ON Tuesday Google launched its newest free webbased application. Now you can create presentations online.
Google has quite a number of webbased applications available, from a writing application, which replaces Word, to spreadsheets to replace Excell. Now you can also replace your PowerPoint application.
These online clones have a number of advantages and obviously some disadvantages.
The advantages are that it is free to use. You can access your documents from any computer with an internet connection. You can easily collaborate and share your work and know that the application will constantly be improved.
The disadvantage for me is that you need to be online to create a presentation or document.
This application allows you to upload your current presentations and edit it. You can save the files online or on your computer. To try it, go to: http://docs.google.com.
I am amazed at the exorbitant prices that some of these mainstream software packages still have today, if you consider that the main competition offers these applications for free through large companies like Google or through open source projects like OpenOffice.
In most countries universities and other government institutions have adopted these opensource packages, but the uptake in South Africa has been extremely slow. I think it is the fear of having to try something now.
OpenOffice also released their updated version of the programme on Tuesday.
If you want a complete suite of applications that include presentation software, writing tools and spreadsheets, you can download it for free.
It is very similar to the Office Packages that we all know with one big difference – its free.
To download it go to www.openoffice.org.