The concept behind Google Docs is the same as an office suite, only it’s free. It’s a web-based program, so it can be stored virtually, not on your hard-drive. Google Docs works with most popular file formats, including DOC, XLS, ODT, ODS, RTF. As an added feature users can view docs on their mobile devices and view and edit spreadsheets they’ve created. Pretty convenient, don’t you think?How do I start using google docs?
First, you need to start an account with Google. You don’t necessarily have to start a Gmail account (those familiar with Gmail, the interface with Google Docs is similar to that of Gmail); you just have to use an existing email address. From there it is all pretty self-explanatory.
Am I stuck to just using Google Docs online?
No, once you start using Google Docs you will find an “Offline” link in the upper right-hand corner of your homepage. Click on the link and you will get a dialog box that prompts you to “Get Gears now”. By downloading Gears you will add a browser extension that in turn adds offline functionality to your browser. This way you can edit documents without an internet connection. There will be an “Offline help” link in the upper right-hand corner of your homepage once the download is successful.
Will I be able to email the documents created?
This is a huge yes! Not only will you be able to email documents created, Google Docs also lets you share documents by inviting people to see your document. You can also share links so people are just one click away! Google Docs also can be set so that people can have full editing privileges.
So, if you want to have an office suite such as Microsoft Office, but with more options such as mobile editing, we overwhelmingly suggest Google Docs! Google Docs is free, easy to set up and use, plus you can share the documents you create!