I have been using Google Docs for a long time but I mainly used it to keep copies of important documents that I might need access to when I am away from home (i.e. my resume). Also if you use Gmail already you will surely have been using Google Docs even if you haven't realised it, whenever you get a document attachment on your email and you choose to view it in your browser you are using Google Docs to do it. So that being said I have found Google Docs a very useful service for backing up and viewing files. I knew it had more functionality than this but I hadn't really needed to use it before now. When I found Sky Drive a failure for assignment writing I focused my attention on Google Docs – and I boy was I surprised!
Google Docs is a great online Word Processor – it picks up the slack where Sky Drive fails. It has a lot more functionality than I ever thought it would. Now I have only reviewed the Document side of Google Docs but you are also able to use it to create and upload Presentations, Spreadsheets, Forms and Drawings.
Anyway one step at a time; here is my list of Pros:
Pros for Google Docs
- Free
- 7+ GB of data storage (and counting)
- Cheap upgrade options if you require more storage
- The ability to upload and share files
- More features than Sky Drive (will cover that below)
- Good on screen page layout
- Good compatibility with other programs
- Files are available on any computer with an internet connection
I will list a few of the features that Google Docs has that I haven't found in Sky Drive that I think make Docs the better option, this isn't an exhaustive list just the ones that make it useful when it comes to assignment writing:
- Page layout
- Ruler
- Insert page breaks
- Insert equations
- Insert comment
- Insert footnote
- Insert header
- Insert footer
- Table of Contents
- Line spacing options
- Word count
- More compatibility you can download you document as any of the following formats: ODT, PDF, RTF, Text, Word, Html (zipped)
All of these features are great for an online free application; they are all the main features you may need when writing up assignments (especially footers, footnotes and word count). Google Docs also auto saves as you go along making it handy in case you forget to save! I also found Google Docs quicker to respond when switching between the normal view and Print Preview making it easy to double check that it is going to look good on a page. The number of options that you have available to download your document as is also great, depending on what your requirements are you most likely won't need any extra file convertors.
I love Google Docs after my disappointing experience with Sky Drive. But I must find some cons with it to make it a fair review:
Cons for Google Docs
- Requires an internet connection to use
- Some formatting might be lost when you upload a document
- It isn't a complete replacement for your full time Word Processor but it definitely will get you by
- No offline sync option built in
With that last point Google used to have an application called GEARS that allowed users the ability to use Google Docs offline and it would sync when there was an internet connection. That is no longer available but word is Google are looking at a replacement for it.
Like Sky Drive you can also use Google Docs as a backup facility for your important documents to get you out of trouble in the event of a hard drive failure.
Well that about covers it I really love Google Docs J It has all the features you need to get you by when writing an assignment. I don't expect it to completely replace my Word Processing application but then I never intended it to. I wanted to see if someone could get by writing an assignment using only online tools and it looks like Google Docs will make that possible.
Stay tuned for more reviews on online storage systems that will help keep your data safe!
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