Set Yourself Free in the Clouds
If there were a way to have office productivity software, things like word processing, spread sheets, power presentations and more, without investing much money or time would you be interested?
The reason I mention it is there are applications like that. They provide word processing and the like without a small fortune charged by software makers. These aren’t stripped down applications from software companies you never heard of, most are giants in the business. These offerings are from the big guys with full featured word processing applications, complex and suffocated spread sheets, presentations with great graphics and special effects, and support crews second to none.
Google, Microsoft and Intuit (Quicken) are the top providers with this clout. Because of competitive juices between these behemoths each is trying to capture the eyeballs and fingers of millions of users, and its working. The user, you, benefit from their efforts.
Google Docs was one of the first suites of applications to be delivered in the cloud, followed by Intuit and now by Microsoft Office Web Apps. Both are Internet based and thus the name the “cloud”. Cloud references a computer or a bunch of computer or servers located somewhere where in the world where you connect.
These cloud computers host applications, like word processing or accounting and sales tracking, for general use by the public or a special group. According to Wikipedia, “The term ‘cloud’ is used as a metaphor for the Internet, based on the cloud drawing used in the past to represent the telephone network, and later to depict the Internet in computer network diagrams as an abstraction of the underlying infrastructure it represents…”
Most cloud applications are modeled after programs which you’re already familiar with, or you are using now. The primary differences are the way you pay for them and how they are delivered. For example, you probably have taken a trip to the store to purchase an application like Word or Quicken. After the purchase you’ve taken it home an installed it on your computer. Each year or two you repeat the process to keep your applications current.
Cloud is similar except no trip to the store and the updates or current versions are available to you each time you open your browser and use the application. Instead of the store, you shop on line, download a small application and login to a special web site to use the software. You pay a monthly fee based on the number of computers accessing the application.
During some “roll-outs” or trial periods many times the applications are free to register and use. The wars between Google and Microsoft have created an environment where word processing, spreadsheets and the like are likely to be free for a very long time. Perhaps this is the time to take advantage of a great free offer.
To sign up for Microsoft Office Web Apps go to:
office.live.com/.
To sign up for Google Docs open www.google.com move your mouse over the top of the word “Google” a ribbon will appear, click on “more” then “Documents” too get started.
There are many other applications in the cloud like point of sale (POS), self help, or photography, to find out more call a licensed professional or drop by your local computer store and talk to the experts.
|
