Read Part 1 here – http://blog.fadil.fr/2009/09/19/offline-office-suites-are-dead-to-me-part-1/

So, I need to choose the best online office suite which fits my needs and which is FREE. I am not paying a dime to Microsoft again!

Microsoft’s new Office Web apps do not cut it! The bloody online suite is only available as a technical preview.

Enter Zoho!

The Zoho online office suite is free for personal use. One gets 1 GB of hosting space for files. The word processor, spreadsheet and presentation software sport the features I am looking for in an office suite. The spreadsheet program includes a basic chart creation feature.

Zoho also comes with project management software, presentation software, database manager,  reminders/notes, organizer, groupware with calendar and e-mail client, chat and wiki software.

I really like the Social Approach whereby I can login using my Gmail address.

Zoho Show 2.0 Presentation Web App

Zoho Sheet rocks!

Snapshot:

Zoho Sheet sports all features I need. It even allows be to generate charts.

Zoho Projects = BLISS

Zoho Projects includes features which help me better control project resources. It does allow collaboration. It allows me to import Microsoft Project Files which is a plus. It can generate gantt charts. W007! Sadly enough, it does not sport NAD (Network Activity Diagrams) features. Still, it’s a very good online application.

Zoho I am very impressed by Zoho but I won’t be switching to it. Sure, it does run on smart phones and is free for up to 25 collaborators…..but Zoho creator currently does not Google Chrome.

I cannot wait for Zoho to get comfy with Chrome to switch. If you are looking for an online office suite for your personal needs and use Firefox or IE, give Zoho a try. It is the best Online Office Suite which offers a free service. It’s too bad that it does not support my browser platform.

Google Apps

For me, the coolest thing about Google Apps is that I can use the customised domain [online.ie] and the start page works just like iGoogle. My ISP provides the domain and I do not pay anything to Google.

The other cool feature is the fact that I can work offline thanks to Google Gears. Connectivity is not an issue. Files are synced online whenever I get online.

I am adding a YouTube playlist below for you to know of the features of Google Apps.

Overview of apps in Google’s online office suite

The things which I do not like with Google Apps

• I cannot create charts in Google Documents. I have to create them in the Spreadsheet program and export them to Documents.
• Google Apps does not feature an Microsoft Project alternative like Zoho. I shall blog about the online alternatives of Microsoft Project soon.
• Nowhere on Google Apps is included the words “certified to the Safe Harbor Program agreed to by the US Dept. of Commerce & EU Commission” [ Refer to http://www.export.gov/safeharbor ] But then again, Zoho and Microsoft are not certified either.

_______________________