At first glance, Google Apps and Microsoft are the horses to beat in the online software suite race. But The VAR Guy remains preoccupied with a dark horse called Zoho, which just launched Writer 2.0 and continues to gain moment across multiple software as a service (SaaS) fronts.
In recent months, Zoho has connected the dots between the company’s SaaS applications and ManageEngine’s managed services software. (Zoho and ManageEngine are sister companies.) And Zoho has managed to recruit more than 200 resellers.
Now comes word that Zoho has launched Writer 2.0, and buzz across the Web for the software suite and its new user interface is growing:
- Mashable suggests Writer 2.0 increasingly is a full-blown alternative to Microsoft Office.
- And TechCrunch calls Zoho’s approach “awesome.”
Both of those sites have massive Web 2.0 followings, which means the next generation of software developers and users are discovering Zoho by the boatload.
Looking Back, And Ahead
The VAR Guy must concede: He’s still using Microsoft Office. Our resident blogger tried OpenOffice for a bit but ultimately moved back to Microsoft’s suite in 2008. But looking ahead, the online options from Zoho, Google and Microsoft (yes Microsoft) seem to be catching up with the traditional desktop suites.
But there’s another key trend to note: Desktop virtualization.
An example: IBM and Canonical in January 2009 announced plans to offer servers that run Ubuntu Desktop Edition (a Linux distribution) and OpenOffice. The system is designed for companies that want to centralize software for 1,000 or more desktop users.
That trend, coupled with the rise of Zoho Writer 2.0, should keep VARs busy as they evaluate alternatives to traditional Wintel desktops.
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Tags: | Canonical | Managed Services | ManageEngine | Mashable | OpenOffice | Software as a Service | TechCrunch | Ubuntu Desktop Edition | Zoho Writer 2.0
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Great news.
The problem with on-line applications is that I do not own the software and rely on the parent company to provide me access to my content. If Zoho goes “commerical” or even bankrupt, so goes my content.
Although it’s not as rich in features as Zoho or Google Apps, I’d much rather set up my own “cloud” system (like eyeOS) and use it’s document writer. At least I’m in control and can do what I want with the system.
Same goes for using open apps, like OpenOffice over MS-Office. I’d rather be in control of my documents than leaving it up to some corporation to control them.
David: You state…
“The problem with on-line applications is that I do not own the software and rely on the parent company to provide me access to my content. If Zoho goes “commerical” or even bankrupt, so goes my content.”
Is that true? Zoho Writer supports offline editing as well.
Doesn’t that mean users can have offline content access and take their content elsewhere if Zoho ever did implode? Or is The VAR Guy wrong?
(Also, The VAR Guy is not suggesting Zoho will implode.)
No, you’re most likely correct (I haven’t had a chance to explore all of what Zoho has to offer). However, if you decided not to buy MS-Office or use OpenOffice, but rather subscribe to Zoho services (free or otherwise), what happens when Zoho decides to no longer provide you with free services or are not around anymore and you have not saved your work for offline editing?
It’s probably just me, but I’m not comfortable relying on these corporate on-line application services too much. I guess I’ve just been burned too many times with on-line music services in the past. There today; gone tomorrow.
I used G-mail for “throw away” e-mail purposes… like sites that require me to register before being able to do anything. For mail that means something to me, it’s on my own mail server for safe keeping.
David,
We let you take your data with you any time. The best way to do this is to go to docs.zoho.com, select all your docs and download them as a single ZIP file.
That said, we are here to stay. We have been in business for 13 years and going strong every year. If you are an individual, we never plan to charge you for your usage.
If you prefer using Zoho through our partners like eyeOS, that is fine too.
http://blogs.zoho.com/writer/eyeos-integrates-zoho