Two weeks ago, Microsoft announced the Docs service, an online version of their own office suite. Unfortunately, those of us who wanted to test it .. well we couldn’t. Access to Docs was made only based on invitations.
Microsoft Docs is still not available to the public, only to people which received an invitation. It seams that this is the marketing tactic now, access to services and beta applications is allowed only based on invitations.
After two weeks since it was officially released, Microsoft increased the number of sent invitations. So, we were able to get one and test this new service.
Since it was announced, the most intriguing aspect regarding Microsoft Docs was the Facebook integration. Microsoft said that the Docs service will be able to be accessed from Facebook and that documents will be able to be shared with friends.
Microsoft told the truth, however it’s not a Facebook application, as we expected.
The online office suit Docs can be accessed in two ways. The first is the official web address, docs.com. The second is through the Facebook web site at facebook.com/docs. Even if you access docs from the Facebook web site you will eventually be redirected to docs.com
The only link between Docs and Facebook is the documents sharing feature.
The interface it very simple and intuitive. It has 4 sections:
Home – this is kind of useless, it has no concrete features.
My Docs – you own documents
Friend’s Docs – documents shared by your facebook friends.
Add a Doc – it allows you to create a new document
This last feature, creating a new documents, offers four possibilities: three types of documents ( Word, Excel, Powerpoint ) and upload a document from your computer.Unfortunately, you can only upload one document at a time.
When you click on a document, it is only opened for viewing. To edit you have to click on Edit Document. You can also open a document with Microsoft Word.
All of the three applications, Word, Excel and Powerpoint only have basic functionality: text styling, adding tables or images. The interface has the ribbon known to users from Office 2007.
The check spelling feature is also integrated.
The Excel feature also has only the basic functions. On the other hand it’s possible to use formulas. The only condition is to know them by heart, because there are no auxiliary help methods.
Powerpoint has less options and even less features that help you manage slides. At least there is the option to view as a slideshow your created presentations.
In the right of each three applications there is a column that contains the sharing options. From here you can pick the friends that can view your documents, or friends that are allowed to edit them.
Also there, there is a chat feature for people that can access the document, however the implementation is a little fuzzy making you think that you are really posting on your Wall on facebook.
When multiple people are editing the same document at the same down, you can see an indicator with their names.
Well this is all that can be said about the Docs service, the online version of Microsoft Office. Personally, I think it’s a disappointment. Microsoft has been trying for years to release an online version of Office and didn’t managed to provide users with a more complete product.
