Google Drive Google Vs. Word

· Google is an internet based office suite(office suite is a bundle of software applications bundled together). These documents are created and all kept together on a Google server (the cloud). They can be found or accessed via the Internet at docs.google.com or by logging into your Gmail Account and going to the “marshmallows” and choosing the Docs icon. Microsoft is a computer based office suite. The programs are created on your computer and remain on your computer unless you send them through an email or save them to a flash drive to redistribute to another computer.

· You get 15 gigabytes of storage free with Google. You can increase that amount of storage to 100 gigabytes for $1.99 a month or just under $24.00/ year. Or if you are a real byte hog, then you can pay around $120 a year for a terabyte. 15 gigs is a ton of space and unless you plan on saving a bunch of pictures, etc on it, then you should have plenty of room. MS Office is not free. (Although some colleges such as OSU, OU and others offer it up free to their students upon enrollment). You have to buy the software. At Amazon the current price for the Student Version is $124.00. The amount of storage space you have available depends on the amount of memory your computer has or the amount of flash drive memory you have available to you.

· Google is available to everyone with internet access, wherever you have access: home, school, library, friend’s house on whatever device: pc, laptop, or mobile. Your account is free, you must have a Gmail account to access the Google Docs. You can share your documents or pictures for viewing, editing and collaborating. Several people at one time can be working simultaneously on your project. Office does have more features and special resources not offered by Google, yet. It is a widely used and widely known program that has lots of Youtube videos, video resources, and training for any user.

· Caveat: While Google Drive, Docs, etc is constantly being updated (like any app), it has some limited features. However, there are awesome videos on Youtube that provide support and help, plus pages at Google Drive Help to guide you. Office has created something new called OneDrive (previously known as SkyDrive). It offers up 5GB of storage free. Pricing goes up quite drastically from there, but other features are offered. See the website for more information. One of the features is an Office suite for use, but not like the one you can purchase. The 5 GB account requires a Windows OneDrive account. It allows users to share their documents, but collaboration simultaneously has not happened.

Continue your journey by going to Setting up a Google Account or Google Drive for Beginners.