Why Google Apps instead of Microsoft Online

I’ll state my bias up front: I was a 110% Microsoft guy until about 2 years go and since then I’m about 90% Google and 10% Microsoft (not counting the O/S). Microsoft is the world’s PC software company. The problem is that we live in a post-PC world. Today I use my Android phone more than I use my desktop. And when I’m using my desktop, I’m usually in a Google-based application. I only use Microsoft for the rare moments when I need extensive Word or Excel functions and even then I still use Google to store my documents.

So it came as no surprise that Google took the offensive on Microsoft’s upcoming Office 365 cloud-base app platform. Microsoft’s problem is that they only want you using Microsoft-based products to run their software. Google doesn’t care what you’re using so long as you’re using their software. Huge difference.

Very few companies are able to make the leap from one paradigm to the next. Microsoft did manage to stay in the game when the Internet came of age in the mid-90s but I think that was due to Bill Gates’ sheer will. Notice that Bill decided to retire. I would too.