Google To Add Presentations

A number of readers (some from the audience at Web 2.0 Expo) wrote to let us know that Google is adding presentations to their Docs and Spreadsheets package. With the announcement the company revealed that they have purchased Tonic Systems to help with the new presentation software. It's expected to be ready by summer. Google's CEO Eric Schmidt was asked if Docs and Spreadsheets will compete with MS Office, and he said, "We don't think so. It doesn't have all the functionality, nor is it intended to have the functionality of products like Microsoft Office."

Won't work

99% of the time most people use the "standard" features of MSOffice. GOffice will be fine with this. Unfortunately, for the 1%, everyone uses a different piece of advanced functionality and get annoyed that THEIR pet feature is missing. Good to have an alternative with intarwebbiness built in though I guess.

Re:Won't work

The question is, once large organizations figure out (if they are actually interested in saving money let's say) that this one percent phenomena exists, how valuable will it be for them to buy everyone in the organization a $200+ piece of software "just in case" they need it?

The more appropriate response will be for Office to be looked upon in the same way that a compiler is, something that just a few people, specialists, need to have a copy of, while everyone else can make use of much simpler web-based alternatives.

As people start to use "Google Office" at home for its ease of sharing documents, etc, the same argument that made Office a standard will start to apply to Google Apps: "Hey, all these people right out of school already know Google Apps, let's just standardized on that so we don't have to teach them Office".

I don't think I've run MS Office in three years, and my use of Open Office is starting to fall off quite a bit as I just load things people send me into Google Docs from the get-go. I'm also noticing that the only thing I'm storing on my PCs are music files and photos, with more and more photos being stored online as well. This is great!

Re:Won't work

Yeah. Isn't "office" an emacs mode or something?

I don't know. I run emacs just for the games.

Quick!

Remove the chairs from the building!

So...

They wanted to offer a new product, and bought a company to do so? Isn't that sort of a Microsoft thing?

Re:So...

It is a business thing.

Re:So...

Depends.

If you want to start offering a product or service, and it's going to cost you more to develop that product/service than to buy a company which already offers it, the choice is obvious.

Re:So...

Only if they buy them to remove them from competing.
Otherwise it's a sound business move.

Re:So...

do what [youtube.com] now?

Re:So...

The reason Microsoft is so rich is because that strategy works. It should be no surprise that Google behaves similarly.

Lazy employees

With the announcement the company revealed that they have purchased Tonic Systems to help with the new presentation software.

What exactly do Google employees do all day? Count money, play pool, and ride Segways?

Furthermore, if this cannot export to PDF or PowerPoint, it's pretty much useless. When giving presentations, Internet access is rarely provided or is flakey at best.

Re:Lazy employees

Furthermore, if this cannot export to PDF or PowerPoint, it's pretty much useless. When giving presentations, Internet access is rarely provided or is flakey at best.

I'm sure it'll export to both. I've been using Google Docs and the word processor can export to HTML, RTF, MS Word, OpenOffice Writer, and PDF. The Google spreadsheet can export to CSV, HTML, OpenOffice Calc, PDF, plain text, and MS Excel.

Re:Lazy employees

But we do not yet have the technology to have computers electricute or shoot people who want to use animations in presentations, so the best that the programmers can do is disallow the presentations from being exported to filetypes that allow animations, hence pdf.

Re:Lazy employees

I'd like to see it use the s5 [meyerweb.com] format - then it could be saved as html+css.
Take a look at the introductory presentation [meyerweb.com] - it's pretty neat especially considering it's all standard html+css+js.

Re:Lazy employees

Furthermore, if this cannot export to PDF or PowerPoint, it's pretty much useless.

Yeah, and if it doesn't let you type the letter "e", that will be bad too. Also, it shouldn't give you cancer - I think it would be bad if it gave you cancer.

I don't get it

First Apple says they don't want their office app to compete with MSOffice, now Google says they don't want to compete with MSOffice. When will someone man up and compete? OpenOffice is nice but it has a HUGE number of flaws still. We NEED competition here.

Re:Competing with MSFT

I know what I mainly need from an "office suite" is just a good word processor, one that doesnt lag 10 keystrokes behind me typing a simple letter.

WTF!? Computers haven't lagged behind keystrokes in like 15 years (although browser based apps chock full of Javascript aim to change that). What are you running, a Mac Classic or something?

-matthew

Is it Flash or lots of JavaScript?

Or openlazlo? Powerpoint exports? Guess we'll have to wait and see.

Re:Is it Flash or lots of JavaScript?

From TonicSystems.com [tonicsystems.com]:

Q. Who is Tonic Systems? What are their products?
A: Tonic Systems is a San Francisco-based company that provides Java presentation automation products and solutions for document management - Tonic Systems Builder, Tonic Systems Filter, Tonic Systems Transformer, Tonic Systems Viewer, and JarJar Links. Features of their products included text extraction for indexing documents, presentation creation capabilities and document conversion tools.

Tonic makes a good product.

