Google Docs on Desktop: Another Winner from Google

I think the idea of Google Docs  –Writing and spreadsheet type document writing program that runs online and are FREE  –is fantastic, and the perfect setup for all of us working to make money online.

Over the past year I’ve been using Google Docs, they have made steady progress with the addition of more and more functions to both Docs and Spreadsheets.

I am delighted with the progress.

There was however, one irritating problem that Google just solved that make life good:  Since I am working through an office network most of the time, I was faced with a nagging problem with my local PC losing it’s internet connection via the office server.  In day to day work, using the Internet, even while watching video, this was not a problem.  With Google Docs, the problem was much more irritating!

When I lost the Google Docs connection, I had to “select ALL” and then copy the document that was not saved, login again to Google docs, and paste the document to start working on it again.  There were also a few occasions when I completely lost the connection and had to save the document locally.

Google now solved this problem using Google Docs Desktop!

More about the Benefits of Google Docs…

Google Docs desktop gives you access to all of your documents locally.  When the connection is NOT there, you can work on your documents and spreadsheets locally!

The process of setting this up took just 5 minutes by following the Google setup directions.  I had to first download Google Gears on to my local computer.  Then inform Google Docs that I was ready to synchronize my online documents with my desktop.  That was it.

My suspicion is that there will be many Google applications that uses Gears to synchronize data between the “cloud” (online applications) and your desktop.  In fact, my own desktop application will use Gears to accomplish similar tasks.

Now when an Internet connection is lost, Google Docs Desktop simply saves information to my local pc.  Everything will then re-sync with Google online Docs when I connect back to my online account.

In fact, below is the message that you’ll see when your Internet connection is interrupted and Google Docs needs to save a document… Basically it say that the connection was lost BUT the document was saved locally.

Not often do free applications deliver what they promise.  In the case of Google Docs and the new format with Google Desktop Docs, you’ll get a dependable service that is easy to use and just as easy to manage and share information between Clients and colleagues.

Carpe Diem,
Rich Sage