Google Docs Now More 'Office' Like

Google (GOOG) has quietly updated the look of Google Docs, offering a more Microsoft (MSFT) Office (pre 2007) like interface.

First spotted by Philipp Lenssen, the changes aren’t huge, but visually they’re pleasing. Gone is the Google Docs blue background toolbar with its unique layout. In its place is a grey toolbar that will be immediately familiar to users of other offline and online office packages. Fonts now have a dedicated box with the list being rendered in the particular font listed. Text sizing also gets a familiar drop down box as well.

The changes have been rolled out across the three core Google Docs products (Writely, Spreadsheets and Presentations).

Although still not as fully featured as offline alternatives, and even some online competitors as well, Google Docs has gained strong support in the first adopter community and is slowly finding a market in the business world as Google pushes its corporate packages. The new look will make it easier for new users to immediately use Google Docs and that will help sell the package.

Comments

[Blank:]

Funny how Google is bringing out Microsoft Office like user interface. Can't they come up with something original and better? My question then is Google becoming like Microsoft and not the innovative juggernaut that comes out with "new" products as everyone claims? Will people finally recognize that Microsoft does have good products and not a juggernaut that utilizes its size to push competitors aside but with good products in the same manner as Google?

2008 Feb 28 06:28 PM

[User 158486:]

If you would ask me (I know you haven't,but) I All three Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft are all innovators. They all have their own niche, so instead of all the competition, I think all 3 would benefit greatly by developing a board to (not merge) increase customer satisfaction. I mean: "You solve this, well take care of this, and you work on this" kind of setting. My idea comes from a Project management view, if you have 3 different companies working on one issue, you get the best results if you communicate with each other, discuss one anothers issues and bring all the brain power into one action. Because, as of now, what ever you are looking for, or trying to do can only be done or found if you know where to look, but if all 3 get together I think they could come up with a system that anything, I mean anything, you want to look for, or do, could be found, or done, immediately instead of spending "forever" looking for, or trying to accomplish one thing. Think about it; If Microsoft solves a problem for Google, and Yahoo solves a problem for Microsoft, etc...... Then mass amounts of customers would use only the Micrahoogle system to solve any and all their online and offline problems. So is it a hair brained idea or a good start?

2008 Feb 28 07:21 PM

[Tom B:]

The toolbar looks pretty "generic" to me, except for the the "save" floppy disc icon which has been anachronistic for something like ten years now-- when did they stop making those?

2008 Feb 28 10:53 PM

[China Hand:]

If Google is serious about Google Apps being used by businesses
And considers that many businesses have operations in China ,
but Google Apps isn't availble to us in China or HK.
Great if you live in NY, but not an option for me , a small business owner , who works in China and Asia.

2008 Feb 29 09:46 PM