I use the TonicPoint Viewer for Mac instead of OpenOffice or Powerpoint... it has way fewer troubles with fonts. If I open a Windows PowerPoint presentation in Mac PowerPoint, I usually end up seeing weird characters instead of bullets in lists... and equations with greek letters, etc. are almost always messed up.

So at least now I believe Google Presently will be a decent product.

An Access solution would be needed too...

...And it wouldn't be hard. Just use an existing OSS database as the back-end solution (mySQL, PostgreSQL comes to mind) and then create a front-end that makes it easy for the layperson to set up tables and create queries, forms and reports. Considering the resources Google has at hand, this wouldn't be too difficult and would have a free stable core already available to them.

But, everyone here says otherwise!

Odd, everyone here is so certain that GOffice will compete with MS Office. Competition is needed here, but I'm not amused. Surely someone has an explanation? I've been TERRIBLY deceived by all of you!

Targeted ads!

I would have to see ads for competitors show up during presentation of my product.

Google declares war on learning

Didn't we already decide that Powerpoint was bad for learning [slashdot.org]?

Evidently, Google doesn't read our beloved /.

The horror

Q. Who is Tonic Systems? What are their products?
A: Tonic Systems is a San Francisco-based company that provides Java presentation automation products and solutions for document management - Tonic Systems Builder, Tonic Systems Filter, Tonic Systems Transformer, Tonic Systems Viewer, and JarJar Links. Features of their products included text extraction for indexing documents, presentation creation capabilities and document conversion tools.

*shudders* Had a horrible flashback there, read it as Jar Jar Binks.

Google Office Ajax13

I know Google has the public relations dollars, but one would think on Slashdot we'd be discussing
the many (IMHO far better) online office suites. I have a hard time looking at Google Docs
and thinking anyone would find it compares to say "Ajax13" ( http://www.ajax13.com/ [ajax13.com] ) or other
independent offerings.

Likewise, Google's webtop pales in comparison to far slicker applications like DesktopTwo
( http://www.desktoptwo.com/ [desktoptwo.com] ). -- which by the way uses a web based java version of OpenOffice
which is also slicker than any of Google's office apps.

I'm all for "free" and "freely distributed" web applications replacing the MS Office tax that
we're all forced to pay, but I'm also for the best man winning. And IMHO, Google's not exactly
deserving of the top spot here.

Google and MSFT and Misdirection

Google's CEO Eric Schmidt was asked if Docs and Spreadsheets will compete with MS Office, and he said, "We don't think so. It doesn't have all the functionality, nor is it intended to have the functionality of products like Microsoft Office."

I like this kind of modest understatement. It understates the threat Google poses to Microsoft. Smart PR move IMHO.

Wild guess

I'm going to make a crazy guess here. Google will release product after product until the have almost all of the MS Office Suite covered. Most businesses won't use it though as the idea of putting their files up on some nebulous file cloud spooks them. They don't want corporate secrets in the hands of who knows who. Then Google will drop their bombshell: their office suite will be made to work ONLINE and OFFLINE (and still in a browser!) jumping the final hurdle for a business suite. On an even wilder note they may even release the source code claiming "see, even if we go out of business you can compile it yourself". Their online model will be supported by ads and their offline one will make money by selling support. The sound you hear is a thousand chairs flying into walls.

Hmmm.... Confidentiality?

Who in their right mind would use this for any presentation that included anything remotely important? I think concerns about confidentiality will make this a hard sell to most corporations - those are the majority of the people who use PowerPoint.

Java vs. Javascript

Hey ./ commenters, you're supposed to be IT experts. So pretend you know the difference between Java and Javascript.

But here's a tip: if you don't really know or care what the difference is, you can just say "Web 2.0" and all of the buzzword lovers will nod in silent understanding and tell you that Microsoft is doomed by Web 2.0.

Why should I care about this

when Docs doesn't work on my Linux + Firefox 2.0.0.3 setup (no cursor, can't type anything). Sheesh. Get the basics fixed first.

Good or Bad?

I can't remember: is Google good or bad this week here on /.?

I will boycott Google's PowerPoint

I will boycott Google's PowerPoint because they acquired it from Tonic Systems, which used to make a Java product called ... Jar Jar Links [64.233.167.104]. Bad puns must not be encouraged.

Hat trick!!!

Awesome, now I need my laptop to work, the projector to be in a good mood, _AND_ an internet connection... in a place i've probably never been until the presentation.

Things are hard enough as it is, but good grief!

Now that Google has a PowerPoint type app

is it no longer true that you don't need one?

I remember years ago when Scott McNealy mocked MS about needing a word processor, forbid the use of PowerPoint at Sun and made a big show of handing out whiteboards and markers to his employees .. until StarOffice came along. The suddenly he thought that "office" applications were great.

translation

asked if Docs and Spreadsheets will compete with MS Office, and he said, "We don't think so. It doesn't have all the functionality, nor is it intended to have the functionality of products like Microsoft Office."

That's a nice way of saying "oh, no, we wouldn't want it to be that bloated and complicated" :-)

Nice PR

"We're not competing, we're just kids. MS Office rocks." That's a smart thing to say while you siphon off whatever customers you can. A much smarter thing than, say, Andreessen's famous "Netscape will reduce Windows to a poorly debugged set of device drivers" statement. Evil or no evil, Google is definitely clever.

