Google Spreadsheets

I got invited into the limited test for google spreadsheets, and from what I've initially seen, I'm impressed.

Strengths:

UI: I like the fact they use tabs versus buttons to access formulas,
formatting, and sorting. Even though it's more basic, it seems cleaner.

Formatting: The choose format button makes changing the format of the cell, column, or row easier to select. (I like anything that saves me from mouse clicks)

Sorting: This seems to do what excel doesn't. From a standard installation of Excel, if you want to sort a column of data, the safest way to sort is to highlight the whole sheet -- If you don't, excel will only sort column that you selected, and will screw up any other corresponding data, if it exists. If I choose a column to sort in google spreadsheets, it will sort all of the corresponding data on the sheet, not just the column (quite a nice fix -- post seems to relate to the below, so I included it).

2PM Back from Site Visit

Sales guy: How'd the trip go?
IT guy: Went pretty well. Almost had to send your branch manager home though.
Sales guy: Ha, why?
IT guy: After we loaded up all the inventory in an Excel spreadsheet, he kept sorting it wrong. He'd sort just one column. It would scramble the whole thing up and we'd have to delete it and start all over. He did that three times before I banned him from Excel.
Sales guy: You banned him?
IT guy: I banned him.

8220 England Street
Charlotte, North Carolina

via Overheard in the Office, Jun 6, 2006

Exporting: You can export to both excel, and .csv, from the basic sheet I created, it did it's job, no formatting issues, and the formulas remained intact.

Collaboration: Being able to invite users to spreadsheets is a nice touch for group collaborations, in some cases, especially the edit option. I've never been a fan of netmeeting.

Web Based Office Functionality: It's nice for those that don't want to have to shell some cash for an office suite, and for those that want an alternative to Open Office.

Weaknesses:

I really haven't seen any (or specifically looked for them) -- if I find something I'll modify my post.

Upcoming Vacation

Why is it that when a vacation rolls around, you get more and more opportunities?

I think they should be something that is equally spaced throughout the year. Let's start a movement.

Fix My Computer

This is probably my first post into technology, and it's users.

A member of my family sends me an email that reads:

Message:

"Marty,
How come I can't print a PDF of my Insurance statement?
I print them at work all the time.
Do I need to update Adobe?
I even saved it to my docs & still can't print it; just get an error message that the document can't be printed, or something like that.
Help please & thanks"

Reply:

"I need to look at it because it can have more than one solution" (not the exact reply, but only what is relevant)

Considering the message, and that the user's "knowledge level" of computers is minimal, equates my reply. When I reply back saying "I need to look at it because it can have more than one solution", don't yell at my wife because I haven't told you how to fix it.

To all the humans out there that have computer geeks in the family: Don't abuse them -- it takes it's toll after awhile, and begins to drive them far more insane than they already are.

Litter Box

There are reasons that any normal human being wouldn't have their cat's litter box in their office. Unless you have space limitations...

I have space limitations.

I have actually been on conference calls for various projects, and yelled out "Oh my god... my cat just took a dump". I'm not sure what I'd do without the ability to open a window, or start up a ceiling fan.