google takes aim

Google has 'made available' to the public it's answer to Microsoft Excel, Google Spreadsheets. judging from the screenshots, and news from the unofficial Google Blog, it looks like it could challenge Excel easily. If it can process macros, I'm sure they will have a complete set of formulas by the time they go alpha.

Which nearly makes a Google Office Suite complete, with mail, calendar, and word processing already in the picture. It won't take much to allow Writely to create presentations, the business world desperately needs an alternative to Powerpoint.

The major plus for all users is the price, can't get better than free, and freedom from the hassles of upgrades and add-ins, especially when sending the file to other users.

While Google now has the wherewithal to go for the jugular in the home user market, small and large enterprises may find Microsoft their only option. Technical support is one major issue, as is security. Web versions of MS Publisher and Access will be interesting at best, although challenging the under-used Infopath considering the expense to license every user could be a goer.