Yes, Google going dumb?

So it's all over the news. Google launching their new online spreadsheets of ajax, javascript and html magic. But ARE THEY NUTS!!

I've been around the block so many times to be exited by news of new products. I've seen things rise and fall and I've witnessed great things in the making. And I learned not to jump to certain hypes with open arms and rather�think and ask myself, is this thing the best thing since sliced bread� or is it just another flop? That will be over-hyped by many factors and just fizzle out and die with the rest of the could-make-it-but-just-too-stupid-to-work but lets hype about it anyway

The idea of having your sensitive budget information available, online, being handled by some company is a scary one.� Very scary if not flat out mad. As a business owner myself. I wouldn't trust my own machines and employees not to leak sensitive information putting them out on the Internet is even way worse

In fact this is so scary that it will be their worst nightmare. I can already see headlines�of laws suits filed for industrial espionage facilitated by lack of security.�This is no simple "privacy" inconvenience. This is serious business and a lot�might be at stake

You know? I love to share spreadsheets with my mother when I send her Emails!! Come on, how ridiculous is that!? Spreadsheets are mostly a business tool, sharing it among friends .. Is the silliest thing I've ever heard. It's flat out stupendous!

I think what Google are trying to do is stay in the public eye, with products that might one day be used to something else that would be a killer app. As for this one ... I 'll pass, it's not their next big thing, it's just a little stupid publicity stunt. Most probably to send Microsoft a message that they'll be taking on the challenge head on. I feel sorry for Microsoft at this point, you know why? If they go for the bait and attack head on, they'll get another HUGE anti-trust lawsuit up their asses. And if they don't they've got the new kids on the block challenging everything. So what will you do next Mr Bill Gates? I'd fire a number of vice-presidents who didn't see this coming.

I'm just glad Microsoft is facing competition in all directions. If it doesn't kill them, it'll force them to get off their fat asses and push innovation and the computer industry forward.� IE facing off with Firefox, Office with these little offices, Windows with Linux. If there is one thing I learned from Microsoft vs IBM in the 80's and 90's was that, people go for the cheaper alternative. Google is free, Firefox is free, Linux is free (sort of), are we going to see Windows for free?

The problem with Ajax applications and apps that are available online as services are availability. For Ajax to be able to do everything that a full blown C++ Compiled application of multi-megabyte size it will need to be gigantic!! HUGE and worse it needs to be loaded every single time.

Another disadvantage is that there is No guarantee that it would be available. What if the network goes down? What if I'm travelling? What if I'm changing DSL providers (takes 2 weeks to change them where I live), does this mean I will be left out frustrated without service!?

I don' tknow if I can say I trust Google. I don't know if I can say I trust firefox or many others for that matter. The reasons I'm saying that is that if we wake up tomorrow and there is no Google. Nothing will change in my life, my computer experience will be the same I'll just switch to yahoo, or A9, or MSN Search. I'm already using Answers and ASK more than ever. Who knows what will happen in the next few years. It'll be fun

Ajax and online services are great when they work. And fantastic for smaller applications like Maps and mail ...etc, but the larger things get the faster they deteriorate and become unusable. Not to mention the security concerns. The bottom line is that if I can't guarantee that the application is available wherever and whenever I need it then why do I want it?(I'm starting to sound like Shakira)