Check it out for yourself.

Go to http://www.google.com.  (You will need a Gmail account.)

Click on the “more” link dropdown and select Documents.  Here is where you can sign up for a Google account if you don’t have one already.

Once you are in Google Docs you can:

Click on the Create new button to create a new document.

Click on the Upload button to work on a document you already have.

You can also see this page for more info.

Now because I’d learned Office 97 fairly well, I knew enough in it to do most of the advanced stuff and even some stuff they didn’t teach you how to do so when they came out with the new version, it offered some functions that were done manually to be easily mastered with the “click” of a button. And so users with average intelligence and skill who could have mastered the same task if they’d only taken the time to max out the features of their previous product are goo-goo – ga-ga for the new features. Newer does not always equate to better. I have seen it over and over especially in the area of software.  The same thing is happening with web development (kind of) – I’ll have to write a separate article on that.

Secret #1: YOU DON’T HAVE TO UPGRADE YOUR SOFTWARE EACH TIME A NEW VERSION COMES OUT
When you buy a newer version of a software, you are buying it because of the additional features it offers. It’s not mandatory to upgrade every time a new software upgrade comes out. The question to ask yourself, “Does the new upgrade have features I will need or will my current version satisfy requirements I have?” I used a laptop containing a Windows 95 Operating System up until 2006. I didn’t use it for everything. I used it as a development (test) PC. I trained on it. It worked perfectly for every function I used it for. The only reason I don’t use that PC anymore is because I let a friend borrow it. I use a laptop with an XP Operating system and I use Flash on my web site. Well the version of Flash I use is several years & several versions old. I am just now thinking of upgrading and that is because the new version of Flash has some additional capabilities that I need. I say, if the software you use does everything you need it to do and is compatible with your current Operating System, then there is no need to upgrade. Don’t fear not upgrading to the next version. You can skip versions. Many times the prior versions work better. 

Secret #2: A REFURBISHED COMPUTER IS JUST LIKE A NEW COMPUTER
I purchased a refurbished computer several years ago for $200. Buying a used PC is not like buying a used car. The PC I bought is a Pentium III, for those of you who are familiar with PC versions. A version is a model.  A “Pentium” processor describes who makes the PC or the processor. The type of processor describes how fast the PC is. A Pentium processor is the fastest. Processors process information and each processor is so named based on it’s speed performance. So when you buy a PC make sure to find out what kind of processor it has. It will affect how long the PC will hold up. I don’t mean to use technical terms, except this is what we are talking about: Technology. An Intel Celeron processor (intel is the brand – celeron is the type) is inferior to the Pentium processor. Don’t get me wrong. It is sufficient for the average consumer’s use and even many business uses. Now back to the Pentium III that I purchased years ago. I am still using it today. I’ve refurbished (wiped it clean) it at least 3 times, whereas the average person would have purchased a new PC.

I said all that to say, most issues with your PC can be resolved by wiping your computer completely clean. Wiping off a PC clears up most viruses and spyware that may have compromised your system. In fact, wiping your PC clean is the only way to get rid of those issues. A person with average PC intelligence can usually do this fairly easy if they have the restore CD that came with the PC. Just insert the CD and select the option that allows you to delete all content on your hard drive. But first, be sure to save to disk any files on your PC that you want to keep because it will wipe everything off. The only down side is if you save a lot of files to your PC, like photos & documents, etc. Also if you have a lot of software, you have to reinstall each one. In rare cases it will involve a little more than using the “Restore CD.” This is where you will need the help of a professional.

Secret #3: DON’T BUY NEW PARTS FOR YOUR PC
I don’t recommend buying parts for a PC to fix it unless it is just a piece of memory, because for the price you pay for parts and labor could end up costing you just as much as purchasing a new PC.  You can now purchase new laptops for under $300.

Secret #4: LAST AND FINAL SECRET.
A Blog is the next best thing to owning your own web site. It’s even better than a My Space or You Tube account because you can do more. You can use a blog in lieu of a web site until you are able to afford your own web space. A blog is free in most instances and you just purchase your “DOMAIN” name (web site name) so that you have your own dot com. A Domain name costs approximatelu $10/year to register. You create a new blog and point your domain name (your.com). There are design templates that come with the blog that are easy to customize. You can sell your products or services via your blog, add video and music and once you point your domain to it, no one will ever know it is not your own web space. For writers, this is the perfect thing, because you don’t have to know HTML or web programming and you just log in and begin writing and click “publish” to post your entry for the day.  There are limitations though.  Free doesn’t always equate to the best bargain.  Visit my section on web design for more information.

However, for my own personal and professional reasons, I prefer to own my own web space and domain because it gives me more control. I have a My Space and a You Tube account and a Twitter and a Vimeo, Plaxo, etc mostly to direct traffic to my own web site.  I am using a WordPress blog that I set up for the purpose of sharing information with you.  It is hosted on my own server so I have some control over features, etc.  I’ve developed my own blog from scratch because I wanted to maintain my company look and feel, but the WordPress blog served my customers better because I get to update them easily and from anywhere without having to depend on the main computer I use to develop web sites.  I share more about blogs in another article and the advantages of the different kinds.

I hope this helped you.