ThinkFree v. Google Apps – Who’s Best?
BySo – we’ve looked at ThinkFree and Google Apps. Now we’ll do some comparisons and draw some conclusions.
ThinkFree has the big three applications; document, spreadsheet and presentation. Google does not have a presentation app, but is working on one.
ThinkFree touts being “most compatible” with Microsoft Office. Documents can be opened and saved in their Microsoft formats. Google Apps allows Microsoft documents to be imported and worked on.
Google Apps offers users to collaborate via a chat window while revising documents. I didn’t see this feature in ThinkFree. Both offer ways to share files with groups or individuals with tracking features. ThinkFree has a nifty feature that allows the document creator to send a document via Outlook, eliminating having to look-up e-mail addresses.
ThinkFree is the winner in my analysis. The compatibility with Microsoft elevates its usefulness, but so is the option of having the application on my desktop (for $49), in case I don’t have on-line access all the time. Google Apps doesn’t have the presentation package, which is essential (in my opinion), when you have a small business and need to pull something together.
Web-based office suites are springing up and it is said that desktop applications are on their way out as more and more businesses and people become increasingly comfortable with being on-line and using on-line tools.
A comment came in from Raju Vegesna, regarding another web application site. I would invite you to visit them at www.zoho.com. Free for use are quite a few tools in addition to the office suite including, mail, chat, collaboration tools, a planner and a project management tool.
Another site to check out is openoffice.org. This site is open source and offers the Big Three apps as well as a database, math and drawing program.
Best wishes as you navigate the crowded highways of web based applications!
