#18 Web-Based Apps Increase Productivity

Online productivity web-based applications (think word processing and spreadsheets) have exploded over the past few years -- and for good reasons! These powerful applications provide users with the ability to create and share documents over the Internet without the need of installed desktop applications. Some experts speculate that this emerging trend may mean the death of Microsoft Office and other software-based productivity tools, while others think web-based applications have their place, but not in the office. But no matter which side of the office suite platform you side with, on this both sides seem to agree: web-based apps have something to offer.

One large benefit to web-based applications it that they eliminate the need to worry about different software versions or file types as you email documents or move from PC to PC. Another bonus is that they easily accommodate collaboration by allowing multiple users to edit the same file (with versioning) and provide users the ability to easily save and convert documents as multiple file types (including HTML and pdf). You can even use many of these tools, such as Zoho Writer and Google Docs, to author and publish posts to your blog. It’s this type of integration with other web 2.0 tools that also makes web-based apps so appealing.

For this discovery exercise, participants are asked to take a look at one of the web-based word processing tools listed below, create a simple document, and then document your discoveries in your blog. If you're up to the challenge, you might even export your document as an HTML file or publish it to your blog.

With Zoho, Google Docs, and other web-based applications, the possibilities are endless.


Discovery Resources
Read Helene Blower's comments about why Zoho Writer is so useful. (Note that these options are true of most of the applications listed below.)

Watch Google Docs in Plain English by those ever-helpful folks at Common Craft, to see how you can use Google Docs to create, share, and collaborate on documents.


Discovery Exercise

• Select one of the web-based word processing applications listed below, and register for an account at that site. (Note: you can use your existing Google account -- what you use for Gmail or Blogger -- for Google Docs.)
• Google Docs - Google offers word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tools. Learn what you can do with Google Docs.
  
• Zoho Writer - Zoho also offers online spreadsheet, presentation, web conferencing, project management, database, organizer, and other tools. Learn what you can do with Zoho Writer.
  
• Writeboard - word processing, with revision tracking.
  
• ThinkFree Office - word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation tools.
• gOffice - word processing, presentation, spreadsheet, and desktop publishing tools; also has a version designed for iPhones.
• Create a couple of test documents.
• Try out the features offered and write a blog post about your discoveries.

Discover More
If you're up for the challenge, try using Google Docs' or Zoho's "publish" options to post to your blog.

If you are still wondering "Why would I be interested in online office software?" the article "Why you need a Web Office" offers some additional thinking on the subject