According to the United Kingdom's Guardian newspaper, when you compare the spreadsheet to "Writely [Google's online word processor], Google's existing blogging tool, Instant Messenger service, e-mail product, calendar and Web page creator, the spreadsheet application gives the company a full suite [that] can compete directly with Microsoft's best-selling Works and Office software."
OK, I'll give you Works, but Office? Puh-lease!
Google's own executives don't say they're competing with Microsoft Office. That's a good thing, because when you compare Writely and Google Spreadsheets to Word and Excel, it's not even close.
Make no doubt about it. Google kicks Microsoft's rump at some things. When it comes to search, there's no comparison. And, personally I'll take Gmail and the Google Calendar over Outlook any day of the week.
But, all this hype about how Google is going to be taking Microsoft to some Silicon Valley fight club and laying it out cold is wishful thinking.
Web-based applications have not replaced, and will not ever replace, desktop-based applications. I have heard until I'm sick of it about how centralized, network-based applications are the wave of the future. I heard back in the mid-80s, and here in the mid-00s, I'm hearing it again.
It doesn't work because the Pandora's Box of the PC was broken open decades ago and people want control of their applications on their desktops. We can talk about how wonderful it is to share information and data, but people don't want to share their work.
Read the rest of this commentary at eWEEK: "Analysis: Another Google App, Another Google Yawn"