Understanding the New Google Spreadsheets

If you’re anything like me, you probably go online all the time and instead of firing up the sluggish Microsoft Office or OpenOffice.org, you bring up a browser and go to Google Docs instead as an alternative, especially when you’re pressed for time.

Today, like me, you might have opened up your favorite online office suite and you just found out that Google gave Spreadsheets a revamp. In fact, it looks like a desktop app more than an online app. Aside from the new, fresh look, Google Spreadsheets is now faster and is more organized.

But you might be daunted by the new look. Worry not, Google did not change much in Google Spreadsheets. In fact, I give you a quick rundown of the new Google Spreadsheets:

1. Menus neatly provide access to all commands and functions.
2. The updated toolbar gives shortcuts to the most commonly-used commands, including one-click access to currency, percent, and other cell formats.
3. Hover over the sort bar to expose sorting tools. Drag it by the handle on the left to freeze header rows so they are visible while you scroll.
4. Formulas are now accessible from the toolbar (or, as always, by typing them directly into the cell).
5. In the Share menu you can invite people, see who has access, publish to the web, and find other advanced sharing features.
6. Chat with people who are editing at the same time, or just see who’s there.
7. Your edits are always automatically saved.

So right now, Google Spreadsheets isn’t just better looking, it’s got a shorter response time and is easier to use. I have a feeling that it won’t be long until we see the entire Google Docs suite sportingthe new look. Why do I suspect that Google would be launching an operating system after a while?

Anyway, with Google constantly upgrading Google Docs it’ll be inevitable that it’ll rival the functionality of a desktop  office suite. If we have a lightning-fast browser such as Google Chrome and Google Docs becomes as full-featured as a desktop suite, I see myself ditching a desktop office suite if the trend goes on. Seriously, nothing beats being able to be able to have an office suite wherever you go and files accessible from any computer in the world. Is the new Google Spreadsheet good enough for you? It is for me.