View Full Version : Google Docs VS Zoho
Ms_Angel_D
October 14th, 2008, 02:36 PM
Which do you prefer and why?
Google Docs (http://docs.google.com)
Zoho (http://www.zoho.com/)
I personally use google docs, but mainly just to keep backups of my documents. Though I can see that Zoho has some nice features.
Riffer
October 14th, 2008, 02:56 PM
I just don't get the point with them.
bp1509
October 14th, 2008, 03:26 PM
d
ilrudie
October 14th, 2008, 04:03 PM
I use google docs. Its great for documents that you need to share with multiple people being able to update. Its also good for docs I might update from a pc and then want to read or update later on my mobile phone.
50words
October 14th, 2008, 04:05 PM
I just don't get the point with them.
Maybe this isn't the thread for you.
I have not tried Zoho, so I am not voting, but what I like about Google Docs is the ability to collaborate on a single document. My law clerk and I can be working on the same document at the same time, from any two computers in the world. Pretty useful.
I also like to be able to embed slideshows on my blogs.
And for a legal clinic I was helping with, Google Docs made it really easy to have a central, shared repository of forms and client documents.
lukjad
October 14th, 2008, 04:14 PM
I use Google Docs. I haven't tried Zoho. I like Google Docs because it can be saved and accessed almost anywhere. I don't use it all the time, but for simple things or if you are writing a paper or story and you don't like carrying a USB key around with you, it's a good idea. Also, if you are like me, I make big changes and like to know what I deleted. This is simple with Google Docs as it keeps a record of all my changes.
I find it to be useful, but not a necessity.
Ms_Angel_D
October 14th, 2008, 04:28 PM
I find that zoho has a few neat products which aren't offered by google.
The Wiki, The Public Repository, the Chat, and Planner are all very interesting and pretty nice for free. I can see a few of their services being very handy.
markba
October 14th, 2008, 04:33 PM
I'm using (testing) Google Docs right now, but I'm planning to take a look at Zoho. Partly of privacy reasons, also because Zoho is feature wise above Google Docs.
On the privacy part, this part of the Zoho FAQ in interesting:
Zoho is not in the business of selling advertising nor will it sell your personal information to third parties.
http://zoho.com/zoho_faq.html#7
This marks the sharp difference between the two, for what it's worth, because it's only a statement in their FAQ.
Dragonbite
October 14th, 2008, 07:02 PM
I use Google Docs so I can have the file accessible whether I'm at work or at home without having to download or transfer the files via USB.
I have not tried Zoho.
lukjad
October 14th, 2008, 08:35 PM
I'm going to have to look at this more in depth. Does anyone know who owns this company, what they are trying to do, etc.?
zmjjmz
October 14th, 2008, 08:42 PM
I use Google Docs because I have a Google account, and then I realized that I could use it to log in to Zoho, but Google said it wanted access to my contacts, and I thought that wasn't a good idea, but then I read
Zoho is not in the business of selling advertising nor will it sell your personal information to third parties. but I had already voted for Docs.
So, in sum, I voted for Docs but I have yet to try Zoho.
Oh, and for anyone wondering why I even use these, it's because if we have something to work on for class and we also work on it in class (using computers) I can't just e-mail the document around because Gmail is blocked, but Docs isn't so it's incredibly useful.
smoker
October 14th, 2008, 09:32 PM
My law clerk and I can be working on the same document at the same time, from any two computers in the world. Pretty useful...
...And for a legal clinic I was helping with, Google Docs made it really easy to have a central, shared repository of forms and client documents.
no offense, but if you were my legal rep, i'd be taking my business elsewhere, maybe i'm paranoid, but confidentiality and security is part of what i pay for :(
lukjad
October 14th, 2008, 09:50 PM
And how is a multi-billion dollar company's secure website less secure than my home PC?
mrgnash
October 14th, 2008, 09:52 PM
I'm a LaTeX user, so I don't really use Google Docs for word processing as such... However, I do use it in order to proofread/correct documents for other people, and to backup/share my own documents. To that end, it's pretty handy :)
smoker
October 14th, 2008, 09:55 PM
And how is a multi-billion dollar company's secure website less secure than my home PC?
it's my choice, my money, and my information, i'm not interested in how safe or not a company thinks their websites are, i'll decide.
lukjad
October 14th, 2008, 10:02 PM
it's my choice, my money, and my information, i'm not interested in how safe or not a company thinks their websites are, i'll decide.
