I read a lot of Internet technology newsletters and have been seeing the debate go back an forth on whether online office applications are going to replace word processor, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software that runs on local computers. My opinion has always been, and still is, that online applications are cool and can be useful but are unlikely to replace stand alone software for most people any time soon.
A Very Cool Idea
It seems one of my favorite newsletter authors, Peter Deegan of the Office Watch newsletter beat me to the conclusion that it's not about online applications replacing local software -- it's about the online office application complementing the traditional software. Peter has a nice little article showing you how you can use Google Docs and Spreadsheets with Microsoft Office.
Not Free Enough
That is a great idea, but, it's not quite "free enough" for may tastes. Sure Google Docs and Spreadsheets is free, but Microsoft Office is far from free -- it's downright expensive. It turns out that OpenOffice.org works just as well with the online Google applications as Microsoft Office does, and OppenOffice.org is totally free.
Michael Carter, Realtor Greenville, SC www.beachboyrealestate.com
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