How Google Docs can save your life
In Comp I we’re currently writing a research paper. (Mine is over the PATRIOT Act and how it violates our civil rights – go Libertarians!) A girl in my group, who is not a very strong writer, recently made some changes to her draft and later found she she had deleted a large chunk of her paper. Because she had been using Word, she was essentially screwed. So I told her, use Google Docs and this won’t ever happen again.
I’m not sure how many of you have ever heard of or used Google Docs, but it’s a very wonderful word processing application. Besides the fact that your documents would be available anywhere, it saves all revisions. When you click on a document, you can choose to see all the revisions you’ve made to it, which would allow you to fix anything you accidentally did.
The interface is very similar to Gmail and allows folders and starred documents. Although not entirely a replacement for MS Office, it does allow for spreadsheets and presentations at this point. The word processing feature allows for formatting, but some of the more complicated formatting isn’t available. It is great for a simple paper and especially to keep all copies of drafts. Some professors like to see the changes you’ve made and if you simply write over everything, it’ll hurt.
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13 Responses
oooh, google docs does sound useful indeed. i’m gonna try it sometime.
I love google docs! sometimes I have personal documents that I want to work on while I’m at work, so google docs is very useful for me because I can use it anywhere without constantly having to email myself documents.
I would love to use google docs, but they are not compatable with safari, as soon as they are, (I am aware they are compatble with other browsers that can be used on a Mac though), I’ll start using them, until they, I have to wait.
I’ve never heard of google docs but it does sound interesting. I haven’t had any problems with word though so for now I will still with MS Office.
@Sonny M: It doesn’t work with Safari right now and I’m not sure why. But it does work with Firefox and Camino, which are popular Mac browsers. I use Firefox, on both my Mac and PC, and have since it first came out years ago.
this is the first time i’ve heard of that. it’s pretty cool, no it’s COOL! for sure i’ll use it
thanks for sharing it.
Wow, Google has done it again. I swear they come up with a solution for just about everything. Thanks for the info. I’m going to have to try this program.
ohh thats cool!!! but i wouldnt want people reading my essays LOL
Have you ever used Open Office? How would you compare Google Docs and Open Office? Frankly, I think Google is getting too much of a strong hold so I’ll probably refrain from using this service.
Granted Google is awesome in many aspects, however, competition is grand as it forces the competitors to put forth their very best. With Google branching out into every field it feels as if the diversity and choice is disappearing.
Do you want to use Google’s or…wait is there another option?
One really cool feature of Google Docs is that you can save your document in MS-Word format!! (All you have to do is choose File > Export As Word … ) You can even use Google Docs to open existing Microsoft Word documents. And you don’t have to worry about strangers being able to read your documents … the only people who will be able to read your documents are the people who you have chosen to share your document with.
@Joana I use Open Office on my PC and Neo Office on my Mac (a Mac version of Open Office) and I honestly prefer to use them. I’m used to the feel of a stand-alone word processor. While Google Docs can be extremely handy, especially when I have two computers at home, I don’t use it that often.
Open Office is just like Word, but much easier. While it’s missing a few formatting thing (or I simply can’t figure them out), all the basics are there, like double spacing. I don’t like how margins are set at .79″ by default though. Margins seem too small.
Oct 29, 2007