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So Sexy I Can't Stand It!

sean

With a title like that, I suppose you were expecting me to be carrying on about 007.

Well, I will admit, ol' Sean does get me excited a bit; sorry for the confusion, but my headline is about none other than Google.

Yes, Google. Google Docs, Spreadsheets, and Calendar, to be exact. google

I've been playing around with these awesome free tools.

Earlier today I my laptop froze and shut itself down in the middle of something. I was afraid of losing important documents saved on my hard drive - my expense & income spread sheets, blog drafts, letter samples, and real estate forms, to name a few.

The other day I was also frustrated at the office because I couldn't connect my laptop to the network. I could use the office computer, but none of my files were available to me. (turns out I just needed to reset the office router, but that's beside the point).

I hate not being able to do what I want, when I want to do it!

Google Docs, Spreadsheets, and Calendar solves my problem: it will help me be more productive and make my important files available to me from any computer, anywhere!

First, I created my calendar. The Google Calendar is set up much like a traditional paper planner / appointment book - only better.

You can view your Google Calendar as a monthly view, a weekly view, daily view...or even as an agenda (list). This is cool if you want to see your "year" at a glance! Unlike with a paper planner, you only enter your events once - and they will show up on any view you choose...

calendar

Of course, a lot of REALTORS use applications like Outlook for this same function - but the problem with Outlook is this: it's stuck on one computer. Or even if another computer has Outlook, your own personal stuff is still on YOUR computer and your computer only. Google Calendar is available from any computer.

Keep the calendar private, or share it with selected people. I will be sharing my calendar with my husband, so he can see at a glance what my appointments and commitments are from his computer - regardless of where I am at the moment.

This is merely the tip of the iceberg with Google Calendar...I'm sure that there are a million more things to do with this application...I'm not a geek (as my previous blog on RSS shows), but I seriously want to be one!

The next excellent offering from Google is the Docs & Spreadsheets.

Granted, the word processor is a little clumsy and not a good choice for formal professional documents like flyers/brochures - but it's excellent for working drafts and spreadsheets.

The other day at the office, while doing floor time, I could have been working on a blog...but my computer would not connect to the network, and I really wasn't eager to retype them on the office computer.

Tonight I uploaded my blog drafts and some other documents that I need to access, to Google Docs & Spreadsheets. One of the features of Google Docs & Spreadsheets is the unique & private Writely email address provided for you to upload multiple files at once, directly into your Docs & Spreadsheets - it's as simple as attaching your files to an email and sending it to your Google account!

Hauling the laptop around is no longer necessary - I can use the office computer and have access to all of my important drafts, spreadsheets, and files.

My final excitement is the personalized Google Home Page.

iGoogle allows me to save all of the blogs and other RSS subscriptions I've got on one page...and my handy dandy calendar is there too (days that I have appointments are in bold).

igoogle

I love that Google makes all of this, plus Picasa, and Gmail, and a slew of other stuff available - FREE.

Here are some Google related blogs to help you make the most of what is available to you:

Official Gmail Blog

Official Google Blog

Unofficial Google Operating System Blog

Undocumented Google Tips & Tricks

Google Calendar Info from Undocumented Google

Google Add-Ons for Firefox

Naturally, I am not going to abandond my software completely. I need my address book for mail merging letters and printing out labels for my real estate mailings. I need Open Office (also free, previously blogged about here, and here, and here...and here!) for creating listings flyers, PDF files, and other presentations. But man - Google has cut the shackles keeping me tied to my own computer and opened up a whole new world to me - I can work my real estate job from any computer, anywhere, and always have access to most of my "stuff."

Comments? Anyone else find Google exciting?

Use the links below to learn more about real estate for sale and about my innovative marketing plan for sellers in Pike and and Wayne County of Northeast PA.

Areas Served: Hawley, Honesdale, Lake Ariel, Lake Wallenpaupack, Lords Valley, Greeley, Greentown, Tafton, Waymart, and Lackawaxen. Planned Communities: The Hideout, Hemlock Farms, Wallenpaupack Lake Estates, Fawn Lake Forest, Pocono Springs, Masthope, Indian Rocks, Tink Wig, Woodland Hills, and other communities in NEPA.

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Posted by Karen Rice | Lake Wallenpaupack | Pike & Wayne County, Northeast PA Homes on 09/07/2007 12:05 AM

Comments (18)

pike county pa real estate thoughts tips and opinions for agents

Originally posted at: Pike/Wayne Real Estate: So Sexy I Can't Stand It!

