Review for Google Drive
Summary: 8.7/10
Intro:
Google Drive is Google’s evolution of Google Docs-- it straddles the line between office suite and syncing software which definitely may cost it in the long run. While the exact niche for Google Drive may not be apparent yet, Google Drive more than satisfies all the needs of student and teacher.
The Basics:
Software-- Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android drive.google.com
Cost: Free (personal account up to 5 GB), Pricing options found here
How can it be used?
Google Drive is meant to be the ones stop for all documents and files. You can load any number of files into the system and have them sync between computers. You can also just create all your documents in the web interface and have them sit in the cloud. It’s perfect for students, teachers, parents, and admin to use as an office suite with just a little more power.
Pros:
How do I use it?
I use Google Drive to do all my document base needs. It’s replaced MS Office for me. I also use it to keep spreadsheets of contacts, plan group events and meetings, create shared folders, and even code! Plus I love to use the Google Scripts integration to automate all my tasks (for example, make a spreadsheet of birthdays and automate some automatic e-cards).
Key Features:
Where does it lack?
Google Drive, feature wise, is exactly what the power user needs-- but perhaps not what the everyday user does. It lacks the complex editing features that MS Office as well as the themes and attractiveness of MS Office. Also, Google Drive tries to do almost too much and can be very confusing if you don’t take the time to search up how to’s for the more complex features. Also as a web app, Google Drive depends on good your internet connection is; Offline editing is weak and simply doesn’t live up to a full office suite.
Other Options:
MS Office is the most obvious competitor. MS Office is nearly universally accepted and while it doesn’t have the same power features that Google Drive has, it can do much richer and “prettier” documents. Pair MS Office with an expanded Dropbox account and you’ve got a powerhouse combo albeit you’ll have to pay to keep more than 5 GB in the cloud (whereas with Google Drive, all Google Doc files don’t count towards your limit and are essentially free) and you’ll be missing out on the Google Scripts Google Drive offers.
Another favorite of many out there is the pick and choose Office Suite. Maybe use Prezi for presentations because it has nice visual effects (though sometimes sea-sickening), Bean for Documents and Excel for spreadsheets. While you miss out on the integration that Google Drive has you can get the absolute best tool for each individual task.
Intro:
Google Drive is Google’s evolution of Google Docs-- it straddles the line between office suite and syncing software which definitely may cost it in the long run. While the exact niche for Google Drive may not be apparent yet, Google Drive more than satisfies all the needs of student and teacher.
The Basics:
Software-- Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android drive.google.com
Cost: Free (personal account up to 5 GB), Pricing options found here
How can it be used?
Google Drive is meant to be the ones stop for all documents and files. You can load any number of files into the system and have them sync between computers. You can also just create all your documents in the web interface and have them sit in the cloud. It’s perfect for students, teachers, parents, and admin to use as an office suite with just a little more power.
Pros:
- Easiest way to sync across multiple computers
- Scripts help the power user
- Wide feature set really helps
- not as “pretty” or featureful as MSOffice
- Not as much storage as Dropbox
- Not enough file support for music/picture files
How do I use it?
I use Google Drive to do all my document base needs. It’s replaced MS Office for me. I also use it to keep spreadsheets of contacts, plan group events and meetings, create shared folders, and even code! Plus I love to use the Google Scripts integration to automate all my tasks (for example, make a spreadsheet of birthdays and automate some automatic e-cards).
Key Features:
- Google Apps integration
- Document sharing
- Google Scripts for power users (if you don’t know about Google Scripts, see here)
- Offline editing
- An assortment of integrated apps (including IDEs, floorplanners, PDF mergers, you name it!)
- Mobile interface and editing
- Supports MS Office files, .pdfs, image files, basically any file in existence (and can even convert most of them to Google docs too!)
Where does it lack?
Google Drive, feature wise, is exactly what the power user needs-- but perhaps not what the everyday user does. It lacks the complex editing features that MS Office as well as the themes and attractiveness of MS Office. Also, Google Drive tries to do almost too much and can be very confusing if you don’t take the time to search up how to’s for the more complex features. Also as a web app, Google Drive depends on good your internet connection is; Offline editing is weak and simply doesn’t live up to a full office suite.
Other Options:
MS Office is the most obvious competitor. MS Office is nearly universally accepted and while it doesn’t have the same power features that Google Drive has, it can do much richer and “prettier” documents. Pair MS Office with an expanded Dropbox account and you’ve got a powerhouse combo albeit you’ll have to pay to keep more than 5 GB in the cloud (whereas with Google Drive, all Google Doc files don’t count towards your limit and are essentially free) and you’ll be missing out on the Google Scripts Google Drive offers.
Another favorite of many out there is the pick and choose Office Suite. Maybe use Prezi for presentations because it has nice visual effects (though sometimes sea-sickening), Bean for Documents and Excel for spreadsheets. While you miss out on the integration that Google Drive has you can get the absolute best tool for each individual task.