I'm converted!

I've just been spending the last week moving all my documents to Google Docs and I think it's great.

I want to keep my docs forever
I moved everything over simply because my docs are spread across multiple machines some of which are ancient. I suddenly found myself wanting an ancient document that was stored on a laptop that didn't have any Internet connection. Luckily it still worked but it was a game getting the docs to a more modern PC. With Google docs I won't care what media the docs stored on, nor what computer or OS.

Backups
Sure I can all hear you smugly saying just get it off your backups but in those days I'd probably of used a plate sized floppy disk and would now be wondering where I insert the thing into a modern PC. Now I don't have to care about backups as they do it for me.

Accessibility
I can access all my files from any computer, any OS, anywhere in the world (as long as I have some form of Internet connection).

Sharing
I can keep my docs private or give access to specific people. I can also make them public if there is anyone out there sorry enough to read my ramblings.

Collaborate
I can work with others on the same documents.

Permanence
OK Google might not be here for ever but I bet they'll be here longer than MS and certainly longer than any of my PC's will last.

Features
I'm one of those users who probably only uses 80% of the features in Word so a reduced feature set doesn't matter to me. The formatting features are roughly the same as those offered by web based email systems.

Is it perfect
No - it can be a bit clunky in places and it seems to prefer shorter documents to larger ones. I figure it will probably get better over time and I was happy to switch with just the benefits as they stand at the moment. Oh, did I mention it was free?

Summer

I'd wish /. editors would use unambiguous terms, such as months, quarters or the like. I live in the Southern hemisphere, and whenever I read something that mentions seasons I must check to where it's referring, and if it's to the Northern hemisphere, mentally translate the northern season name into its southern equivalent. Not nice, really.

Google Presentation and gtalk

I hope that they included some form of: 1. IM or VOIP in the same page as the presentation 2. A presenters view vs. attendee view 3. The ability to distribute invites. 4. Ability to make the presentation download able if necessarily 5. Maybe embed media from Google images or Google video in the presentation... and have accessible media stock. 6. Publish the presentation or link it to a Google group along with other docs and etc. 7. Maybe purchase technology from companies like VNC or logmein.com for remote desktop control (support, training, etc) just to check the box when compared to webex. 8. Web based creation tool kit that can be used to create presentations online with out need for MS Powerpoint. With a nice AJAX drag and drop interface that has the ability to change and edit slides in the middle of a presentation without interruption by using a new window or tabbed interface. 8b. Be able to share the ability to present and edit. ie. one person can do the talking while another is making edits. 9. Ability to create a follow up questionnaire with links to additional information. Then they would have a webex killer. That would be my wish list :) any thoughts? If Google needs a dreamer, send me a job offer LOL, cuz the sky is the limit when you have as much money as they do. If Google doesn't do it, sourceforge it and lets make it happen. Unfortunately i wont be any help since i have no idea how to program.. Just a dreamer here :)

Re:Do you want it to replace MS Office?

"We don't think it'll compete with Office - we just want the customer base that uses it"

Re:Do you want it to replace MS Office?

"We don't think it'll compete with Office - we just want the customer base that uses it"

Got it in one. Add this to the commercial domain packaging Google is offering and it looks like the platform for a lot of small businesses. $50/user/year and you can throw away all your departmental Microsoft servers. If you get controlled logins, Gmail, Writely, spreadsheet and presentation as well as a portal with your own domain name, why bother with Microsoft? Oh and you can throw away all the operations support structure and those dusty MCSE's as well. That's gotta save you more than $50/user/year, and you get a reliable platform too. I mean, it isn't like Google doesn't have a bit of redundancy here & there.

I'm an old and dusty MCSE/network engineer too and I don't see why a small business needs that kind of infrastructure or expertise any more than you should have a television engineer in your home to switch channels for you.

I was once a Microsoft shill until I discovered my inner Fear of Flying Chairs...

Re:The big question

Only if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time.

... and get hit in the head with a flying chair.

Re:Do you want it to replace MS Office?

I agree. Complain all you want about MS, I have a legal copy of Office (2000) on my computer and they can't take it away. I can save the files on my hard drive (in a variety of formats), and I can open files I created years ago. What if google cancelled Google Office? You're fucked. Or if they get busted on patent infringement. Or if they wreck the program with dubious features? (MS isn't the only one that does that). Yes, let's give the company complete control over our office documents. They promised not to be evil.

No, Google is pissing me off.

Open Office is a fine replacement. For office. Google you want to kill microsoft? Build a web app that kills Quicken/Money and ultimately Turbo Tax et al with secure banking. Gnucash is trash. I'm sorry, I'm sure a lot of people worked very hard on it, but it is. The spreedsheet and wordprocessor apps are of extremely limited functionality, fine, Open Office is pretty rich, runs nearly anywhere. Kill the things which pin people to Microsoft. Office applications aren't one of those things anymore.