Let's start at the very beginning....

Google Docs:
The *Free* Alternative
to Microsoft Office
Thursday, April 15
Carolyn Schubert, MLIS
Step 1: Create a Google Account
Go to http://docs.google.com
Step 1: Create a Google Account

Requires:
• First name
• Last name
• Desired login name
• Password
• Security question & answer
• OPTIONAL: Recovery email (in case you get locked out)
• Approximate location
• Birthday written as MM/DD/YYYY
• Word verification (no robots, please)
• Terms of Service review
Step 2: System requirements
 Once you're in, where do you start?
Upload an existing file Create a new file
For Documents:
• 500KB file size max
• Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx),
OpenDocument text (.odt), StarOffice
text (.sxw)
• Rich text (.rtf), Plain text (.txt), HTML
(.htm, .html)
 
For Spreadsheets: 
• 1MB file size max
• Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx) files,
OpenDocument spreadsheets (.ods).
• Comma-separated values (.csv)
 
For Presentations:
• 10MB file size max
• Microsoft PowerPoint (.ppt, .pps)
Documents
Options under the File menu:
 
• New, Open, or Upload options
• Revision history so you can go back to a previous version 
• Rename, Make a Copy, Download as..., Save, Save & Close
• Print Settings, Print Preview, Print as webpage, Print*
        *Print outputs your document as PDF (presumably so formatting does not change) and your print   
         from the PDF; direct printing can be done from Print as webpage
Documents (cont'd)
Edit options View options Insert options
Documents (cont'd)
Format options Tools options
Sharing

• You can invite people using

any email address (not just a
Google address) and provide
them view only access or
editing access
• You can publish to the web
(Google assigns the URL) or
post to your blog directly
• You can Get the Link so
people without Google or do
not want a Google login can
also see the document
Spreadsheets
Spreadsheets - New version!
Spreadsheets
Insert options Tools options
  Spreadsheets
For more details (function full
name, syntax, and description)
regarding functions, go to
Function list  
(http://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?
hl=en&answer=82712)
Presentations
Forms
Auto-Generated Form Results
Forms Data Collecting
 Functional differences between Office suites
Microsoft Office Google Docs OpenOffice

Pros: Pros: Pros:

• Ubiquity • Free! • Free!
  • Online platform with access • Spreadsheets have Share
Cons: from major browsers Document option for sharing
•  Standard package $399.95/full; • Easy revision history and and multi-user editing within a
$239.95/upgrade; restoration local network
$149.95/Home & Student   • with additional software &
• Soon to upgrade to 2010 Cons: Bluetooth connection, you can
edition and who knows what • Offline access available through control presentation slide
interface changes will occur this Google Gears but with fewer changes with your mobile
time options than online phone 
• Requires use on local computer • Mobile use (aka via cell  
or network; mobility is only so phones) is only for viewing; only Cons:
far as your USB key will take the iPhone can view • Can open .docx files but does
you presentations not save in .docx
• Available on mobile phone if • No option to upload your own
you buy the mobile package video to your Presentation
• No clip art 

None of them supports Apple's iWorks!

More Information  

Diablo Valley College - Neal Skapura, Information Technolgy

http://www.dvc.edu/org/departments/instructional-technology/Cool-programs.htm