Google Docs versus Microsoft Office: Which should you use?

Not long ago, when a person heard the word “google” they immediately thought of typing a question into the Google search engine and finding an answer within seconds.  Over the years, Google added various free word processing programs to their search engine. Google supplies users with email accounts, Google Docs (a word processor), a presentation program (equivalent to PowerPoint), and spreadsheets (equivalent to Excel).  All of these Google programs are free to the user and available at anyplace with internet access.  So which program is best for you? Microsoft Office or Google?

Microsoft Office is a great option for someone only looking to work on one computer. For $140, a user can install Word, Excel, PowerPoint on one computer. However, Microsoft Office is not available on all tablets. A person may only install Microsoft Office on Windows tablets which exclude the popular iPad and Android tablets. Recently, Microsoft released apps for viewing and performing light editing for the iPad and Android tablet but the apps come with a $100 annual subscription.

Google Docs is a package that runs on any device with a web browser. As long as the tablet, computer, or Smartphone is connected to the internet, the user may connect and view their documents. Google Docs is a free package with material being automatically saved on internet servers. A disadvantage arises when working on large spreadsheets. Google’s spreadsheet is limited to 400,000 cells while Microsoft Excel has the capacity for 17 billion cells. Google Docs makes it extremely simple to share documents with group members. An author may grant access to a team member by clicking the share button and adding their email. The team member may view or edit the document without emailing back and forth. The author can see the changes made and both the author and the team member may be working on the document at the same time.

The share button allows a Google Docs user to share a document with team members.

 

Overall, before deciding on which word processor to use, it is important to evaluate what needs must be met. If you are planning on only working on one computer, Microsoft Office is a fantastic option because it does not require internet access. On the other hand, if you are looking to work from a tablet, smart phone, or collaborate with a group, Google Docs is a better option.

Sources:

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2028748/office-showdown-microsoft-office-365-vs-google-apps.html

http://www.infoworld.com/slideshow/83495/microsoft-office-web-apps-vs-google-docs-211487#slide2

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/08/31/review-google-apple-decent-contenders-to-office/2723315/

Photo Credit:

1. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=930&q=google+docs&oq=google+docs&gs_l=img.3..0l10.6738.9192.0.9368.11.10.0.1.1.0.100.484.9j1.10.0….0…1ac.1.26.img..0.11.490.pZ3tOZaRXjY#hl=en&q=google+docs+users+vs+microsoft&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=G14D4cbtQ0icGM%3A%3BA5vPQ09NZXbn4M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fkltownsend.files.wordpress.com%252F2012%252F03%252Fgoogle-vs-ms.jpg%253Fw%253D610%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fvirtualizedgeek.com%252F2012%252F03%252F15%252Fgoogle-docs-vs-office-365%252F%3B283%3B178

2.  http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=930&q=google+docs&oq=google+docs&gs_l=img.3..0l10.6738.9192.0.9368.11.10.0.1.1.0.100.484.9j1.10.0….0…1ac.1.26.img..0.11.490.pZ3tOZaRXjY#hl=en&q=google+docs+share&tbm=isch&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=tcIGLLAC_839IM%3A%3BFLS6lq231ynVvM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.askdavetaylor.com%252F5-blog-pics%252Fgoogle-docs-share-document-spreadsheet-1.png%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.askdavetaylor.com%252Fhow_to_share_google_docs_spreadsheet.html%3B705%3B353

 

2 thoughts on “Google Docs versus Microsoft Office: Which should you use?

  1. Richard

    I am a connvert to the Cloud but like you I see value in both.

    Not e there are other options like MacOs and Linux. And also other free software that is on line such as Star Office, or wikis or blosgsites. – or many more

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