Brouhaha around Google Spreadsheets
So many bloggers and media have commented and made big deal of the Google Spreadsheets. Now, this 'webification' of software used traditionally as a desktop app is a step in right direction but does it pinch Microsoft anywhere, not in my view. I have been running Google betas for some years now, I have tried almost all of the cool apps posted on Google Labs but to date Google spreadsheets is the most disappointing. The app is premature functionality wise. I can't think of any enterprise leaving MS Excel and going with Google Spreadsheets in the near future. So for now, it gets played upon by beta testers like me. Gets zero on that aspect. Innovation wise there is nothing new, just aping of few other Spreadsheets apps. Again a big zero for that. Anybody who is comparing it with MS Excel must install the Office 2007 beta (performance issues still) and check the new visual interface, usability enhancements, support for collaboration etc. The only 1 that Google Spreadsheets app gets is the ease of Access, Sharing and use of Web 2.0 features.
While I say that, Google needs to innovate much faster and in a better way if it wants to release any app where Microsoft is traditionally strong (Office, Windows etc).