We learn to treat the Google Docs software different than other software, when we don’t wait years for the next improvements to our applications. If you haven’t used a Google Docs application recently, you should find the interfaces much improved. I recently discovered how far the Google Docs presentations application has come — Ironically, Google Docs apps don’t seem to be named separately. Like the aspiration of other Google Docs applications, Google Presentations are Microsoft PowerPoint presentations on an attractive diet.

Google seems to know which fraction of the Office features most of us require, and then adds for me worry-free data in the cloud, simple collaboration features, no retail price, and so a push to try it, switch, or migrate some work flow to it. (Tip: iGoogle users can add the Google Docs widget. Click and you’re making a presentation that travels with you and is easily shared for collaboration)

The first screen you see in Google Presentations is familiar. Emulating Office makes good business sense, respecting the huge usability experience Microsoft accidentally offers it. Using this application is like using a very simple PowerPoint, in the web browser.

Embedding video content is extremely easy. This is another feature so obvious given the platform, but still somehow novel in a presentation.

I found handy:

• Giving access to specific collaborators, inviting colleagues to view/edit
• Exhibiting a presentation in a chat room for invited guests
• Publishing the presentation on the web  – without caring where it actually lives!
• Sending the presentation via email, attaching as : PDF, Power Point, Text; but now it’s left the cloud!?

Like Google spreadsheets and “Document” documents, Presentations offer surprisingly strong file import functionality. Whenever I switch a file in progress or a long term operations document of some kind, I move seamlessly into Google Apps, and then never worry about where I can access it, or if it’s safe.

But some public presenters might miss any sort of timeline control or transitions; these unfortunate animation macros I’m sure are on the way. And the JavaScript powered interface will become challenged on occasion; working with very large text made my Firefox shrivel and nearly expire. The big problem for most is that this platform is new, and perhaps nobody around you uses it. I’m still waiting for my first colleague or client to send me a link to a Google Doc, where he could attach an Office file instead.

“5 Frames, 5 Minutes, 0 Learning Curve” (PS there is an embed above this line, until WordPress next destroys the iframe it lives in)

This entry was posted by Justin Nedecky on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 1:53 pm and is filed under Business, Sales and Marketing, Tools, Tips and Tricks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.