Software giant, Microsoft, is falling short in this blogger’s eyes, when it comes to document collaboration and project management software in the cloud computing world. Live Mesh Beta from Microsoft helps close the gap, but unlike Google Docs, Live Mesh doesn’t provide us with real time document collaboration. It provides a decent synchronization engine, along with some nice features such as a proprietary remote computing environment and Windows Explorer integration, but still can’t compete with the simplicity and usefulness of Google Docs for real telecommuters or project managers.
The Paperless Staffing team uses Google Docs to help coordinate the “many hands in the cookie jar” aspect of our business so that we are always on the same page with everything. From weekly processing, to onboarding and underwriting, everyone needs to be in the know. This means that multiple people will have documents open and will be editing them simultaneously. With Google Docs… no problem. With Mesh… no way.
Come on, Microsoft. Crank it up a notch.
Kevin...I posted this on Twitter and a buddy who consults to Msft wrote back the following:
ReplyDeleteDitman Johnson: Gregoire - Mesh isn't really a collaboration tool, its primary design is to allow you access to your files on multiple screens. To check out MSFT's coming Office on-line apps, go to your Windows Live Skydrive and create a new file - Word doesn't yet work, but on-line Excel, PPT, and OneNote do. You can share the folder with others and thereby collaborate in real time like Google docs.
Nice. I did not know that was released yet. I thought the Microsoft Office Web Applications weren't coming out until 2010. I may have to transition my team to this, as we all have Live accounts here at the office, but only a handful have Google accounts. Thanks for the great info, Gregg. Pass along a thanks to Mr. Johnson for me as well. :)
ReplyDeleteInteresting, still I like the Google streamlining much better. Just about everything Google produces makes me happy because of it's simplicity and functionality. They have everything man, including staffing software! I respect Microsoft for trying, but until I work for a company that uses Microsoft instead of Google docs, I'll let you know. Google is like Apple, they are taking over.
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