Gdetrailer wrote:AsheGuy wrote:tyoungs wrote:It seems you are talking about personal use instead of doing work related work. Google apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides, etc.) are free, can open MS documents, and have a similar (or easily used) interface. I've been using them for years, not paying for MS apps.
Just got new laptop and previously wife's work IT folks loaded MS Office to our home computer. They can't do that this time (new owners) and so I am looking for suggestions on alternative to paying full boat for MS Office. We have files for Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Publisher. What do you suggest for alternative.
Thanks in advance,
Just be aware, Google docs only works if you are online, no Internet connection and you have nothing, no word processor and no files..
Google docs also has a lot of short comings like saving (doesn't like to save to your PC), printing (has to "create" a temporary PDF on your PC, then you can print the PDF) and on and on.. Retrieving files from this poor excuse of software is often a frustrating of a nightmare undertaking of epic proportions.
Yes, I have been dealing with this with my DD who got used to this stupidity of Google docs because of the stupid High school teachers which INSISTED that ALL students HAD to use Google docs :M for all of their work :S , spent many hrs last week helping my DD retrieve vital documents she needed to physically turn in to her Profs for finals..
Yeah, had to copy text and photos, then paste those into MS Word docs one page at a time then print them, much cleaner results than using the PDF print version of Google docs.
Now it leaves me to FIX this bad habit because in the real world of business no one in their right mind is going to use it for business..
Friends, don't let friends use Google docs..
Go with Open office or Libre office before messing around with Google docs, you WILL thank yourself many times over the years..
AsheGuy wrote:
Respectfully, you live in a different world than I do. I just disconnected from the Internet just to verify that I can still access documents, etc. You are correct, Google is a cloud based world but you can do a lot of things offline like create documents, access "favorite" documents that are mirrored on your PC, etc. Printing is no problem, the problems you describe with printing are a mystery to me.
Schools have converted to Google because it is cheaper, has better backup and sharing capabilities, etc., etc. We have two granddaughters who each have a Chromebook to interact with their school. No problems whatsoever.
You are free to use whichever platform you are familiar with, but should not bad mouth those that you do not understand. I use Google products extensively and travel a lot with rare instances where lack of Internet access is an issue.
As far as the state of mind in the business world ("Now it leaves me to FIX this bad habit because in the real world of business no one in their right mind is going to use it for business.."), you might want to read this article
AsheGuy wrote:
Respectfully, you live in a different world than I do. I just disconnected from the Internet just to verify that I can still access documents, etc.
IF you are using a WINDOWS BASED PC, GOOGLE DOCS DOES NOT WORK AT ALL WITHOUT INTERNET, PERIOD. Now if you are using a Google based tablet, that is a DIFFERENT STORY since you can download a stupid "App". Perhaps you could download a Google "App" for Win10, why should anyone have to..
You are correct, Google is a cloud based world but you can do a lot of things offline like create documents, access "favorite" documents that are mirrored on your PC, etc. Printing is no problem, the problems you describe with printing are a mystery to me.
Once again, using a WINDOWS PC without Internet NOTHING WORKS WITH GOOGLE DOCS.
Schools have converted to Google because it is cheaper, has better backup and sharing capabilities, etc., etc. We have two granddaughters who each have a Chromebook to interact with their school. No problems whatsoever.
Schools have gone this way because it requires NO "overhead" for the school, this does not mean it is BETTER or BEST to do so. In fact, This has TRAINED kids to be flat out stupid, they don't have a real world grasp on how to use REAL programs that they WILL be encountering in the REAL WORK WORLD.
I work in a HIGH TECH REAL WORLD COMPANY, we STILL USE REAL PROGRAMS LIKE MS OFFICE, SQL SERVER and so on.. There are hundreds of thousands of companies still in operation today that will STILL be using these programs in the future.
Just because you "personally" find Google Docs appealing does not mean that EVERYONE finds it the same.
Today' kids have been done a great disservice by schools taking the shortcuts and cheaping out by using Google docs.
You are free to use whichever platform you are familiar with, but should not bad mouth those that you do not understand. I use Google products extensively and travel a lot with rare instances where lack of Internet access is an issue.
You are free to use whatever you wish, but the REAL WORLD MAJORITY of companies would disagree and most may have policies against using non approved third party software or "Apps".
The company I work for SUPPLIES FULL MS OFFICE PRODUCTS ON OUR IT PCs as a matter of GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICES. We deal with a lot of PHI (PERSONAL Health Information) which IS NOT ALLOWED ON THE "CLOUD" via third party apps. Using Google Docs because Google controls the data means we no longer have FULL CONTROL of that data, I would be in breach of my employment contract if I used Google Docs for work purposes.
Even our IT PCs are locked down to the point that even using an external drive must be setup to be fully encrypted for the entire drive in order to PREVENT serious data breaches.
Some companies DO take privacy seriously.
As far as the state of mind in the business world ("Now it leaves me to FIX this bad habit because in the real world of business no one in their right mind is going to use it for business.."), you might want to read..
Perhaps, YOU need to take into consideration that when you use stuff like Google Docs, you ARE AGREEING TO ALLOW GOOGLE TO NOT ONLY STORE YOUR INFORMATION BUT TO USE IT ANYWAY THEY SEE FIT!!!
That's right, that free "carrot" has a COST ASSOCIATED WITH IT, IT COSTS YOUR PRIVACY. Google can and does examine all the content in your cloud accounts, they rake through for information on how you use it, when you use it and what you use it for. They track that info then resell that info and the outcome is eventually you will get hit with personalized ads..
Any GOOD company already knows and understands the issue with Google's potential for raking through documents which can create data breaches at the least and at the worst breaches of contracts with other companies they may do business with..
Gdetrailer wrote:A quote from Heraclitus: "The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change."
I wasn't going to bother, but I feel that this needs to be addressed..
My comments in red..AsheGuy wrote:
Respectfully, you live in a different world than I do. I just disconnected from the Internet just to verify that I can still access documents, etc.
IF you are using a WINDOWS BASED PC, GOOGLE DOCS DOES NOT WORK AT ALL WITHOUT INTERNET, PERIOD., etc, etc, etc...
theoldwizard1 wrote:
LibreOffice