Sorry if I seemed harsh. What I mean is that if I choose to carry a file on my USB key in my pocket or store it on a server, or store it on Google's servers, how is the USB key that can be lost less secure?
smoker
October 14th, 2008, 10:22 PM
Sorry if I seemed harsh. What I mean is that if I choose to carry a file on my USB key in my pocket or store it on a server, or store it on Google's servers, how is the USB key that can be lost less secure?
in the UK (i'm not sure about anywhere else), there are almost daily reports of government departments, defense contractors, local councils, etc, etc, losing data in one way or another, it seems to be a matter of course that your data is not going to be safe no matter how much reassurance you are given. if i am going to pay someone to look after my interests in a legal capacity, then i can at least assure myself that they will be cutting down the likelihood that data will go astray, in whatever way it may do so, and to me this means not using apps like google docs, not carrying my data about in usb drives, etc. google docs, et al, may be perfectly secure and wonderful, and i'm sure they are, but they can be so without any legal data of mine that i want kept confidential
:)
lukjad
October 14th, 2008, 10:59 PM
in the UK (i'm not sure about anywhere else), there are almost daily reports of government departments, defense contractors, local councils, etc, etc, losing data in one way or another, it seems to be a matter of course that your data is not going to be safe no matter how much reassurance you are given. if i am going to pay someone to look after my interests in a legal capacity, then i can at least assure myself that they will be cutting down the likelihood that data will go astray, in whatever way it may do so, and to me this means not using apps like google docs, not carrying my data about in usb drives, etc. google docs, et al, may be perfectly secure and wonderful, and i'm sure they are, but they can be so without any legal data of mine that i want kept confidential
:)
Then how do you suggest someone shares you file? The USB key is out. E-mail is just Google Docs simplified. So, how?
Riffer
October 19th, 2008, 03:40 AM
E-mail is just Google Docs simplified.
Sorry to quote you out of context, but your statement summed up my first post on why I don't get Google docs etc. Email is simple why make things complicated.
zmjjmz
October 19th, 2008, 04:13 AM
Now if you were to read Google's EULA, you'd realize the gigantic privacy issues involved in using Google Docs.
Of course, I've only used it for strictly educational purposes, and I should hopefully get the hell out of the US before it becomes a totalitarian state in which education requires an extra 15 licenses and retroactive punishment includes Chinese water torture.
50words
October 20th, 2008, 12:56 AM
Now if you were to read Google's EULA, you'd realize the gigantic privacy issues involved in using Google Docs.
Really? Google does not have an EULA. They have terms of service (http://www.google.com/accounts/TOS?hl=en) and a privacy policy (http://www.google.com/privacypolicy.html) that apply to all user accounts.
Then there is a specific privacy policy for Google Docs (http://www.google.com/google-d-s/privacy.html).
None of them give me any real cause for concern. Which terms worry you?
cardinals_fan
October 20th, 2008, 02:16 AM
Zoho is irritating.
zmjjmz
October 20th, 2008, 02:29 AM
Really? Google does not have an EULA. They have terms of service (http://www.google.com/accounts/TOS?hl=en) and a privacy policy (http://www.google.com/privacypolicy.html) that apply to all user accounts.
Then there is a specific privacy policy for Google Docs (http://www.google.com/google-d-s/privacy.html).
None of them give me any real cause for concern. Which terms worry you?
By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive licence to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Services.
Oh I dunno.
50words
October 20th, 2008, 06:11 AM
From the Additional Terms for Google Docs (http://www.google.com/google-d-s/addlterms.html):
Section 11.1 of the Terms of Service governing Google Docs is replaced in its entirety by:
"You retain copyright and any other rights you already hold in Content which you submit, post or display on or through, the Service. By submitting, posting or displaying the Content you give Google a worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute any Content which you submit, post or display on or through the Service for the sole purpose of enabling Google to provide you with the Service in accordance with its Privacy Policy."
The difference from the regular TOS is in italics. In other words, Google will only publish your stuff if it is necessary to provide you with Google Docs. Like if you opt to publish the document.
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