Question

Two popular word-processing application software are Googledocs and Microsoft Word. The objective of this assignment is to expose you to various word processing software tools to compare their features and functionality, hence exploring how these applications can be used to assist with everyday personal or business functions, where applicable.

For comparison, you are to utilize the more popular features offered in each of these applications, by creating a basic document in each of the two (2) applications listed above, on a specific topic of interest.

It is recommended that the document contain at least one paragraph.

It is recommended that you attempt to use as many of the formatting features within the applications as possible, such as manipulating Fonts and Paragraphs, Header and Footer tools, as well as Page Layout features to include changing margins, orientation and paper size.

DISCUSSION INSTRUCTIONS TASK 1:

Having used the TWO applications to create documents utilizing the features outlined above, write a comparative summary of your findings. Your summary should provide a comparison of the features observed when creating documents in the two (2) applications mentioned above.

Your summary should be 200 - 250 words and MUST include the following:

At least two (2) Similarities

At least two (2) Major Differences

Ease of Use / User Friendliness

Your preference of the two, along with a brief justification of your preference.

APA referencing is required.

Answer 1

Similarities and major differences between Google Docs and Microsoft Word word-processing applications based on their features, functionalities, formatting features such as manipulating Fonts and Paragraphs, Header and Footer tools, Page Layout features to include changing margins, and orientation and paper size, and ease of use, or user-friendliness, all for everyday personal or business functions:

Google Docs:
* It is available for free.
* Desktop application is available only for Google's ChromeOS.
* It is available as a web application and mobile app for Android, iOS, Windows, and BlackBerry.
* It provides smart editing and styling tools for easy text and paragraph formatting.
* It provides 100s of fonts to choose from.
* Offers feature to add links, images, and drawings.
* It provides different templates for different purposes such as resumes, reports, and pre-made documents.
* Google documents can be accessed, created, and edited from anywhere, anytime, and on any device such as phone, tablet, computer, and laptop, online or offline.
* Users can collaborate amongst themselves working on the same document simultaneously in real-time.
* It auto-saves the document.
* Versioning of the documents are also available for the same document.
* It works with Microsoft Word, where users can open, edit, and save Microsoft Word document files using a Chrome extension or app.
* Users can convert Google Docs to Microsoft Word files and vice versa.
* It supports multiple types of document file formats, supporting and converting to requirement formats.
* It provides the search capability feature in Docs to explore, search, and use images, quotes, and text from Google searches, without leaving the Google Docs Android app.
* It provides many add-ons for additional features, such as Lucidchart Diagrams add-on for creating and inserting flow charts and diagrams in the Docs.
* It provides a sidebar chat functionality for collaborators working on the same document to chat and discuss edits.
* It provides a quick citation feature.
* It does not provide niche formatting features.
* It provides multi-user editing, real-time update capabilities, cursor presence, and instant messaging.
* Users mostly do not need to manage patches or updates.
* Printing is not reliable.
* It provides an interface that is easy to use.
* Provides users to view documents in the chronological view.
* It supports the importing of documents through e-mail or the Web.
* Google Docs is easy to be embedded in blogs and websites.
* It has a "Define" feature from the drop-down menu on a word to find the meaning for the word.
* It has the intelligent technology feature helping users suggesting them in spelling, grammar, and stylistic writing.
* It has a word count feature.
* It has a documents comparison option.
* It has a Dictionary option.
* It has an option to translate a document to another available and supported language.
* It has voice typing.
* It has a feature to edit scripts meant for software developers, for programming purposes.
* It is fast to type and edit documents in the web version.
* It does provide Fonts and Paragraphs, Header and Footer tools, Page Layout features to include changing margins, orientation and paper size, and other features.
* It is easy to use.
* It is user-friendly.

Microsoft Word:
* It is not available for free, as it comes with Office 365 suite of applications. It is available for free only for only one month for only home users.
* It is available both, as a standalone word application as well as a web-based software of Microsoft office 365 suite of applications.
* It is not available as a desktop application to be used on Linux and Apple Mac OS computers.
* With respect to Layouts, it has advanced typesetting features to be used upon enabling it.
* Its layout issue is it cannot set crop marks or thin spaces.
* It has the intelligent technology feature helping users suggesting them in spelling, grammar, and stylistic writing.
* Editing, formatting, and other related tools are available at the users' fingertips.
* Word documents can be written, manipulated, or edited intuitively.
* Users can collaborate amongst themselves working on the same document simultaneously in real-time.
* It has the "Resume Assitant powered by LinkedIn to help users create and customize more compelling resumes.
* It provides users 40 different categories of Word templates to choose from.
* It supports all languages.
* It auto-saves the document.
* It provides citations feature.
* Users cannot comment and discuss the edits if all of them are working on the same doc.
* It does not provide add-ons for more functionalities.
* It has only limited research tools to help explore, search, and insert information from other sources.
* It provides niche formatting features.
* It does not provide much of multi-user editing, real-time update capabilities, cursor presence, and instant messaging.
* Users would need to manage patches or updates for certain types of Word applications.
* Printing is reliable.
* It is a bit slow to type and edit documents in the web version when compared to Google Docs.
* It does provide Fonts and Paragraphs, Header and Footer tools, Page Layout features to include changing margins, orientation and paper size, and other features.
* It is less user-friendly than Google Docs.

Preference: Google Docs
It is free, or rather most of the features are free, in fact, the application or even the entire Google Suite of applications are free to use to a certain extent. The application is not heavy, the system or even the web browser does not freeze, it is available as a web version to be accessed from anywhere, anytime, and on any device, it is widely used, it is handy, it is popular, the web app loads quickly on web browsers than Microsoft Word application and provides cloud service and support for Google Docs application service. It has many new features.