first.
How do we start?
1. We will search for "office web apps" in bing.com
Heres what we get:
2. Weve got 2 links related to Web Apps. First link is a sponsored "Ad". Lets click there.
Uhhh, nope, no Web Apps here. This is a page about Office 365, not Office Web Apps. Ok
3. Click "Back" button in your browser to get back to search results
4. Lets click non-sponsored link
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/web-apps
5. Click "Get Started free" Button
It takes you to SkyDrive
https://login.live.com/login.srf?wa=wsignin1.0&rpsnv=11&ct=1362894523&rver=6.2.6289.0&wp=MBI_SSL_SHARED&wreply=https:%2F%2Fskydrive.live.com%2F&lc=1033&id=250206&mkt=en-US&cbcxt=sky
Uhh, why did it take me to SkyDrive? I want to use Office Web Apps?
6. Whatever, lets sign in.
SkyDrive shows me its folders. So, again, I wanted to use Office Web Apps, where are they?
Well, it just so happened, that I actually know how to get to Word WebApp, because Ive done it before, so lets do it.
7. Click Create > Word Document > Create
Word Office WebApp creates it and opens it. Heres how it looks.
Looks pretty awesome, doesnt it?
Now, how do I share?
File > Share > Share With People > Get a link > Shorten
http://sdrv.ms/12FGcWG
Click Done
Yey, document is shared and you my dear readers can see Word WebApp in action too, just click on link http://sdrv.ms/12FGcWG
Yey, document is shared and you my dear readers can see Word WebApp in action too, just click on link http://sdrv.ms/12FGcWG
Enjoy!!!
Ok, now what about Google Docs?
1. In bing.com type "google docs"
2. Click on 1st link
https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=writely&passive=1209600&continue=https://docs.google.com/%23&followup=https://docs.google.com/<mpl=homepage
Ok, looks like I am in right place
3. Sign in
4. There no clear way to get to Google Docs, but there is one red button that attracts attention: Create > Document
Heres how it looks
Mheeh, looks like this software was made back in 1990s, not 2013. Just to illustrate my point, heres a screenshot of Word 97 :)
Now, lets look at Google Docs share feature.
Click Share Button
Click Save Button
Click Change Button
Click Anyone with the link
Save
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-AqYe2p1OxvSSk9Du4GsYRpQnQWAmOA1phw2OiTuV64/edit?usp=sharing
Lets see all our experiences in a table, like real geeks do:
To summarize, Google Docs has great discoverability features and fairly straight-forward document creation workflow. Microsoft Office WebApps needs big improvements in discoverability. Microsoft puts WebApps as 2nd link on search engine results for both Bing.com and Google.com. Really? 2nd link, who would click on it? Cmon.
As far as editing goes, Microsoft Office WebApps just rocks, it looks and feels like Microsoft Word 2013, only free. You content will look good, just the way you want it.
For sharing, both WebApps and Docs have could use some improvements in ease-of-use. I wouldnt enjoy telling my mother over our "tech support" conversations on how to use those "Share" features.
Ok, now what about Google Docs?
1. In bing.com type "google docs"
2. Click on 1st link
https://accounts.google.com/ServiceLogin?service=writely&passive=1209600&continue=https://docs.google.com/%23&followup=https://docs.google.com/<mpl=homepage
3. Sign in
4. There no clear way to get to Google Docs, but there is one red button that attracts attention: Create > Document
Heres how it looks
Mheeh, looks like this software was made back in 1990s, not 2013. Just to illustrate my point, heres a screenshot of Word 97 :)
Now, lets look at Google Docs share feature.
Click Share Button
Click Save Button
Click Change Button
Click Anyone with the link
Save
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-AqYe2p1OxvSSk9Du4GsYRpQnQWAmOA1phw2OiTuV64/edit?usp=sharing
Lets see all our experiences in a table, like real geeks do:
Microsoft Office WebApps | Google Docs | Winner | |
Price | Free | Free | Both |
Edit document directly inside of browser | Yes | Yes | Both |
Find the right site | 2nd result in Bing User has to sign in to SkyDrive, which has no mention of Office WebApps | 1st result in Bing User signs into Google Docs, very clear | Google Docs |
Create new document | Not clear that you can create a Word Document. SkyDrive resembles Windows Explorer rather than content creation site. | No mention of docs, but there is 1 Red "Create" button | Google Docs, barely |
Edit Document | Word WebApp has nice UI, great formatting options, great looks | Looks pretty rudimentary, more like Word 97 than Word 2013 | Microsoft WebApps |
Share Document | Possible, but fairly complicated http://sdrv.ms/Y3cpje | Possible, but fairly complicated https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-AqYe2p1OxvSSk9Du4GsYRpQnQWAmOA1phw2OiTuV64/edit?usp=sharing | No Winner |
To summarize, Google Docs has great discoverability features and fairly straight-forward document creation workflow. Microsoft Office WebApps needs big improvements in discoverability. Microsoft puts WebApps as 2nd link on search engine results for both Bing.com and Google.com. Really? 2nd link, who would click on it? Cmon.
As far as editing goes, Microsoft Office WebApps just rocks, it looks and feels like Microsoft Word 2013, only free. You content will look good, just the way you want it.
For sharing, both WebApps and Docs have could use some improvements in ease-of-use. I wouldnt enjoy telling my mother over our "tech support" conversations on how to use those "Share" features.
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