18 Comments on So Sexy I Can't Stand It!

SEP

2007

This is a great layout Karen. I'll bookmark this one, I've done with some of the better written posts recently, and re-visit. I think you are on target though!

Google is innovating constantly, which has been key to their success. I particularly like Gmail and I use it to archive messages that I don't want clogging up my Outlook inbox.

By the way, Sean doesn't look like that anymore..he's lost his hair and has aged a few decades!

Eric - I don't care, he's still sexy!

I love my Gmail and except for one or two minor irritants, I have no complaints whatsoever. Unless they do something to screw it up and kill it, I will never use another email application again! (famous last words...lol)

Jason, thank you for that comment. I appreciate your kind words. Even if I ramble too much.

I'm going to check this out....thanks! I too bookmarked.

Karen: What an excellent post. I think the way you put it all together is just terrific. So much info. I have a question about Google. Several times in the past few days I have tried to sign on to Google to read my Gmail. I could not get on. When I tried, Google gmail seemed like it was stuck in some sort of "loop," rapidly going from sign on, to done, to sign on, to done... in an endless loop. It happened four or five times. It's okay today, but I am curious about what was going on with it. Do you have any ideas ?

I am sitting here tonight at 12:20 am, playing in The Rain, commenting on posts, and just chilling. But... I am much too close to being asleep to actually "study" your very informative post, but I know I will tomorrow. Thanks for sharing. Karen Anne

I love my google documents 0 they rock

I've heard a lot about Google's applications but haven't really checked it out like I should have. Thanks for the post! I'll definitely check it out now!!!

I love those features, and need to use the Google Calendar more. I'm an outlook fan and keep the messages on my server until I have them on both tablet pc and desk top.

I love the Google home page. I am flagging this for a feature so more people will know about it. I bring in the activerain feed so if I am not on AR and a post comes up I want to read, I can go straight to it. I love it.

Look at her go! You're just out there finding all sorts of stuff. Have you used writely.com on google yet? I nosed around but haven't done tons with it.

Sally - thanks for stopping by and bookmarking. I love this calendar application!

Karen - thank you very much for such kind words! I do not know what was up with Gmail - that does happen to me occasionally too. usually it's cleared up in a little while.

Thesa - preaching to the choir, am I? Google docs are AWESOME!!

Chris M - Google has an entire universe, free for the taking! I am almost afraid of what they're doing! LOL

Missy - thanks so much for flagging my post! I adore my Google Home Page - it's my own customizable "hub" of everything I want at my fingertips. I should put the AR feed on my home page too. Good idea!

Chris G - ha! My husband says Google should pay me a commission. LOL. I did use the writely email address provided for me to upload docs - I think writely has become Google Docs & Spreadsheets. Those I do use, but I've only just begun...

I also flagged this for feature ... also and gave it the big 5.

I used to use Google calendar all the time. it can be set up with reminder emails and even emails to others of upcoming meetings, etc.

My owner liked the fact he knew I was at an appointment so he would not be calling me unless urgent.

Now I need to check out the other features.... thanks !!

Kudos. Great post.

Hi Karen,

This calendar looks like something I could really use. I am using Outlook right now and I sync it with my Yahoo Calendar. But with that, sometimes things get "messed up." Being able to access your calendar from anywhere is a huge advantage....Is there anything Google has not thought of?

Those are great tools. I wonder why anyone would ever buy Microcrap stuff again! Thanks for the information.

SEP

2007

Sean is the sexiest man alive at his age - and Google is not so bad either! I have just begun experimenting with all Google has to offer and love that I can share my work when I need to. Great lesson here Karen!

Karen I'm going to bookmark this! I skimmed over everything and it looks like a great idea! Thanks for sharing :)

great post...

If you ever need help with anything related to Google Docs & Spreadsheets, you should check out the Help Group at http://groups.google.com/group/GoogleDocsSpreadsheets

There are similar groups for other google products too where Google people and users help out when there are questions.

For the Real Estate crowd, it's great to share spreadsheet calculators (mortgages, taxes, expenses, etc) and even property listings... and if you want people to get their own copy when they click the link of a shared spreadsheet (rather than join into a collaborative session), you can add the &newcopy parameter to the URL of the spreadsheet...

Enjoy!

http://jrsays.com

SEP

2007

I also love Google and use a lot of their products, such as the customized home page. But as to the title of your blog, I thought it was going to be a blog about me. Boy, was I disappointed to see Sean when I opened the blog up.

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