F3 - Software as a Service

I currently do not use online productivity applications regularly, but my groups in undergrad often used tools like Google Docs to collaborate/share over the web. I focused on this particular tool because it was one I had previously been exposed to, yet declined to use regularly. Furthermore, I considered the fact that I already had a Google account making it even more logical to choose Google docs.

From here, I began discovering the ins and outs of Google Docs but still ran into the problem of not knowing how it differed from the other online productivity applications listed. It was necessary to research, compare and contrast, and I was able to gather information from various websites:

Zoho vs. Google Docs - http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/07/zoho-vs-google-docs.html
As I suspected after working a while with Google Docs, others have tried to get ahead but offering entire office suites for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, etc. Zoho, who counted on Microsoft's design to create their look and feel, has accomplished just that. In addition to what is listed above, Zoho offers their own version of Microsoft Access called Zoho creator. Even so, Zoho is lacking in that is has yet to provide the calendar and email capabilities that Google currently offers.

Microsoft Web Applications vs. Google Docs - http://www.microsoft.com/video/en/us/details/ebf079e6-6972-43dc-9781-14c013c38e82
I think it is a bit challenging to try to compare these two, considering how long Microsoft has offered and developed their office suite. Now Microsoft is taking the step in 2010 of offering Word, Excel, and Powerpoint online, giving users the ability to access their files online from any computer wit IE, Firefox or Safari. Those who already use google docs may choose to switch to Microsoft mainly because of the widespread popularity of the standard Word file. Even with capabilities and design aside, it still has a great deal to do with what is most widely accepted... whether you are sharing a file with friends, family an employer, etc.