Google -vs- Microsoft

I am asked all the time my opinion on Google apps versus Microsoft Office Suite.  I have to tell you, I like MS Office 2010.  Has come a long way.  There are many shops crying about the ongoing costs, but need the feature/function.  Consider Microsoft can move these business critical workloads to the cloud (re: reduce TCO and complexity, evergreen by providing new versions w/in 60 days of release), provide cost sensitive services to “deskless workers” (re: shop floor workers), why in the world would you even consider Google. MS BPOS (in the cloud Exchange, SharePoint, and OCS) offering along with a blend of deskless worker SKU (re: browser delivered messaging, collaboration, and UC), MS is VERY cost competitive with Google. Also, they are not stopping the innovation train as it pertains to the Office suite/client.  New stuff coming is very exciting!

Here are ten things to tell them before they bet the business on Google Apps:


1. Google Docs doesn’t preserve all document formatting.

Google claims to support industry standards for document formatting, but when users upload documents, Google converts all content to HTML. As a result, basic formatting such as font types and document layout are permanently altered. What’s more, the experience changes for every browser Google supports.

Did you know? Office Web Applications preserve all of a document’s layout and graphics—including complex watermarks—so users can be confident that document formatting will remain intact.

2. Mobile device users will lose valuable functionality.

Google licenses Microsoft technology but doesn’t fully implement it. For example, Google has not fully implemented core ActiveSync features such as e-mail synchronization. As a result, users won’t have all content available on their mobile devices, and security policies can’t be consistently enforced and deployed.

Did you know? ActiveSync works great with Exchange, so users can have confidence that the data on their PCs will match the data on their mobile devices. Setup and deployment is consistent for everyone.

3. Google Docs misses on the basics.

Google Docs lacks basic functions such as Cut/Copy/Paste across applications; automatic spell-check; protection of cells, sheets, and workbooks; picture editing; offline editing; grammar check; review/track changes; and many more. Customers should ask whether they can ‟close the books” using Google Spreadsheets, or whether Google Presentations will help the Sales Department outshine the competition.

Did you know? 20% of user clicks in Office are Cut/Copy/Paste? Office Web Apps extends the rich Office desktop experience to the cloud, so users can continue working in the same way they always have.

4. Google Apps requires a fast, consistent connection to be useful.

Using Google Apps offline is like a view-only experience. Users working offline can’t create new documents or calendar appointments, edit spreadsheets or presentations, or access contacts or tasks.

Did you know? Office 2010, which includes Office Web Apps, provides a rich experience regardless of Internet connectivity.

5. Google Apps doesn’t support Information Rights Management.

Without Information Rights Management, users can’t specify what recipients can do with e-mail or documents, such as ‟don’t forward” or ‟view only.” As a result, sensitive or private information can be leaked or inadvertently shared.

Did you know? Office provides rich support for Digital Signatures, Information Rights Management, and advanced security policies to help secure both personal data and corporate assets.

6. Google’s support model and service-level agreement are not enterprise-ready.

End users must get help through user groups and forums. Phone support for Google Apps is limited to one administrator, who may wait up to 48 hours for assistance. Also, Google claims to have a financially-backed service-level agreement (SLA), when in reality it’s based on credits. If customers are down for two hours, Google provides an extra hour of service. Also, Google releases the majority of new features to Google Labs, which isn’t covered by the Google Apps SLA—a way of pushing risk onto the customer to ‟see what sticks.”

Did you know? As of November 2009, Google Apps has experienced service outages in 8 of the past 13 months. Microsoft Online provides a 24x7, 99.9% SLA that is financially backed. If MS doesn't meet their uptime commitment, they refund the customer’s money.

7. Google Apps does not fully support Outlook.

Google says they support Outlook trough MAPI, but it’s a minimal implementation so many Outlook features don’t work. Assistants can’t delegate Inboxes, and Follow-up flags set in Outlook will not appear in Google Apps. Public Folders and Distribution Lists aren’t supported, and Calendar Sharing, calendar attachments, optional attendees, multiple calendars, and accepting new meeting time proposals don’t work.

Did you know? Regardless of whether a customer uses Exchange or Exchange Online, Outlook will work as intended.

8. Security and compliance is questionable.

With Google Apps, Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is turned off by default for all users. Also, Google won’t tell you where the data resides, which presents regulatory and compliance issues related to data location and privacy.

Did you know? More than 40 security experts have issued an open letter to Google’s CEO about this. Privacy watchdog groups have demonstrated how ‘auto save’ and Chrome create increased risks.

9. Google Apps overcharges for basic users and underdelivers for power users.

As a single offering, Google Apps isn’t tailored to the needs of information workers or task-based workers. For example, task workers who don’t need IM and 25GB inboxes are better served by MS Online Deskless Worker Suite, which costs about 40% less than Google Apps. And because of its limited functionality, Google Apps isn’t rich enough to meet the needs of information workers.

Did you know? The MS Online Suite with Office includes SKUs designed for both information workers and task workers, enabling companies to pay for only those features that each type of worker needs.

10. Google Apps doesn’t provide the tools and flexibility to manage risk.

Google Apps has one policy for all users. Administrators have no way to access or control user data in case of termination, inappropriate content, HR/legal issues, and so on. Similarly, Google Apps does not support data retention policies or provide tools to help ensure compliance with regulations and/or internal policies.

Did you know? With MS Online, Administrators have the tools and flexibility to manage business risk—for example, they can set data retention policies, mailbox sizes, and custom filtering for different groups of users.

I don't think Google Apps is ready for the enterprise, nor a repalcement for MS Office Suite.