This week I’ve been trying out a couple of new products that I haven’t had time to experiment with yet. They aren’t new technologies but are some things I’ve wanted to try out. My main goal was to see if they were useful enough to recommend to clients, especially since they are free software.
In my training with Versitas, I am sometimes asked about my evaluation of different software. I know that not everyone is working with unlimited budgets these days, so I try to look for add-ons that can work with someone’s current software.
So, I found a little time this week to try out Microsoft Office Live Workspace and SharedView. Office Live Workspace is supposed to be able to work seamlessly with Microsoft Office 2007 to give you space to store, edit, and share files with others. I thought that might be a good option for some of my clients if they did not have the IT manpower to set up and maintain a SharePoint server.
I purposefully did not read any reviews or evaluations of Office Live or SharedView. I wanted to get my take on it without being biased by others’ thoughts. Here is the scoop on Microsoft Office Live Workspace (technically in beta version). You can upload, store, and share any Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint and Excel document. You get 5GB of storage room! I like this alternative to a flash drive for use when I am training. SharedView allows you to connect with others to view, share, edit, and collaborate on documents. This is a great option for me to use if I need to create training materials with other trainers located in various cities.
So, how did it go? The account setup process for Microsoft Office Live Workspace was very easy. Since I already had a Hotmail account, I didn’t have to enter any personal information. It is a big plus in my book if I don’t have to remember another username/password! During the download/install process for SharedView, it was recommended that I download Silverlight, an XML update and Sign-in Assistant - all free. The whole process only took about 20 minutes. I like that kind of quick installation!
I created a workspace for my Versitas files and uploaded several to try it out. When I opened up Microsoft Word and clicked on the Office button, I have the options to “Open From” and “Save To” Microsoft Office Live Workspace. You have to log in the first time but can change the settings so that it will automatically log you in for future use. Cool! I have a access to all of my uploaded documents that I put into my created Versitas workspace on the Office Live website.
My overall opinion? Pros: Easy to install and use. Cons: Can only upload files that are Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. If I were Microsoft and designed a free software, I’d probably limit that, too. This software is not for everyone but I would recommend it for clients that need basic collaboration and/or Microsoft Office file web storage that is easy to use. You may want to give it a try!
