Google Spreadsheets is an online tool that users to create, store and share spreadsheets on the web. Spreadsheets can be imported to Google Spreadsheets or been created from scratch, and once uploaded and stored in Google Spreadsheets, the spreadsheet can be edited from virtually anywhere with Internet access, and you can share your spreadsheets with others and edit them together. However, currently the service is limited to invited users. Google Spreadsheets invitation can be applied at the website.
PC World (dead link) tries up and reviews Google Spreadsheets and concludes that what Google Spreadsheets does, it does quite well, but there are far more Excel-type features that it doesn’t even attempt to emulate than ones that it does.
“I imagine I’ll continue to spend time in Excel or OpenOffice.org’s spreadsheet for most of my number-crunching tasks. But I’m in a happy groove of using Writely for some of my basic word processing–especially when I want a file to be easily gotten at from any computer–and I like the idea of at least trying to use Google Spreadsheets in a similar way.”
CNet hands on on Google Spreadsheets and concluded that “I’d recommend this service for the new spreadsheet user or the person who just wants to work with numbers or small data tables from time to time. It has functionality most people need, except the critical graphing and printing functions. The collaboration features are just dynamite.
However, Google Spreadsheets takes you only part of the way if you want to use it for serious analysis or as a tool to create graphics for presentations.”
CNet recommends those who interested in online spreadsheets to try other online office suites such as ThinkFree, and Zoho, and the stand-alone online spreadsheets EditGrid, iRows, and Num Sum (service no longer available).
Google BlogScoped said Google Spreadsheet usability is quite good. As ever so often, this is a Google product with no ads so far (ads might be on the horizon, of course); it’s more a tool than a site, clearly fitting into the growing array of Google OS products. Despite some shortcomings, they clearly like the ideas Google Spreadsheets can be constantly updated by the developers in the background without any of users ever having to install a new version.
Beta @ Amanzi (link dead) had a in-depth review on Google Spreadsheets with lots of screenshots, and concluded that “my impression of Google Spreadsheets is that for a (very) beta product it is highly functional and it works exceptionally well. The collaboration features could be a real winner but not until more users can access the spreadsheets, and not until people realise that emailing spreadsheets for review isn’t that productive. A potential use would be to include an ‘open with Gsheets’ link if you receive a spreadsheet in your Gmail. But this is not a competitor to Microsoft’s Excel and probably won’t be for the foreseeable future. This will definitely come in handy for it’s collaboration features and for those times when you don’t have a full copy of Excel (or any of the other desktop spreadsheet applications.)”
LK is a technology writer for Tech Journey with background of system and network administrator. He has be documenting his experiences in digital and technology world for over 15 years.Connect with LK through Tech Journey on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.
