by Dave Rosenberg

Is Google more of a lock-in than Microsoft?

analysis
Apr 17, 20071 min

I just realized that I was setting myself locked into Google. They already have me for search and Gmail and I have to admit the new Powerpoint app does lower the barrier to get MS Office out of many places. Is it wrong for me to want to rebel? Despite the fact that our attempt to switch to Google Apps Premier (note to Google Customer service--3 days is too long to not reply to my request for refund) was a total

I just realized that I was setting myself locked into Google. They already have me for search and Gmail and I have to admit the new Powerpoint app does lower the barrier to get MS Office out of many places. Is it wrong for me to want to rebel?

Despite the fact that our attempt to switch to Google Apps Premier (note to Google Customer service–3 days is too long to not reply to my request for refund) was a total fiasco, the idea that I can get more people off of MS apps is pretty appealing. And then suddenly I realized that I would really be replacing one lock-in for another.

I am sure we have all felt this before but I’m simultaneously intrigued and repulsed by the Google Borg.

On the positive side, we had a major Outlook meltdown on someone’s computer and switched them to Thunderbird. It took all of 20 minutes, she likes it better and we proved that OSS is good for business users.

Previously:

Google Apps Email-I am forced to give you the finger

Google too powerful?